Making Recovery Gains
What is a sponsor? That’s one of the first questions people new to 12 Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotic Anonymous (AA or NA) will ask. It makes sense – “get a sponsor” is typically the first recommendation you’ll hear when you’re a newcomer. It’s good advice; a sponsor will help cut through the initial confusion of how the 12 Steps work so you can settle into the program. Beyond that, of course, a sponsor will help in a great many ways, and will not only your touchstone during a time of fear, anxiety, and struggle initially, but will help guide through the 12 Steps as your recovery progresses.
An Answer to “What is a Sponsor?”
Despite whatever else a 12 Step sponsor will be in your life, at the foundation of it all, a sponsor is a fellow traveler along the path of recovery. A sponsor is not a therapist, counselor, instructor, social worker or person in authority over you, nor do you have to have a sponsor to join a program or participate in one. However, everyone is encouraged to seek out someone who will serve in that role and to do so without delay.
Sponsorship is based on one alcoholic or one addict helping another. It carries on the tradition of AA’s creation in which one alcoholic helps another. As all 12 Step programs were built upon AA’s framework, this concept has remained central to all programs and has proven effective—so effective in fact, that newcomers are still today urged to take this important step right away.
A Trusted Confidante…
Addiction isolates us and distorts our perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. The recovery process must tackle those and every other aspect of active addiction’s impact on us and our lives. It takes time and there are many achievements, breakthroughs, and milestones to be reached along the way. The great news is that we improve dramatically as we go. And, one of the best things we can do at the outset is to connect in a meaningful and honest way with a trusted confidante who understands where we are, what is behind us and what lies before us. A sponsor fills all those requirements.
There is a great deal of misinformation about addiction and the people who have addictions. There is also, unfortunately, a great deal of judgment. Naturally, none of us want to come up against these things when we are already in a vulnerable state. Connecting with a person who has been there and has left there is invaluable.
A sponsor is often the first person you call when the night seems too long and you just want to drink or use. Many times, this is the person you depend on to help you celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and help you get back up when you’ve had a relapse. Sponsors become that all-important recovery guidepost for many who are working to quit their addictions.
Choosing a 12 Step Sponsor
Choosing a sponsor and the dynamics of a relationship with a sponsor are informal. That is, there are no program rules that govern these things. However, there is a good deal of traditional wisdom and practice for both how to choose a sponsor and what a sponsor will provide. These practices date back to the early years of such programs and have endured due to their effectiveness. Overall, the sponsor is viewed as someone who will help you integrate into the program by being introduced to other members, acquainting you with the 12 Steps, introducing program literature, and providing support for your sobriety. These things can be accomplished through telephone calls, private meetings and meeting the sponsor at program meetings or in other informal group settings with other members.
If You are Ready for Recovery
If you are ready to recover from an addictive illness, there is a great deal of effective help available—both in treatment and in the community after treatment. 12 Step programs like AA and NA are often integrated into rehab programs to some degree, but all valuable resources after treatment for sustaining treatment gains. If you are ready to overcome your substance problem, we can help you find the right help for you. Reach out today.
