I Am Only a Teenager - Do I Really Need a Sponsor?
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If you are a teenager and just got sober, you may have a bunch of questions on how this recovery process actually works. Sobriety is super rewarding but can be confusing on the ins and outs of what is being suggested to you.
Going to rehab might have been scary for you at first and understandably so. Attempting to live without the effects of drugs and alcohol is new and can weigh on your emotional state. Your parents researched out to a rehab that best suited your needs in recovery which means they have your best interest at heart and are trying to support you in your time of need.
While in rehab, you probably received many suggestions that your therapist or counselor offered which you should consider putting into action now. One of those instructions was to get a sponsor once you left their facility, if not before. This advice may scare you to death because the thought of telling someone who is probably much older than you what you are going through is hard to wrap around your brain. How would they even understand? Will this just be another authority figure to give you a hard time?
Your concerns are certainly relevant in finding a sponsor. Getting a sponsor is the same thing as reaching for a life preserver on a sinking ship. Without the life preserver in recovery, you may drown in substance abuse without a chance to live without the bondage of drugs and alcohol. Find a sponsor who has the characteristics that you are looking for, so that you can double up on saving your life by doing what is suggested in your program.
Are they spiritual?
To find out if you initially connect with a potential sponsor, listen to what they share at meetings. If you can relate to what they are saying and get a feeling that you equate to their spiritual side, you should seek them out and ask for their phone number. Call them as soon as you can to get to know them on a more personal level to see if they have what you want.Are they walking the walk?
Anybody can memorize the recovery literature and use it in their verbiage. They need to implement the information of the program into their own deportment to truly be an example in their recovery. You would not want someone to make suggestions to you if they were not doing it themselves. Sponsorship is a beautiful gift of sobriety for people of all ages including teenagers. Find a sponsor that you think will make a difference in your sobriety and get busy working the steps. You will appreciate the time they spend with you because your sobriety depends on it.If you or an adolescent you know needs to get help for drug or alcohol abuse, Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center can give you the guidance that you deserve. Establishing a strong network of family and community can reinforce practices for living substance free.
Call us today to start living in your recovery: 662-598-4214
