- Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is the gold standard for guidance for sober living. Although, A.A. likes to avoid the idea of rules, there are some A.A. guidelines one can follow to find a new and productive life. The primary rule is obvious. The remainder are logical if one has a desire to stay sober. All guidelines below are from A.A.-approved literature, especially Alcoholics Anonymous, AKA the "Big Book."
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Without the first "rule," the remaining primary suggestions are impossible. In order to live a sober life, regardless of what path one follows, one must not drink. In A.A., individuals refrain from drinking "just for today." The idea of "one day a time" is central to Alcoholics Anonymous. It's intent is not to overwhelm newly sober individuals with the earth-shattering notion of never drinking again. According to the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholic Anonymous, "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking." As obvious as this suggestion seems, it is crucial for any kind of recovering life and is the most challenging concept for a person who has been decimated by alcohol or other substances.
A.A. offers an impressive support system for a person who wants sober living. The first and most enduring way to enter into A.A.'s support system is to attend meetings. Recovering people find like-minded people who share common experiences. More importantly, one finds others who have found a common solution to the deadly trap of alcoholism. Consider meetings as a foundation upon which a sober existence is built. There other foundational sober living rules or suggestions, which help a recovering person to grasp hope for a happy existence. -
Once a person has accepted that he is an alcoholic and attended meetings for a while, the program of Alcoholics Anonymous urges him to ask another recovering person to be his sponsor. Look for someone who has some sober time and who works the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. A sponsor will help the new person navigate sobriety's foreign terrain. The A.A. program suggests that the new person listen to what people say in meetings and that he find someone of the same gender (preferable, not always necessary) with whom he connects and who has recovered in a way that is appealing. An A.A. sponsor is supportive, honest and, above all, guides the new person through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
As one begins to experience some of the freedom that can accompany sober living, another important practice comes into view. It is time to give back what one has so freely received. Sharing one's experiences in meetings, reaching out to new people, and sponsoring others is a cornerstone of sobriety in A.A. This activity is directly addressed in A.A.'s twelfth step, which includes the line, "We tried to carry this message to alcoholics..." Armed with these five "rules," sober living comes into view and a sober person realizes a way of life unimaginable while driven by the lash of alcoholism.
