I know in my treatment program, I begin "preaching" the virtues of 12-Step programs on the first night. I encourage my patients to seek a group they feel comfortable with and start going. I encourage them to seek a temporary sponsor as soon as possible. Before they graduate, I insist on knowing where they are going and how they are doing on step work.
What frustrates me are sponsors who get hold of patients and tell them they don't need a program. Why? I believe the answer is that that takes some of the power out of the hands of sponsors. Now they are not the only source of knowledge, support, guidance, etc. for the patient. Of course, that is contrary to the words of the Big Book, which suggest the purpose is to share our stories with others, not tell them how to lead their life.
In treatment programs, we utilize counselors who are expert in anger management, stress management, relationship experts, those well versed in codependency, setting boundaries, developing relapse prevention plans and many other skills. We teach patients how to learn to "relive" their lives once they stop using or drinking. This is the task ahead of them - without the shield of their drug of choice, what keeps them healthy when the pain of the past haunts them, when the difficulties of life confront them? The answer is to learn new skills to cope with those events, leaning on our own self-confidence and our own ability, to step up to the plate and confront life with renewed confidence!
Being thankful for where we are, we can go to a meeting and share our good fortune and our new skills with others - hopefully raising the statistical probability of success even higher for all.
Blessings,
Dr. Fred
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