There is almost no greater feeling than being able to help others, especially during their darkest days. One of the most amazing steps in recovery is when you find yourself at a place where you feel like you can help others who are struggling with addiction.
Some may think trying to help others suffering from addiction is like the blind leading the blind. What they may not realize, though, is that many individuals with careers that revolve around treating those with addiction may be in recovery themselves.
Sponsors are individuals who are also in recovery from addiction. That’s what makes the relationship between a sponsor and sponsee so strong. To help others, we need to have some insight into what they’re struggling with. So, if you’re fearful of trying to help others with their addiction or seeking help from people in recovery themselves, know that it’s not the blind leading the blind — it’s the stronger empowering each other to live another day in recovery.
Ways You Might Consider Giving Back
A prime way people try to give back to others in early recovery or struggling to find freedom from active recovery is by being a pillar of support for those within their local sober communities. Many make attendance at a local support group, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), a priority in their recovery plan. Support groups can help grow your support network and allow you to listen to the struggles of others and learn from their narratives on how they stay sober. This is an excellent opportunity for those in early recovery to find a sponsor and offers others in long-term recovery the chance to help others.
Another great way to consider giving back to those in need is by volunteering. Most areas have a local, 24/7 hotline for supporting people suffering and in crisis. This could be a perfect opportunity to help others by volunteering for a hotline crisis call center. While the counternarrative is different, you may pick up the phone to find someone in a very similar situation you may have once been in. You can help them through that dark moment and maybe even encourage them to seek treatment for their addiction immediately.
How Giving to Others Can Benefit You
Discovering opportunities to give back to communities of people struggling with addiction has a mutual benefit. Of course, everyone’s primary goal is to help someone else, especially when they feel they’ve hit rock bottom. Complete acts of selflessness in helping others recover from addiction will, in turn, make you feel incredible about your recovery process. The feeling of knowing that you’ve come to a place in your life where you are able to help others is a testament to how successful your recovery is.
Another component of helping others to acknowledge is the accountability it provides. One example of that is the sponsor and sponsee relationship. In that dynamic, you know someone else is counting on you, which can be a motivator to carry on in your recovery, especially during the hard days. Accountability is an essential part of a sober community in general. If you’ve been in recovery for a while and are looking for ways to feel even more fulfilled in your recovery, take into consideration some of these opportunities to help others with addiction.
How The Ohana Offers the Chance to Give Back to Others
One priority of The Ohana Addiction Treatment Center is to make everyone who enters our facility leave as part of our Ohana. Between our trained staff of professionals and the peer connections you make during treatment, you should return to your everyday life with a newfound feeling of support from your Ohana. By being there for the people you meet in treatment, you’ll be able to give back to others by being there for them if they reach out on a bad day, or by simply checking in on the members of your support team.
If you or someone you love is looking for ways to give back to others suffering from addiction or struggling to enter or maintain long-term recovery, look for opportunities that are available in your local community. Consider volunteering at local treatment facilities or 24/7 crisis hotlines and growing your support network at support group meetings. Not only will you be able to help them through some of the darkest days of their life, but you’ll keep yourself accountable for maintaining your sobriety on a long-term basis as well. Your recovery adventure may be for the long haul, but you can make all the difference by helping others on their adventures too.
