When I first started out on my sobriety journey, I already knew that there were some addiction support groups and programmes available such as Alcoholics Anonymous (known as ‘AA’), after all this is the programme we see in movies and on the TV. Our favourite screen characters develop an alcohol addiction, follow a 12-step programme and they all live happily every after. However, the reality of such sobriety programmes is much different. The road to recovery is paved with obstacles but any support you can get along the way is sure to help. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.

I had never really considered the benefits of such types of support programmes until I started to conduct thorough research into the different types of support available to assist my recovery. I found there were a number of fantastic alcohol addiction programmes available. I realised very quickly that these programmes are not a one size fits all approach and it is important to find one that speaks to you and makes you feel supported in the areas you feel the weakest. Some programmes have a religious basis and this may be perfect for someone who practice that religion, for others this basis is more likely to hinder than help their progress. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, you do not have to practice a particular religion to take control of your addiction. A few of the programmes were an excellent help to me, providing the support I needed to completely transform my life. The difference in my life was so profound that I decided I would stop my day-to-day work and focus my time on providing support to others through my own alcohol addiction programme – I have not looked back since!

In this blog, I wanted to break down some of the ways that an alcohol addiction programme really can help you if you are wanting to start your sobriety journey or you are struggling to remain sober.

#1 Professional Intervention

We all like to believe we can tackle the hardest challenges in life on our own, but sometimes we have to admit that professional help is needed. The people who run these programmes have a wealth of experience for others to benefit from, why reinvent the wheel when the assistance is already there for you to fully embrace. Being part of a programme alone may not be enough and these professionals are often able to help members in finding the additional assistance they need to ensure success. Additional support may be in the form of group or individual therapy, medical or holistic treatments. Remember that programmes are fantastic but may only be one part of a wider ‘package’ needed to get you sober and help you stay there long term.

#2 Peer Support

Having an alcohol addiction can be very lonely. Sure, there will have been a period of time that you were not aware of the addiction, but from the moment you realised you had an addiction it is something you have been dealing with alone. You may have support of family and friends on the journey but only someone who has or is dealing with the same addiction as you will truly understand the uphill battle you face on a daily basis. It can be extremely refreshing to open up to others who understand you and your situation, it really is a level of support like no other.

#3 Prevent Relapses

I would love to be able to tell you that there is a cure to alcohol addiction, unfortunately this is not the case. This addiction is something we will always live with and we have to find ways to protect our sobriety. As alcohol is so easily accessible, relapses in recovery happen more often than anyone would wish to admit and can lead to a vast array of medical and mental health issues. Statistically you are less likely to relapse when you are following a recovery programme, you are part of something that is made specifically to help you stay on the wagon.

#4 A Safe Space

Alcohol addiction programmes give you that safe space that you need, somewhere to be yourself without fear of judgement. It is normal to ‘filter’ who we are in our day-to-day lives to ensure we do not hurt anyone and to protect close relationships we have with others. A recovery programme is somewhere you can focus on yourself without concern about how it will impact others. By being completely open you can get to the route of the issue and start healing from the inside out. While alcohol addiction affects people physically, treatment for addiction does not just focus on the physical. The aim is to achieve wellness for the entire person, mentally and physically.

#5 Coping Mechanisms

As alcohol addiction can’t be cured, we all have to find ways to help us stay on the path to success. Usually this involves a series of coping mechanisms / strategies, some will be more effective for you than others but the key is that the recovery programmes will give you the tools you need to start building the future you want. It is likely there will be times in your life where you come face to face with situations that are known triggers for you, at these times you need to have learned the skills necessary to face them head on and continue to protect your sobriety.

The programme I have created aims to combine the above with much more to ensure the highest level of support available. There are 3 courses available depending on what you feel you currently need to assist your recovery, these include: –

• 7 Days to Sobriety Control Alcohol course – a 7-day course designed to change your relationship with alcohol quickly and effectively.
• Members-only Stop Drinking Programme – a course that embraces you into a community from around the world providing support for you to stop drinking for good. This combines live coaching sessions with a powerful online course.
• Intensive Bootcamp – an intensive bootcamp with me and a small group to support intensive learning in line with your individual needs. This 2.5 day bootcamp is intended to give you everything you need for recovery.

Further information about my courses, books and sober community can be found on my website. I’ve been extremely lucky to have received the support I needed to get sober for good, now I intend to dedicate my life to assist others to do the same.