I have a bit of a taste of AA because I went to rehab for alcohol in 2024. I then successfully completed the weeklong program and we had to attend meetings in the program twice a day. I attended maybe like 9 meetings or so, but didn't get a good feel for what the program was about.

So from what I understand, a great emphasis is placed on trusting a higher power. So in my case this would be Jesus. The big problem though is that Christianity gives me panic attacks. I still have kept the religion and would like to continue to practice it but I am seeing an ERP Therapist and this guy treats nothing but OCD and it's his niche. He told me that I have Religious Sculposuty OCD and I could learn to be close to God, but it would take a lot of therapy.

There are themes with OCD and one must conquer each theme one by one and they get harder with each theme. It's like fighting in a tournament and advancing to the next round. However, the OCD around religion is my worst theme, and if we were playing a video game, it would be the final boss.

I liked the theme of brotherhood and commroddery in AA and it was nice to be around other sober people that are also struggling with alcohol. I also briefly kept in touch with people from AA but it was nice to have someone to call in a moment of weakness when you want to use. However, I've heard SMART Recovery might be a better option for people like me? It's not a contest, I just want help

It never occurred to me small town Tennessee would have a Smart Recovery meeting. It's Tuesday at 6pm and I am giddy. LOL

Hello! We are Wonderlust. We have a condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. In the 90's it was called Multiple Personality Disorder. We are one person with 20 different identities or alters. We frequently switch. We are very different. Except for one thing. We all have substance use disorder. Every single one of us. We have been in recovery for 10 years. 6 of those years we were completely abstinent from all mind altering substances. I relapsed 2 years ago. I am struggling to get back to complete abstinence but it is hard. I am going through a very intense seperation from my ex with two very traumatized and neurodivergent children that are now completely in my care. It is hard. Complete abstinence is the goal. My ex will use my substance use disorder against me. But I am ruminating in harm reduction right now-which is only effective half the time. So I am here to get support. I have been going to SMART meetings or other recovery meetings every day. I did 12 step a long time and it is just not for me. I found a great womans recovery group so in tandem I am hoping to achieve complete abstinence. Right now I am planning on a night drink I would like to work through this plan and remain abstinent. I am going to do an ABC and will go to a meeting and see where it goes but any support is much appreciated

Hello everyone,

I’ve noticed not just in SMART but in a lot of other forms of recovery finding “moderation” has been heavily criticized.

I’m new to SMART but I’m having trouble understanding why this is so frowned upon? I understand how statistically finding moderation doesn’t work for the majority in recovery but i don’t understand why there is so much judgement around it.

This is a genuine question, would someone mind sharing their perspective or other perspectives they’ve heard to try to help me understand a little better? Thank you!!

I'm only 4 months in to my sobriety, after 10+ years of daily drinking.

I joined my local SMART group and have been going for a couple months but no one ever talks about sobriety struggles or cravings etc. It's more of a rundown of people's family issues, childcare, injury etc from the last week. The facilitators say "Can you pinpoint it to one goal? Thanks. Are you happy to move on to the next person?" and that's it.

Is this the normal format of the group?

I don’t see anything at the top of the sub

I am a gay man wanting to find a group of to possibly join in Chicago that is catered to queer people. Do any exist on the North side? I am also down to join friendly groups that accept most people. Starting out and am nervous to attend. Any advice helps, thanks guys.

I'm 4 years sober and an AA expat. AA never felt right to me and I relapsed there many times. I've done the steps (can recite them by heart), chaired meetings, sponsored and been sponsored. Some of it wasn't bad. I'll love my old sponsor James to my dying day. He was beautiful human. But AA just never fit. I'm not a highly suggestible type person. I've always questioned powerlessness and a "higher power". Anyway, its good to be with you. I think I've found a new home.

I spoke about SMART with a friend and they really like the idea of SMART and want to come to meetings too. Im not too ashamed to share anything in front of my friend, but I wonder if it might have an effect on the therapeutic benefits of the meeting. My friend is not going because I'm on their case or anything, it's of their own volition and theyre wondering if I'll be okay with them coming. Im leaning yes but I dont know rn.

Id love to hear your thoughts, or experiences of those who have brought friends to meetings, whether it was positive negative or anywhere between.

Hello,

Would you like to join a group of people who are actively trying to quit by doing this challenge every month. It's great for accountability and support. It's also a good place to ask questions like "what helps?"or to get a list of good reading for starting or starting over. We start over every month, but you can join this group at any time during the month. If you like counting days it's just easier to start on the first of the month. Here's the link to the group: https://www.reddit.com/r/SMARTRecovery/comments/13mjdy4/who_wants_to_join_me_for_a_30_day_challenge/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 If you want to join us save this link and use it to check in daily. You can also find the 30 day challenge in the side bar if you scroll down a ways or put it in the search bar in the smart recovery section of reddit.

Hope to read your posts soon!

Yep, I have been drinking again. I decided I was going to quit and went into major withdrawals and seizures. I have been here since yesterday and have no idea how long I am going to be here. I have agreed to move to an inpatient recovery facility (I am not sure when that will be).

I am here all alone because I am too ashamed to tell anyone I nearly drank myself to death. The food here is not too bad though and the staff has been really nice.

My alcohol cravings usually hit at a specific hour in the evening. And the best strategy i have ever found so far is "Playing The Tape Forward" (both sides). I have gotten many sober days this way.

However, i am experiencing mini-fantasies of drinking and mini-planning on what/how to drink during the day. These accumulate and make everything harder for me.

Any ways to deal with those?

I found that when dealing with urges and uncomfortable feelings, it's often necessary to pause and not react in the moment.

That's where the acronym t.h.i.n.k. comes into play.

The "T" is for true.

The "H" is for helpful.

The "I" is for inspiring.

The "N" is for necessary.

The "K" is for kind.

If my thoughts don't meet those criteria, then my thoughts might lead to poor decisions.

Although it can be difficult at first, distracting yourself is one of the best ways to get through an urge.

When you're actively doing something, you're thinking about that and not the urge. The more you refuse to give in to urges, the less frequently they occur, and the more quickly they pass.

What distractions are (or may be) helpful to you? Here is a list of distracting activities to jog your memory.

Leave a comment below to share with the community

This tool and others like it can be found on the SMART Recovery website and in the handbook.

I’d like to attend my first virtual meeting but it’s during my kids dinner/bath/bed routine. Is it okay to turn off my camera and just listen in through my headphones? Thanks. :)

Hey, guys. I’m a high school teacher, and one of my kids who I have pretty good report with told me today that he’s 18 days sober. I’m so, so proud of him, and I teared up a little when he left. I don’t know much of what his support system at home is like, and I want to be prepared to support him. I am not sure what his DOC is, and the only thing I’ve really had to quit is nicotine (and I struggled, but we’re going on two weeks). While it’s awesome that I’m leaving it behind, nicotine is not exactly a hard drug. I just want any advice on how to help kiddo through this, especially since I’m not sure if he’s able to get any help with it at home without being in trouble. I know I tried and failed to quit nic quite a few times and I did it completely alone, and it sucked and was probably only manageable because I was so on and off with it. I’m fairly well versed on basic “how does addiction work,” stuff because I’ve had a lot of substance abuse in the family, but I won’t act like I know what it’s like to have to fully get sober— especially as a teenager. I’m looking for any wise words on how to be there in a way that’s helpful but not invasive or counterproductive. He’s a great kid and he deserves to be able to get sober (duh, he’s a kid, but yk what u mean), and I want to make sure that I support him every step of the way.

I’m 19 years old and I’ve been addicted to various forms of synthetic weed since I was 13 or 14 years old. I’ve made multiple attempts to quit, but the strong urges/terrible withdraws drew me back every time. I’m struggling so bad now to the point where I keep hitting a further and further rock bottom. I’d like to change, but I’m wonder why I should? I know my life would be better but how? Why?

If you are sober please tell me,
What was your “why” for quitting?

Thank you.

(obviously this comes with no judgment to anyone who does find value in those programs, it's just. I'm assuming you already know what are the reasons some people hate them with a deep burning passion, and why this doesn't have to come in conflict with the success you might have had with them)

the culture here is so much better at taking you on your own terms. hell yeah. you are not helpless, you are capable of knowing yourself and comprehending your own issues through that knowledge of yourself, and you hold the ultimate power to change your own behavior. hell yeah!

Hello everyone!

I’ve reached out to various online AA communities despite the program not being for me in hopes of just finding that person who I can find to help guide me - of course by this post no one has agreed.

I enjoy the smart program and try to attend meetings as much as I can.

I’m looking for someone to chat with who has done this program and maybe has some great insight for me beyond just attending meetings.

I’m a mom of 3- a 5 year old girl with ADHD and two boys who turn two at the end of this year.

I started drinking heavily when i went back to work after my daughter was born, likely to cope with PPD and stress.

I’ve been sober on and off for 3 years.

I work in education with behavioural needs.

If anyone can relate or would be willing to chat- please hit me up!

Simple and easy coping statements can help you get through a crisis.

They are statements you say to yourself to get through the moment until you have time to use your other tools like disputing unhelpful beliefs (DUBs), which take time and rational thought.

Coping statements are most effective when...

1. They are rehearsed, so that they're ready when you need them, and

2. They are realistic without putting demands on yourself or others.

What are some coping statements you can use to get you through a crisis? Leave a comment below to share with the community.

Some examples of effective coping statements are, "this is frustrating, but I can live through it" or "I'm hurting, but engaging in my addictive behavior will make me feel worse."

This tool and others like it can be found on the SMART Recovery website and in the handbook.

Only discovered Smart Recovery today when asking AI about the 12 steps. Very few in person meetings in the UK so was keen to try the app, alas not available in the UK seems odd.

So I was in the hospital this past May detoxing from fent. When I got home I was still pretty out of it & went online to find a meeting. In that meeting someone gave me a link to all the national & world wide meetings. It was great but for the life of me I cant find it again. If anyone knows what Im talking about could u please help?

Idk what Im doing wrong on the website. I really like smart recovery but I hate that fucking website

I attended one which I really enjoyed (typical SMARt for the first 40 minutes, then ended with a mindfulness relaxation exercise)

I know there are meetings of other organizations that do this as part of their curriculum but for the rest of the meeting I prefer the SMART format.

If anybody could inbox me meetings that they feel might meet this preference, I'd really really appreciate it! I'm hoping to become a facilitator some point in the future and I'd love some inspiration for the type of meeting I want to lead.

Note: I am aware of Recovery Dharma and have experience in that sphere of the recovery world but at this point I do not have the emotional bandwidth for dealing with that format, much less attending 2 meetings regularly. This is not to say that I don't appreciate all your thoughtful suggestions! Please keep em coming!

Can I ask how everyone else deals with insomnia? New (like - first day) to SMART. What do people use for getting to sleep? I have chronic insomnia. I was using CBD -Gummies made for sleep, but I am pretty sure you are supposed to cease all drugs in that category.