What is a Sponsor in Addiction Recovery?

How Do I Get a Sponsor?

Once you think a person might make a good sponsor for you, you simply ask that person. If you feel uncomfortable asking them at the meeting, it is perfectly acceptable to ask them for their phone number or ask them to grab a cup of coffee after the meeting with you so you can get to know them one-on-one. Simply tell the person you are looking for a sponsor. Most individuals are happy to explore the possibility and get to know you better. If a person tells you they aren’t taking on sponsees, do not take it personally. It is better a person declines to sponsor you who might not have the time to dedicate to the relationship. It is not personal. Brush it off and ask the next person whom you admire. And remember, the person does not have to have the exact life you want — it is more important that you trust they have worked the steps with their sponsor and can take you through the same process. If you feel they can do that, then don’t worry if you are quite different. You might learn a lot from someone who is very different than you.

What Does a Sponsor Do?

What does a sponsor do, exactly? The most obvious role that a sponsor fills is walking people through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is really the only requirement when it comes to sponsorship. However, most men and women who take on sponsees choose to fill the following roles as well:

• A sponsor will be available to pick up the phone – When you are experiencing emotional turmoil or trouble in your life, your sponsor should be the first person you think to call. They will help you calmly find a solution. Of course, no one is available around-the-clock, and if you choose a sponsor who has a life of his or her own, there is a good chance that this person won’t be available every time you call. But if you leave a voicemail detailing why you called and what you need help with, he or she should call back. Remember that your sobriety is not your sponsor’s responsibility, and if for whatever reason he or she is unavailable, you can and should reach out to other people in AA. It is a good idea to have a strong network of people with solid sobriety you feel comfortable calling.
• A sponsor is there to help keep you accountable. – This is why your sponsor typically requests that you call to check in or say “hi” once a day, and why he or she will instruct you to make at least one 12-step meeting on a daily basis too. In early recovery we have a hard time figuring out what is best for us. We might assume that skipping our daily meeting so that we can go to the beach with friends is a bright idea, or that getting into a relationship with that heartthrob from detox is a no-brainer. Our sponsor is there to keep us in check and remind us that our best thinking got us to where we are today.
• A sponsor acts as a reminder of what you can achieve if you stay on the right track – This is why it is so important to choose someone that you look up to and admire. If you ever start to feel down on yourself, or if you ever start to feel like staying sober might not be worth it, simply look at how far your sponsor has come.

Sponsorship in Alcoholics Anonymous

What does your sponsor do as far as the 12 steps, other than walk you through them? He or she teaches you about each step individually — what it means, why it works and what principle it pairs with. Your sponsor teaches you the prayers that coincide with the steps, and listens to you go over your fourth step. This is a big one — because it is so crucial that your fourth step is comprehensive and that you really get into the nitty-gritty. It is important that you trust your sponsor enough to openly share your secrets. Your sponsor teaches you the importance of prayer and meditation, and helps you prepare to take other people through the steps when that time comes.

The History Behind Sponsorship

When Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, first conceived of the AA program, the word “sponsor” did not exist, but the concept of mentorship did. If you’re not familiar with Bill W.’s story, he was a low-bottom alcoholic who was facing his own death from alcoholism. While in the hospital, he had a white-light experience that alleviated his alcoholism just enough for him to leave sober. He was sober and doing well for a time, but one evening he felt a strong urge to drink. The story goes that Bill was standing in the lobby of a hotel. He looked over at the glitzy bar — people drinking merrily, celebrating and making liquor look glamourous. He knew he didn’t want to drink, but felt a strong pull.

But then a thought came to him as if divinely placed: “You need another alcoholic to talk to,” the thought said. “You need another alcoholic just as much as he needs you!’

Instead of going to the bar, he went to a phone booth. He called hospitals looking for another alcoholic whom he could help. When he finally got through to a hospital receptive to the idea of him coming in to speak with a patient, he jetted over. He was sent to speak bedside with another man who had been struggling with alcoholism in the same way Bill had been. That man was Dr. Bob.

Bonded by their common struggles, Bill W. and Dr. Bob became the first two members of Alcoholics Anonymous. The word “sponsor” was not used, but Bill carried the message to Dr. Bob, who in turn safeguarded his own sobriety by mentoring countless other alcoholics. Through sharing, both of AA’s co-founders discovered that their sobriety relied on them helping others. And, they found, that through serving others, their own sober lives were enriched beyond measure.

Over time the idea of sponsorship became more formalized. Now it is suggested that any individual looking to get sober should get a sponsor to guide them through the recovery process.

AA’s literature describes sponsorship as: “An alcoholic who has made some progress in the recovery program shares that experience on a continuous, individual basis with another alcoholic who is attempting to attain or maintain sobriety through A.A.”