September is National Recovery Month, so I'm kicking off a mini-series called Sobriety 101. This one's for anyone who wants a path to recovery outside of the traditional 12 steps.

I'm a 12-stepper myself, but after 450+ episodes of this podcast, I know there isn't just one way to get and stay sober. In this episode, I'm sharing what I would do first if I were starting over today and didn't want to go the 12-step route: get brutally honest with myself about whether I can actually moderate.

I talk about my own two years of trying (and failing) to control my drinking, the writing exercise I'd use to get clarity fast, and a warning about "coaches" who prey on people who aren't ready to fully give up alcohol.

Today marks 11,821 days sober for me, one day at a time.

This episode is brought to you by Soberlink, a high-tech breathalyzer with facial recognition and tamper sensors that sends results straight to the people who need proof you're doing the work. Go to soberlink.com/oneday to claim your $100 enrollment bonus with a qualifying plan.

Next week: how to get through your first week of sobriety, nervous system regulation, and how to identify (and survive) your drinking triggers.

If there's a topic you want me to cover in this series, leave a comment and let me know.

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