What Is a Sponsor?
A sponsor, typically associated with Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), is a sober individual who has personally worked through the process of addiction recovery first-hand. This individual can share their insight and experiences from their recovery and push you to your own success.
A sponsor has a variety of roles they may engage in to help you through the process of addiction recovery. These rolesinclude:
- Welcoming new members attending meetings
- Creating a caring and understanding environment
- Encouraging others to stay sober
- Maintaining sobriety themselves
- Providing advice to those in recover
- Setting an example
- Planning meetings for the individuals they sponsor
These duties that sponsors undertake can be very beneficial. Some sponsors go out of their way to plan extra activities or keep the individuals they sponsor on track. Sponsorships vary with every relationship. This is why finding a sponsor that suits you and your personality is essential to recovery.
Benefits of Sponsors
Obtaining a sponsor during your recovery process can provide many benefits. Especially in the beginning of recovery, sponsors can provide a clear path of expectations for the recovery process and be extremely helpful. Throughout recovery, having a sponsor can ensure you always have some level of support and encouragement in the form of someone who can relate to you.
Different sponsors have various ways of incorporating themselves into addiction recovery, but generally, the most beneficial aspect of having a sponsor is social support. Finding a sponsor you relate to and can trust is crucial.
How Can I Find a Sponsor?
One of the most common ways to find a sponsor is regularly attending NA or AA meetings. Attending these meetings and getting to know the individuals who commit to recovery can help you find a potential sponsor within the group. By attending these programs, you may have an individual reach out to you and offer to be your sponsor. If this does not happen, and you find an individual who you feel would be a beneficial sponsor to you, you can pull them aside and ask if they are willing to be your sponsor. Most people attending these meetings after a year of sobriety are looking for a person to sponsor and pay forward the help they received in recovery.
If someone offers to be your sponsor that you do not feel can relate to you or find that the sponsor you currently have is not benefiting you and your recovery, it is perfectly acceptable to decline working together and look for someone else. There are many ways to still maintain a good relationship with these potential sponsors, and they may be able to connect you with a better sponsor that suits your unique needs. Inform them of specific characteristics you are looking for in a sponsor; they may be able to help you find a sponsor that matches all your criteria. That way, and perhaps in others, they can still be used as a resource in your recovery, even if they are not officially your sponsor.
Finding the Right Sponsor for Me
There are many qualities to look for in your potential sponsor to help increase the chances of them guiding you to success. The following characteristics are highly recommended to consider when choosing a sponsor:
- Look for individuals who have at least one full year of sobriety and continue to stay sober.
- Find someone good at problem-solving.
- Be able to relate to this individual and find their experiences motivating.
- Ensure your schedules align. If you are not able to see your sponsor due to schedule conflicts, they may not be as beneficial to your recovery.
- Find someone you trust. You want this person to provide honest feedback with you the same way you want to feel that you can open up with them.
- Someone knowledgeable about a 12-Step program and the overall process of recovery is essential. You do not want a sponsor who is clueless about the recovery journey. This is why finding a sponsor who is at least one year into sobriety and has been through the process themselves can be extremely beneficial.
- Have similarities. This person should be a role model, mentor, and friend to you. You must be able to communicate over similar interests and get along well.
These characteristics are all critical factors to look for in a sponsor. Ensuring you feel right about the sponsor you are working with is one of the most important things. It may take some time to get to know your sponsor on a deeper level but look for someone that has these basic qualities that you can look up to.
Sponsors can be extremely beneficial in pushing you toward success with addiction recovery. However, finding the right sponsor can be challenging. There are a variety of characteristics to look for when choosing a sponsor that will increase the likelihood of them being a positive influence on your recovery. Nearly any sponsor would provide some benefit, but choosing a sponsor who aligns with your viewpoints can create a long-lasting support system. Understanding the roles a sponsor should play in your recovery and finding someone you trust to take on that responsibility is essential. Trust is an important aspect of sponsorship to ensure you are communicating honestly and trust the advice given to you. To learn more about critical characteristics to look for in a sponsor and how to find a good one for you, reach out to Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.
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