Sponsorship is a mutual and confidential sharing between two Al-Anon members. Experience shows that having a Sponsor is a valuable aid to personal understanding and use of the Al-Anon program of recovery.
There are no requirements for Al-Anon sponsorship. However, it helps to choose someone who is committed to using the program in his or her own life, and who can share experience, strength, and hope as a result of practicing the Twelve Steps. Having close, personal support between meetings can help newer members apply tools of the program to their lives. It is up to both members to establish the relationship.
The choice of a Sponsor is a personal one. The act of asking someone to be a Sponsor is part of one’s personal recovery, and most members ask someone they relate to, who “has what they want,” to be their Sponsor. Many members share that they listen to members share at meetings for a period of time before asking someone for help. Al-Anon is a program of “attraction rather than promotion.” As an alternative, some meetings offer announcements of members willing to be temporary Sponsors. There are no geographic restrictions or time constraints to a sponsorship relationship.
I have been in Al-Anon a long time, worked the steps many times, back on step 4 and find I need a sponsor.
My husband is an alcoholic. I finally left. Not to end the marriage but to protect our daughter from anymore exposure. I don’t know what to do or where to start.
I am an adult child of alcoholics. Looking for a sponsor. Just starting out.
I have found that by going to meetings, reading literature, praying & meditating, I receive about 10% of what Al-Anon has to offer. When I choose an experienced sponsor, call that person weekly, and discuss the Steps in depth, I receive 100% of what Al-Anon has to offer. I can’t fix my own brain with my own brain! I need what a sponsor has: knowledge of the program, loving concern for me, and also emotional detachment from my situation. This program WORKS.
I am new to the program and in need of a sponsor.
I’m new to the program. Not quite sure what to do. My husband is in rehab for the first time. His therapist recommended this program and a sponsor.
I’m new here and I think having a sponsor would pay off on the long run
I have people that try to help me with psychological & emotional issues but they don’t understand what it’s like to live with the verbal abuse from an alcoholic.
I am new and need a sponsor I am wife of an alcoholic.
I’m new and could really use a sponsor…
I thoroughly believe in sponsorship. I do not believe that I can do it best by myself. But I have had very unsuccessful results in working with a sponsor. I observe people working their program and have reached out to ask others to be my sponsor. I have had several occasions where a person agrees to sponsor me and then I never hear from them again even after multiple attempts to reach them. I don’t take it personally, I don’t think they change their behavior when I’m not in the room. It has reinforced my habit of not asking for… Read more »
I need one. I’m an adult child of an alcoholic. I don’t know where to begin
When I first started in the program I thought I could do it all by myself (nothing new there eh?). I begin working the steps by myself until I got to step 5. Then I thought, ok, now what do I do. Being the rule follower that I am, I couldn’t skip this step but I was so afraid to share anything with another individual that I put it off for quite a while. I finally got the courage to ask someone to be my sponsor but it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But, it was… Read more »
Thanks for this post. I am recently back in to Al-Anon and need a sponsor. This is encouraging for me to restart my Program.
I always appreciate getting the E blast that comes out. I have a sponsor and I sponsor five people. Sponsoring and having a sponsor is one of the key things that has helped me to continue to learn and grow and truly work my program. There is no possible way I could be an effective sponsor unless I am on my toes…I do this by being accountable to my Higher Power, myself and my sponsees. I urge anyone that does not have a sponsor to find one, even a temporary sponsor, where you can begin to put your guard down,… Read more »
Thank you for this post. I am so grateful for my sponsor. She is helping me work through the steps and maintain a good attitude during these covid times. I feel like [we] are growing together and that is a wonderful feeling.