This is my own personal list — not a recommendation or medical advice. What worked for me may not work for you. Every person in recovery is different. These are the specific things that have helped my sobriety over 9+ years.
Quick Strategies
Practical things I kept in mind day to day:
Sugar
Chocolate
Coffee
Keep some candy in pocket
Avoid hand sanitizer
Reach out to your sponsor every day
Go to meetings every day
Take a different path home
Never go to your old bar
Take an Uber if unable to drive
Go to a meeting immediately when a burning desire hits
Call sponsor immediately when a burning desire hits
Get help ASAP for burning desires
Activities and Approaches
A broader set of activities I incorporated into my program:
Attending AA Meetings
- Discussion
- Speaker
- Big Book
- Home Group
- Service Work
- Upon Awakening
- Took notes and did research when I got home
Audio Sobriety Recordings
- Speaker Recordings
- Podcasts
- Sobriety Videos
Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Talk Therapy
- Group Therapy
Bible Study
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Reading
- Audio Reading
12 Steps
- Upon Awakening
- Handing our flaws over to God
- Traditional AA sponsorship
Meditation
- Solo Meditation
- Solo Prayer
- Group Meditation and Prayer
- Devotion
Church
- Bible Studies
- Christian Support Groups
- Church Services
- Church Service Projects
- Volunteer Work
Medical
- Prescriptions
- Psychiatrist
Vitamins
- B Complex
- Electrolytes
- A few other options
Medications
- Antabuse
- A few newer options
Community
- Support Groups
- Community Service Projects
- Volunteer Work
Professional Facilities
- Detox Center
- In-Patient Rehab Treatment
- Out-Patient Rehab Treatment
- Sober Living
- Respite
Recovery Groups
- Celebrate Recovery
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- SMART Recovery
Sponsorship and Peer Support
- Continue to call and leave message or talk to sponsor every day
- Started having sponsees calling every day and talk to sponsor when help is needed
- Peer Support (See CPS-AD)
Personal Health
- Exercise
- Healthy Food
- Hydration
- Consistent Sleep
Alternatives
- Sugar
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Keep some candy in pocket
New Friends
- Find in AA
- Find in Support Groups
New Hobby or Skill
- Sugar
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Keep some candy in pocket
Animals
- Therapy Cats
- Service Dogs
Situation-Specific Strategies
My list of 100+. Not advice.
Ask AI
- List of excuses
- Chocolate
Attending AA Meetings
- Avoid hand sanitizer
- Reach out to your sponsor every day
- Go to meetings every day
Do Not Go to Work Outings with Alcohol
- Sugar
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Keep some candy in pocket
Driving
- Take a different path home
Food
- Never go to your old bar
Burning Desire
- Take an Uber if unable to drive
- Go to a meeting immediately
- Call sponsor immediately
- Get help ASAP