[Pernell Johnson]

Patrice; There were several things she said to me that I feel were very important to my recovery. One of them was her ability to sound like a broken record each time we talked, stressing to me not todrink or use, no matter what! I think she said it that often so that each and every one of my cells got the message. She did that throughout my first year and well into my second, after that only on special occasions such as disasters or celebrations. She also brought my attention to my abusive "self-talk." She even hung up the phone pn me one day, saying she never listens to anyone bad mouth a friend of hers the way I was bad mouthing myself! She told me to think of someone I loved and ask myself what would I say to this person if this happened in his or her life, then to say this to myself. She really helped me to learn to be more accepting and more loving of myself.

One other thing she said was that If I did what others had done before me, my insides would match my outside. That was pretty important to me because I never matched. I always walked around felling like if you really knew me you wouldn't like me. I didn't show that, nor did I show how frightened, lonely, and shy I was around people.

Jeanette; One of the most important things my sponsors told me was that my problems were not out there, they were internal. I always complained about my husband, life, etc. She made me focus on what was wrong with me, not society, the medical profession, the school system, etc.

Bob B.; I guess the biggest thing my sponsor Sandy told me is I could tell him anything. I could be honest, regardless of what it was. I wouldn't be put down, and I would be treated as a friend, rather than him reacting as more an adviser or some doctor. He was just another person. Let's talk on that level, talking the gut level down.