By Elizabeth RosselleOriginal Source: soberlink.comI’ll never forget the day that I gave up alcohol for good eight-and-a-half years ago. I was working as an entertainment journalist and I’d just been covering a big music event in downtown Los Angeles. I woke up the following morning with a handbag full of loose sushi rolls (yes, unwrapped) from the buffet and a half empty bottle of vodka I’d managed to procure from the open bar. It wasn’t pretty, and while I’ve had more mornings like this than I can conceivably count, something about this one in particular made me seriously question my drinking.Before I put down the bottle, I pursued every ‘getting sober’ trick under the sun in my quest to get clean. I tried drinking only on weekends, gave “Sober October” a shot, attempted to only drink after 5pm, and the list goes on. Of course, none of this was effective which is when I decided to seek out recovery support groups. For me, it came in the form of AA, but I realize that AA isn’t for everyone. What I know now, however, is that the most beneficial aspect of the program for me wasn’t–and isn’t–the actual principles. Rather, it’s the bonds formed with others ona similar recovery journey, along with the ability to connect over our experiences. Johann Hari, author of “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs,” famously said in a TED Talk that, “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection.”

Alternative Recovery Support Networks

Since AA is just one of virtually countless resources out there for people in recovery, here’s a list of alternative support networks for people who suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and want to embrace sobriety...click here to continue reading