Alcohol addiction is one of the most common diseases worldwide, including in Australia. It is no wonder, then, that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) continues to be a viable option for rehabilitation just about anywhere in the world.
For individuals and families searching for help for alcohol addiction, AA meetings often present the most obvious option. However, if you or a loved one is battling an addiction, AA may not work for you.
AA meetings do not fail, per se, but they simply have no impact on some people. If this is the case for you or a loved one, it is crucial to explore alternative options.
One promising alternative is the 5i Curriculum offered by Hills & Ranges Private (HARP). The 5i Program takes a holistic and personalized route to recovery, which is something that AA meetings do not offer.
The Problem With Being Addicted to Alcohol
There is a reason places like AA and HARP exist. Many people who are addicted to alcohol do not acknowledge their problem. When they do not acknowledge it, they never see the need to find help.
However, alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease that will continue affecting an addicted person’s life, regardless of whether they believe they have a problem.
If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, it is already affecting your mental and physical health. If it hasn’t already, your addiction will begin to affect your career and your relationships. It could even land you in legal hot water, not to mention the host of diseases in your future.
For many people addicted to alcohol, treatment revolves around 12-step programs like AA. When it does not work, they relapse back into their addiction.
AA does not work for some people for several reasons. Firstly, the spiritual-based framework does not appeal to everyone, and neither does the group dynamics (therapy).
Moreover, AA’s strong reliance on surrendering one’s life to a higher power often does not resonate with a large percentage of people addicted to alcohol. These people may prefer science-based treatments or individualized care.
It is at this point that HARP can offer a more tailored solution.
HARP’s 5i Program
HARP is a well-known rehab facility that boasts a 90% success rate when it comes to helping patients recover from alcohol addiction. HARP’s 5i Program is built around five core pillars that help patients recognize and acknowledge their addiction. These pillars also help guide patients toward a substance-free life.
The 5i Curriculum pillars are as follows:
- Identification. This is the most important part of the Program, as it lays the foundation for healing and recovery. This first stage helps patients identify the causes of their addiction and recognize the stigma that goes along with it.
You or your loved one may experience intense feelings of guilt or shame about your addiction. All this does is worsen your mental health status. When you enrol for rehab treatment at HARP, you can confront these feelings and understand the issues that drive you to drink.
This is a necessary step you must take to start healing.
- Integrity. During the second stage, you or your loved one will learn the importance of integrity. You will be encouraged to be truthful about your addiction and how it affects your life and your family.
- Impartiality. The third pillar deals with negative beliefs. During this program stage, you will learn evidence-based psychological techniques to help you break free from harmful thought patterns.
You may feel worthless or experience feelings of self-loathing. When you do not know how to cope with these feelings, it will make it difficult to manage triggers. During the third stage of the program, you will also learn more about your triggers and how to respond to them.
- Interest. When you get to the fourth pillar, you will learn more about how your addiction affects your brain. You will understand better how excessive alcohol use impacts your behaviour, emotions, and decision-making.
During this stage, you will also reconnect with your inner child to address trauma that may be adding to your addiction problem. Healing from emotional trauma is essential for long-term sobriety.
- Impetus. When you or your loved one gets to the final stage of the 5i Curriculum, you will already start building a life without alcohol. You will learn to set goals for your new future during the impetus stage.
The focus shifts from surviving each day without alcohol to thriving when sober. At this point, you will rediscover your purpose and set new values for everyday life.
How HARP Differs From Other Alternative Treatments
HARP is different from AA and from a range of other treatment options. For instance, HARP focuses on holistic healing, while AA focuses on acknowledging a higher power in the struggle against addiction. SMART Recovery is science-based but focuses on self-empowerment.
HARP treatment programs are tailored to a patient’s needs and history. With AA, the steps are the same for everyone (AA meetings). SMART Recovery is more flexible in this aspect, but there is not a strong focus on a patient’s personal history.
Moreover, HARP places emphasis on emotional health because it is a pivotal aspect of recovery. The 5i Curriculum includes healing the inner child and past trauma. AA is very limited here. It only focuses on admitting helplessness and making amends with others.
SMART Recovery is also limited when it comes to emotional health. It tends to focus more on cognitive and rational treatments instead of holistic healing.
Overall, AA relies on a spiritual framework and group AA meetings. The 5i Program, on the other hand, offers healing for the underlying causes of addiction. HARP can help you or a loved one develop coping strategies that you can use for the rest of your life.
The Right Way Is The Way That Works for You
There is no single ‘right’ way to overcome alcohol addiction. What works for you will not work for someone else and vice versa. However, if you find that limited programs like AA and SMART Recovery do not work for you, HARP offers an appealing alternative.
In addition to personalized care, you or your loved one will receive emotional and mental health support. When you complete your treatment program, you will also receive aftercare support to minimize the risk of relapse.
If you want to find help for your addiction or help a loved one, take the HARP quiz and measure your level of addiction today.
Sources
- https://footprintstorecovery.com/blog/alternatives-to-12-step-programs
- https://alcohol.org/alcoholics-anonymous/alternatives-to-the-aa-approach
- https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/addiction/aa-and-other-peer-support-groups-for-alcohol-addiction
- https://rehabs.com/treatment/support-groups/non-12-step-rehab/ https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/cycle-alcohol-addiction
