Notices

Looking for an online sponsor

Old 01-02-2016, 12:22 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Looking for an online sponsor

Hey everyone. I am sober and doing good. I have around a month or three weeks and my relapses have been infrequent but still without fail this past year. Every month or few I go and drink beer then feel bad and sick and get back on the sobriety horse. I am starting my new sobriety count with the new year, one to make it easier and two as a symbolic representation of the start of the new year and a new day to day change in habits and life. Anyway I thought since there is not any good meetings in my area that I can attend and that this has been such a positive site for me I could ask someone in the community to be an online sponsor. I thought through the messaging system or email I could get some occasional one on one sponsoring. I am a Substance abuse therapist but am not practicing right now (because we have a new baby and I am being a stay at home parent) so I know all the book and scientific knowledge but I am looking for human support and experience from someone who has already struggled through the beginning stages of recovery. I did not become an addict/alcoholic until well after I became a addictionologist ironically but I know enough to know I still need help and cant do it myself. I have tried and failed enough alone. I am a 40 yr old white male so anyone who thinks they have the experience and desire to help, along with a little time under their own belt, please post here or message me. Thanks so much and I am pulling for everyone and will help by posting and support as much as I can. Peace be with you all. John.
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 12:26 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Thanks again for all the support I have been getting.
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 12:31 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,393
I didn't know there was such a thing as on online sponsor. Do you mean for 12-step AA-style sponsoring? Or something else? Just curious.
BixBees505 is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 12:46 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Behold the power of NO
 
Carlotta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: WA
Posts: 7,764
Hi John

There is a huge variety of recovery methods on SR. I think that your best bet would be to post in the 12 step sub forum.
Alcoholism-12 Step Support - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

I don't know if you are aware of it but AA also has special meetings for medical professionals and others who have to be doubly anonymous because they don't want to run into some of their patients.
Carlotta is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 12:46 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Why not? We have online support, why not a personal sponsor. I am not hard lined to just the 12 step program even though I respect its success for many people. Just as there are many treatments for any disease that are designed for a person in a holistic sense there are many ways to be in recovery. I am just looking for a helpful guide in my own recovery. Thanks for the question.
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:03 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 748
I feel as if I have found 100s of sponsors here. Out of curiosity..what would you be hoping to get out of a "personal online sponsor" that you can't already get from all members on this site?
Fabat50 is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:23 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Dear Fab, you are correct that it is very like having many sponsors here. There is a great amount of advice and support that I get from everyone and I want that to continue. Having a personal connection with a singular human being has an added advantage of being more intimate than a public forum. Despite the anonymity here, there are often things that a person is more comfortable saying to one person rather than on an open thread. Also, working some steps or getting some detailed guidance from someone you have learned to trust can be helpful. Not to say that all of the feedback is not helpful, because it is but there is something to be said for one on one communication. Thank you for your question. John
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:27 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Dear Carlotta, Thank you very much for the advice. I am aware of those groups and have been in one in the past. It was support for medical/recovery specialists but it is not an option in my current situation. They are very helpful though and I think lots of specialty groups, like gender or LGBT, are a godsend for unique populations. Thanks again. John
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:29 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,330
I am all for making good use of everything everyone here brings to the table, because it's all helpful.

You might want to spend some time getting to know people here well and when you make a good connection with someone, maybe you could communicate via private message if that person was agreeable?
Anna is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:35 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Dear Anna, Thank you for the suggestion. As I have only been pursuing the site for a few months I have seen so many people and heard so much that it is hard to put names with their overall recovery theoretical ideology. I was just wondering if there was someone who would volunteer who has more online experience with their sobriety than me to help me get the most from the site and in my recovery. Thank you again. John
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:37 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,330
I think anyone here who you speak with will help you to get the most out of SR.

I have to admit I'm still not sure what you're looking for. I think you're looking for one person who you can connect with who can advise you? If so, I think you just need to get to know people.
Anna is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 01:53 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 166
Dear Anna, Thank you again. I apologize if this is something that is unusual or not done on this site. I cannot go to traditional meetings currently and while I have had very good feelings posting and reading here I am trying to take my work on sobriety seriously and I did not think waiting was a good idea if I could get more involved. If left to my own devices my disease gets the better of me and I don't want to have just posting and reading to loose their effect for me. Thank you again. John
JohnQPublic is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 02:14 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,330
Okay, I see. Have you done much reading on recovery and spirituality? We have a great book list. Personally, I didn't use AA but depended on books and later on SR. Here's the list:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ependence.html
Anna is offline  
Old 01-02-2016, 04:34 PM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
PurpleKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
I hope you find what you're looking for John!!

Just wanted to say it's awesome how you're pushing forward in your Sobriety!!
PurpleKnight is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:42 PM.