Question for recovering alcoholics who put in years of sobriety.. did u get sober without having to do 12 steps ?

I'm sober and have never done the 12 steps.

What worked for me was an addiction Dr and a two year course of a really dodgy drug called antabuse.

I spent over a year flip flopping between being drunk and sober, I could stop and put myself into withdrawal no problem but I couldn't stay stopped, I kept drinking again even though I didn't really want to, ended up doing a seriously stupidly dangerous amount of alcohol withdrawals as a result.

Personally I "thought" I could do it alone, took over a year of me being an arse before I got the help I needed.

If you want to know any specifics or feel I might be able to help support you then please feel free to hit me up and send us a PM.

See my message to you.

Yes 12 steps and being in AA has been the way for me. I had tried a lot of different things, mostly to be honest to control my drinking until I tried the 12 steps. But for me I identify as an alcoholic, I agree with most (not all) of AA's view on alcoholism and I found the principles within the 12 steps have helped me greatly to remain sober for nearly 19 years. Along with the fellowship and help from other alcoholics.

One caveat I will pitch straight in. I'm an atheist. I believe that there probably is no God or universal controlling power within the universe. However I still attempt the 12 steps in my way with my concept of a higher power which is most definitely not that of a religious basis at all. I've found the books of Vince Hawkins (not affiliated with AA in any way) to be very helpful (look them up on Amazon). His adaptation of the 12 steps for atheists really helped me get a programme that I can follow that allows me a daily reprieve currently.

If you ever need to talk
I know ive flip flopped but it wont ever stop me from helping others or supporting them
Its tough hun its like a society thing as well. Its all around us. Cant even avoid it watching tv these days.
Or listening to the frigging radio
Ugh

It’s a matter of changing your life if it’s come to the things that’s happening to you 😬

I have no clue what you go through on a daily basis or who you associate with either.

But if you drinking enough to get arrested. Multiple times?

With no judgement and genuinely saying it sounds kinda like you need to change everything about your life to change the situations you’re in that leads to drunken arrested fun times 😫

I found most of the 12 steps helpful..

Yes. I tried AA many years ago and it just didn't work. The people were too self-righteous cult-like. Then about 8 to10 years ago I decided to quit on my own and stopped cold one day. I just told myself "You will not walk into a liquor store again"... and I haven't.

I don't know if im considered an alcoholic but i just simply stopped drinking