There are a lot of alcoholics and addicts who keep screwing up in recovery and then return to their AA meetings, completely confused about how they can not “get it.” They believe that they are missing out on the secret to staying clean and sober, when in fact they are just screwing up whatever program it is they are trying to work in their lives. It is not lack of wisdom that causes relapse, but rather a lack of application.
Addiction help comes to those who seek it. If you want to know how to stop drinking it is not going to happen if you are sitting at home on the couch and trying to wish your problem away. There are a bunch of different programs out there for staying clean and sober but the most popular one is AA and NA. Regardless of which program you follow, the key is in taking action.
None of the recovery programs out there are special or have the secret sauce that the other programs are lacking–it doesn’t work that way. If you are wondering how to help an alcoholic or addict then the key is in applying a program; not in choosing one. The secret is in the follow through. You have to put forth the work and the effort if you want to receive the benefits.
One of the biggest keys is in finding a way to connect with others in early recovery. Many will do this and still relapse, but the support you get from networking with others in recovery cannot be denied. If you want to do well in recovery then you should understand the importance of peer support from others who are trying to accomplish the same basic goal as you are. Whether or not you believe in the 12 step program is irrelevant because anyone can benefit from the peer support you can get from that fellowship.
So this process of making friends in recovery is crucial for new people in early recovery but as you go further along then a change needs to happen. The reason for this is because what got you clean and sober will not keep you clean and sober. The strategies you employ for early recovery are only useful up to a point and then you will have to make a change to pushing yourself for holistic growth. If you can do this then eventually you will transition to a creative life of recovery in which you are no longer dependent on meetings.
