Let’s face it. Recovery isn’t necessarily an easy journey. After all, maintaining sobriety when you’re so accustomed to using addictive substances takes work, well after professional treatment. Along the way, it often consists of wins as well as setbacks. Because of the challenges of recovery, it’s important to get all the help you can. While addiction treatment facilities like ours here at Defining Wellness Centers may offer aftercare programming, much of this help comes in the form of a support network. And among your supporters, having a sponsor or mentor — such as an AA sponsor — can be the most beneficial.
The Myth of the Lone Ranger
While we tout the benefits of support along recovery, some of you reading this may think you don’t need it. The idea of AA sponsorship, for example, may seem strange or foreign. After all, our culture today still embraces the idea of going it alone or celebrating when someone overcomes incredible odds all by themselves. The concept of the “lone ranger,” a hero who flies solo and does everything without any help, is still held in high regard.
Consequently, the idea of seeking support from others during addiction recovery may be viewed as unnecessary. You may fear that opening up about your struggles or seeking help may indicate that you’re weak or incapable. However, this kind of thinking only hurts your recovery in the long run and even leaves you susceptible to relapse.
Going it alone in recovery as a lone ranger is a myth, not a realistic plan. That’s because addiction thrives in isolation. When you face future temptations and triggers along the way, it gets all too easy to go back to your addictive ways and drop your recovery goals when you’re all on your own. Instead, you need to have a support system around you to stay the course, such as the sponsor sponsee relationship in the AA sponsorship program.
What is an AA Sponsor?
Let’s take a look at one of the most familiar mentor or sponsor relationships out there: AA sponsors. So what is a sponsor in AA anyway? According to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), an AA sponsor is someone with the primary purpose of carrying the message of AA to the alcoholic who still suffers. They’re likely well-versed in the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions — the 24 basic principles of AA — due to the amount of time they’ve spent in AA and have already worked through the 12 steps as a way to attain sobriety. As such, an AA sponsor typically has maintained their sobriety for months or years, at least. At the same time, a sponsor will be capable of offering patience, understanding, and the willingness to consistently help new members in AA.
When someone new joins AA, they’re often unfamiliar with what’s needed to maintain sobriety and work through the 12 Steps. Such an adjustment may be a struggle for them. As a result, an AA sponsor will come alongside and “sponsor” them during their sobriety journey within AA. In the context of a sponsor and sponsee, the relationship is usually long-term. But what does an AA sponsor do, exactly?
In many ways, your sponsor is your true Alcoholics Anonymous partner. According to Alcohol and Alcoholism, AA sponsors will offer ongoing encouragement to work through the 12 steps, as well as support. This may look like regularly scheduled checkins or one-on-one meetings. Sponsors may have an open-door policy for sponsees to call with questions or reach out when they’re struggling with addiction triggers. But what may be most helpful in the sponsor sponsee relationship is a sponsor’s ability to speak from personal experience.
Because they can share their own personal experiences with AA, sponsors can increase your probability as a sponsee of continuing through the 12 steps and maintaining sobriety. They know what it’s like to be in your shoes and can relate to your current struggles. After all, they’ve been there, too, themselves. A sponsor can also provide regular accountability and help clear up any questions you may have from recent meetings.
Other Sponsor and Sponsee Support Options
Beyond AA sponsorship, there are a variety of other avenues to obtain a sponsor, mentor, or consistent support along your recovery journey. Similar to AA, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) offers sponsors to new members. Like AA sponsors, NA sponsors are also in recovery and help sponsees along the 12 steps. Similar setups include peer mentorship programs, which can be offered by addiction rehab programs or support groups. In peer mentorship, you get paired with someone who’s successfully completed rehab previously and has remained sober for an extended period. Your mentor will provide ongoing support, accountability, and advice as you navigate your initial phases of recovery.
If you don’t have access to official mentors or sponsors, a trusted friend or family member can be that vital support you need. In fact, we believe family members play a pivotal role in the success of their loved one’s recovery, which is why we provide a family program here at Defining Wellness Centers. A trusted friend or family member already knows you best; with the right addiction education and resources, they can become excellent mentors and support partners in your recovery.
Alumni programs put on by addiction treatment centers are also a key source of support during your recovery. These programs are designed to aid those who’ve completed treatment as they transition back into the real world. Our alumni programming at Defining Wellness Centers, for example, provides community, peer support, and accountability in different ways, including:
- Social gatherings
- Relapse prevention resources
- Private, alumni-only Facebook group
- Monthly volunteer opportunities
- Annual events
- Recovery milestone celebrations
- Personal outreach
- Networking opportunities
Benefits of a Support Team in Recovery
When you choose to seek support rather than go it alone along your recovery journey, what actually happens? Having a support team during the recovery process can produce a number of benefits to help you stay the course with your sobriety goals, such as:
Community and Belonging, Not Isolation
Addiction often leads you to self-isolate from loved ones, making your struggles even worse. However, having support in recovery simultaneously keeps you from isolation and gives you community with others in the process. And having people in your corner during the challenges of recovery can make all the difference.
Empowerment, Accountability, and Encouragement
Because recovery can be difficult, your support network can provide a steady stream of encouragement along the way, as well as keep you accountable to your goals. And they’re there to celebrate your progress, too. All of these experiences empower you to keep going, as well as instill confidence in your capabilities.
Helpful Recovery Strategies
While you may have a general idea of how to maintain sobriety during treatment, doing so on your own in the real world is entirely different. Being part of a peer support group or pursuing AA sponsorship, for example, can help you learn from others who’ve been in your shoes and succeeded. You often get helpful recovery strategies and advice rooted in experience so you can avoid the pitfalls of your predecessors.
The Statistical Impact of AA Sponsors, Mentors, and Support
In case you’re still motivated to be a lone ranger during recovery, it’s important to realize what research and statistics show when you have a support system in place post-treatment. According to Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, greater social support often leads to:
- Lower substance use rates after treatment
- Better treatment retention
- Longer days abstinent
- Improved abstinence self-efficacy
- Positive health outcomes, such as greater quality of life and well-being
- Less stress
Research also shows that being part of AA itself has shown to predict positive recovery outcomes like higher abstinence rates and higher quality relationships. Participation in AA also leads to more motivation to stay involved due to the amount of social support people can receive.
On the other hand, going it alone and isolating yourself can have a detrimental impact on your recovery. When you’re trying to be the lone ranger with your sobriety journey, you’re more susceptible to substance cravings, as well as depression and intrusive thoughts. When left on your own, it gets easier to romanticize your past substance use, putting your sobriety at risk. And without community, you’re more likely to encounter boredom, which can be an addiction trigger itself. All of these factors combine to increase your chances of relapse.
How Do I Find an AA Sponsor or Mentor?
It’s clear that social support can make all the difference on your recovery journey and long-term sobriety. But if you don’t have a mentor or AA sponsor right now, how can you find one? If you’re in AA, Alcoholics Anonymous recommends simply approaching a more experienced member who seems compatible and asking them to sponsor you. Many times, members you may reach out to are happy to help.
If you’re not part of AA or are recovering from a different substance, it’s best to join a peer support group. Many support groups are part of larger networks that may offer groups locally in your area. If not, there are usually virtual options you can consider. Once you’re involved in a support group, you’ll have access to peers experienced in recovery whom you can ask to mentor you.
Your treatment program can also provide guidance for seeking membership as well. If you’re an alumnus of Defining Wellness Centers, simply reach out to us for recommendations. And if you’ve been going it alone trying to overcome addiction, we can help. Our Mississippi-based treatment facility offers both inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment designed to heal your struggles at the source. Call us today to learn more.
