You may have tried using a sober app if you have started to question your drinking habits.

Sober tracker apps can help you see if you have a drinking problem by letting you keep track of how much and how often you drink. By recording each drink, these apps show patterns in your drinking habits that you might not notice on your own, like if you’re drinking more frequently or in larger amounts. This information can help you recognize if your drinking is becoming a problem and guide you toward making healthier choices.

Affect’s app has a free sober tracker in it. People can use it without enrolling in the treatment program to set goals and count their sober days. When people find they are having difficulty reaching those goals on their own, there is help available.

Support from licensed and experienced professionals in addiction treatment helps people stop drinking, prevent relapses, and achieve sustained sobriety.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a support group that can be very helpful for people trying to stop drinking. Through regular meetings, members share their experiences, offer mutual support, and follow a 12-step program designed to help them achieve and maintain sobriety.

However, while AA can be a powerful resource, combining it with professional addiction treatment often leads to better results. Professional treatment, such as therapy, counseling, or medical care, addresses the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of addiction in ways that AA alone might not.

This combined approach provides a more comprehensive support system, increasing the chances of long-term recovery. There are many people who use Affect’s program while attending 12-step meetings like AA, Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and SMART Recovery. It’s ease of access to telehealth treatment makes it a great fit to get the support they need to succeed.

Decades of research have shown that an integrated, comprehensive program helps people get sober and stay sober. Affect’s program was designed by the best researchers and scientists in the field. Our members dramatically decrease their number of drinks and increase their number of sober days in just the first month. Their energy and health improve as the side effects of heavy drinking get better. The Affect program includes:

• Medication for alcohol use disorder
• Group and individual counseling
• Financial rewards as you build new habits, known as contingency management
• Support for employment and housing
• Affect’s 5-star rated app with progress tracking, appointment management, daily inspiration, and useful tools to help you in your journey

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a pattern of problematic drinking that runs on a spectrum from mild, moderate to severe, and generally includes negative social, work, or health consequences. Historically, this condition has also been called alcoholism.

There are many causes for AUD. They include family history of alcohol use, mental health conditions or trauma, and drinking at an early age. Often, people may be heavy drinkers for many years (known as alcohol misuse) before their brain chemistry changes, resulting in dependence and alcohol abuse.

That’s probably the wrong question to ask, but if you’re wondering, you may have done some searching online, or even taken a few quizzes. Labels can often be harmful, especially if you’re worried about what others may think. However, it’s important to understand that alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that can be diagnosed and effectively treated.

Our team will work with you to understand how drinking may be affecting your life and assess any increased risk factors. However, if you’ve tried to quit and failed, seen that your drinking is hurting your relationships or health, or found yourself choosing drinking over other fun or important events in your life, you likely need a change. We’re here to help.

About half of individuals with an alcohol use disorder who suddenly stop drinking or drastically reduce their alcohol intake experience a set of symptoms known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

The signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may include:

• Sweating
• Rapid or irregular heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hallucinations
• Anxiety

More rarely, if left untreated, or inadequately managed, withdrawal can lead to violent seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and even death.

What you’ll experience when you stop drinking depends on a variety of factors, including the amount you typically drink, how frequently you drink, and how long you’ve been drinking. In addition, older adults, those with a past history of seizures or stroke, and individuals with other serious health conditions may be at risk of experiencing more severe withdrawal symptoms.

Physical withdrawal from alcohol can be life threatening. Our team will help assess the possibility of you experiencing withdrawal and will recommend a treatment plan for your specific needs.