Comments made by a recovering member of Alcoholics Anonymous about the process of recovery.
This provides evidence that getting sober is a process not a sudden or once only event.
1. I had tried before, and didn’t succeed. This time I really tried using AA as part of my Recovery Program. Although I was court-mandated; I listened; I learned; and I call it a blessing.
2. …the biggest thing with me is my Spirituality in the Program. I believe strongly that my Higher Power, whom I call God, is the One who has given me sobriety… the reprieve…
3. When I finally sat down and listened to others’ stories, it really was an awakening… I might actually be able to stay sober…
4. I got a Sponsor… he didn’t take any flack… he didn’t feel sorry for me… he was actually very hard on me…
5. …finally surrendering and doing what I was told to do (by my Sponsor) was a big help…
6. The main thing for me is, waking up every morning sober, and thanking God… and working the Steps everyday of my life…
7. I have a great support system, my Sponsor, a core of people in Recovery… I’m getting to know people… and trusting them has helped…
8. My girl friend is in Recovery, and that helps… we call each other up on our Steps…
9. Relationship with my Mom has gotten stronger…
10. …my faith has become more and more believing… that God actually wants to see me do well.
11. I had trouble all the time when I drank… getting beat up… trouble with the law, and wrecking cars…
12. I had blackouts… where I didn’t even know what I did…
13. …the biggest help for me from others is realizing I wasn’t alone… there was actually help… and I might actually be able to stay clean and sober…
14. The main thing for me is, wakening up every morning sober, and thanking God for another day of sobriety…
15. I get to know people… and learning to trust people…
16. Developing my Spirituality gave me a reprieve from the compulsion to drink…
17. My Mom has always been there for me… and now our relationship is stronger…
18. I realize I didn’t have to do this Recovery alone… there is help…
19. I learned to forgive myself and to stop beating up on myself… and now I know I have to be responsible for my own actions…
20. To me, it’s not drinking one day at a time, and looking to get well… my problems came from the way I looked at myself… to find out what kept me there… hold on everyday and believe it can be done… staying sober and getting well.
From The Experience of Recovery from Alcohol/Drugs (AOD) By Joyce R. Dickens
-
Related Reading:
