I know in my heart that I'm an alcoholic, drug addict; I have a home group; I go to 12 Step meetings every day; I stay away from slippery people, places, and things; I am in contact every day with my higher power or other source of spiritual strength; I have a therapist. So, why do I need to get a sponsor in AA or NA? My answer is that you don't have to get a sponsor, but, respecting the power of addiction as I do, I strongly suggest that you do. There are a number of reasons for getting a sponsor; I'll just name a few. The 12 Steps of AA and NA are the backbone of recovery, but are difficult to work on your own: a sponsor can be the newcomer's guide through the 12 Steps. In addition, taking the emotional risk to ask a member of AA or NA to be your sponsor is an important investment in your recovery. Asking for help is not easy for any of us, but doing so is another sign of recognizing the power of addiction. As always, I invite comments on this post. Jan Williams, 05/06/2012.

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