What Is an AA Sponsor, and How Can They Help You Maintain Your Sobriety?
AA Sponsorship: What Is an AA Sponsor, and How Can You Get or Be One? | Find Personalized Help for Your Recovery: Call 24/7
When a former addict leaves rehab, reintegrating into daily life can be a tremendous challenge. If friendships or relationships were built on the sharing of a drug or alcohol, avoiding those situations may feel isolating. It can be hard to remember and adhere to your goals for recovery from addiction. Fortunately, you don’t need to go it alone. AA sponsorship can benefit both people involved.
What Is an AA Sponsor?
AA sponsorship means that someone new to recovery has the opportunity to be mentored by a member of an AA chapter who has been in recovery for a longer period of time. A sponsor helps introduce the new member to the AA program and to other members. Regardless of the new member’s stage in the recovery process, a sponsor can act as a role model, answering questions and offering assistance if the member needs help to find a counselor or another form of professional addiction support. At the same time, the sponsor may gain a new appreciation for their own recovery journey and may actually support their own recovery by helping another.
How to Get an AA Sponsor
To get an AA sponsor, you’ll need to become a member of an AA chapter. Look for someone with whom you would feel safe discussing your recovery and any struggles you might be having. The sponsor’s gender should be a consideration, as it’s not advisable to enter into a relationship within a year of beginning your recovery. This is not to say that gender alone should dictate your choice; rather, do your best to select someone who will be healthy for you and your sobriety.
As you continue your recovery, your sponsor will support you through any rough spots, such as relapses or feelings of frustration. They will also remind you of the value of sobriety and can assist you in developing ways to cope with triggers and personal challenges. It’s certainly possible to achieve a successful recovery without this help, but 70% of AA members choose to move forward with the aid of a sponsor.
How to Be an AA Sponsor
If you’d like to become a sponsor, AA chapters around the United States have plenty of information to help you get started. At a minimum, a sponsor should have achieved at least a year of sobriety and should have a positive outlook on their new life without alcohol or drugs. While it’s certainly possible to sponsor more than one person at a time, the sponsor should consider the amount of time and energy they are able to give before committing to more than one individual. Once you are assigned someone to sponsor, make them feel welcome and included, and provide guidance as best you can.
Want to Be or Get a Sponsor in AA? We Can Help
Beginning your recovery from drug or alcohol addiction may seem overwhelming, and there are many different options to consider. But if you’d like to get or become an AA sponsor, you can call our 24/7 phone line and speak with a treatment specialist who would be glad to walk you through the process of getting sober. We can provide you with information on our private rehab facility and the wide selection of high-quality, cost-effective treatment programs we offer. We specialize in dual-diagnosis care, and we’re proud to offer detox and counseling programs overseen by our staff of board-certified doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists.
If you’re not sure which program or services you might need, a free clinical assessment is a great way to get an idea of what might be the ideal solution for you. Don’t wait to get help; start your recovery today at Tampa Drug Treatment Center.