Recovering from addiction is usually a lifelong journey. For many people in recovery, helping others on a sober journey is a means to give back to the community while working on the healthy coping mechanisms and habits they get from treatment. Understand the crucial role of sponsorship in recovery and how to become a sponsor.
What is a Restoration Sponsor?
Recovery Sponsor is a person who overcomes drug use disorders by providing guidance and support. Since sponsors are often individuals who are recovering and have successful experience in maintaining soberness, they can sympathize with Sponses’ experience. This understanding allows sponsors to keep sober guidance through the challenges of travel, guiding Sponse.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, you will assume the following responsibilities:
- Presented: One of the most important things you can do is to provide it to your patrons. This usually means providing compassionate ears that make freshly awake feel heard and understood.
- Provide education: If the recovery procedure is based on 12 steps or any specific literature, you will be responsible for educating the relevant processes and methods.
- Lead by example: You need help keeping your Sponse motivated, and one of the best ways to do this is to set an example by committing to a sober lifestyle.
- Become a friend: Substance use disorders often have a negative impact on people’s relationships with friends and family, which can lead to isolation. As a sponsor, you usually give your phone number and meet them regularly to foster friendships.
Which recovery teams use sponsors?
Two major recovery groups use sponsors:
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): AA is an international scholarship that they want to stay awake and help others recover from alcohol disorders. Despite its spiritual roots, both religious and non-religious members can join the recovery program, which is based on 12 steps to stay awake. One of the key aspects of AA is its sponsorship program, where sponsors can help new immigrants work through these steps.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA): NA is based on AA, so the two groups have many similarities, such as using a 12-step process, dependence on higher power and sponsor help. However, NA addresses a wider range of addiction and helps people get rid of any type of drug abuse.
While the exact nature of sponsorship varies slightly between NA and AA, the core of the relationships of all 12-step procedures is the same.
Some groups do not use sponsors, such as Smart Recovery. The group offers alternatives for those who do not resonate with the 12-step approach and spiritual background, focusing on self-reliance and self-empowerment. Although there is no sponsorship, members are encouraged to share their cell numbers and communicate with each other between meetings.
Lifering is another secular group that does not use sponsors. This approach focuses on self-help and requires members to create their own programs so newcomers do not need to guide through specific steps. However, as the group still sees the value of building supportive relationships outside of the meeting, facilitators distribute email lists and phone numbers at the meeting. In a sense, all attendees sponsored each other.
How do you become a recovery sponsor?
There are no official steps or guidelines to be a sponsor and you do not need formal training. However, there are certain requirements, such as living a sober lifestyle and thorough understanding of 12 steps or any necessary literature. You should also be passionate to give others a recovery from addiction and willing to devote time to your sponess.
Who can become an AA or NA sponsor?
As long as they have experience in drinking or taking drugs, they can recover and have their own sponsors, anyone can become an AA or NA sponsor. While guiding others’ behaviors may mean that sponsors have been awake for decades and have not faced the initial challenge of abstinence, this is far from true. In fact, being a sponsor early in the journey can enhance your recovery, help you recover and give you a sense of purpose.
Even if you are still dealing with feelings of desire or boredom, you can play the role of sponsors. When you guide a newbie sober person, the goal of a sponsor relationship relationship is to hold each other accountable, whether you both are on the road to recovery.
How long must you be sober to be a sponsor?
Before becoming a sponsor, ideally you should have been awake for several months and completed the 12 steps of your plan. This way, you will have enough time to move onto the path to healing and gain valuable insights and experiences that you can share with others. As a result, most sponsors are senior members of NA or AA groups who have recovered and attended meetings for at least one year.
How much time does a sponsor have to spend exclusively on SPONESES?
While you expect you to communicate with Sponse regularly, there are no hard rules for the number of times you have to meet or talk to each other. Daily conversations may benefit, while other relationships may only feel like chatting once a week. You can also decide whether it is available 24/7 or whether you want to set a specific hour for Sponsee to reach out.
Whether you and your Sponsee have an agreement, make sure you have the ability to guide them and support within the scope of this agreement. Also, remember that sponsorship requires great compassion, understanding and patience. Those who are newbies recovering often feel overwhelmed and may have a lot of problems, so be prepared to provide guidance on soberness and 12 steps.
How can you become a good sponsor?
If you meet all requirements and your sponsor agrees that you are ready to assume responsibility, here are some tips on how to be a good sponsor:
- Your sponsors are encouraged to attend meetings and attend them in person.
- If you haven’t heard from them for a while, create an open communication line and check it on Sponsee.
- Provide emotional and practical support – Sometimes, Sponse just wants people to feel understood, while other times, they may need help unravel the concepts discussed in a meeting.
- Open up your own addiction and recovery experience, share sober resources such as positive affirmations, and answer any questions your Sponsee may have.
Why trust us to help you become a sponsor?
At Diamond House Detox, we take a holistic approach to recovery by addressing the body, mind, body and spirit. Through evidence-based medical treatments, optional support groups such as AA and NA, and comprehensive psychological counseling, we help many clients overcome addiction and lead a more meaningful life.
Once you exit the detox facility, your journey with us will continue. Since we believe that addiction is a chronic condition that requires years of treatment, we have an alumni program to help you stay awake and help others do so even after the body detoxifies. If you want to be a sponsor and share your story and newly discovered coping strategies, you are welcome to return to your favorite support group. If you only need a familiar face, we are here too.
Start your recovery journey at Diamond House Detox
For many, one of the most important parts of recovery is knowing that they are supported. If you are still facing the challenge of recovery, our medical professionals can develop a thorough treatment plan tailored to your needs using methods such as dual diagnostic treatment, individual and group therapy, medical detox, and more.
To learn more about our addiction treatments, please contact us today!
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