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One Year of Treatment by Kelly K.

by Sober Living by the Sea — last modified Jun 22, 2009 08:45 AM
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For many years I would get my family to help me get out of trouble which often included providing the means to receive treatment. As the years passed I burnt more and more bridges and slowly the reality of my situation became clear...

In this entry, staff member Kelly K. reflects on his recovery.

I would hit a new bottom and become willing to go into treatment again and again. As my physical health and legal problems (if any) became alleviated and the damaged relationships were repaired, the suggested "one year of treatment" would be cast aside as I would have delustional thoughts like "all I need is to-

 

- get back to work"

- get a apartment"

- get into a relationship"

- take care of legal problems"

- get a nice car"

- lose some weight"

- get some sun"

- exercise and get a dog"

- take vitamins"

- go to meetings and get a sponsor (only when I find the right person)"

Year after year I would find myself in progressively worse situations.

It was not until I finally became willing to take direction from men and women who had done it before me that I was able to really change my life.

See, I thought the professionals wanted something different for me. All I heard is "one year of treatment." I didn't realize that they wanted for me to complete a long period of treatment to build a stronger foundation and network of new friends. The result of this would be that I get all the things in my life that I want.

 

An example of how to spend one year of treatment:

 

  • 3 months to Detox and find a sponsor and work steps 1, 2, 3 work on physical sobriety.
  • 3 months to develop a daily routine, work steps 4, 5, 6 find a home group, get a commitment.
  • 3 months to trust the new daily routine, work steps 7, 8, 9- find a job or go back to school.
  • 3 months to enjoy this new confidence, work steps 10, 11, 12 – find an apartment or roommate.

It took me a long time to find out that I was not as well as I thought I was. Having people enable you with money that you did not earn was a part of the problem. I always wanted what I wanted and wanted it NOW!

I am grateful for my life now. My sobriety date is 10/5/03 I have a sponsor and have worked the steps to the best of my ability. I have a daily routine. I am married and we have a apartment. I have 4 dogs and a cat. I have been at the same job for 5 years. I have real friends,
My prayers of being able to sit in my own skin have been answered.

I have finally have given myself a chance to heal and change – One Day at a Time

Kelly K. is a staff member who belives that the newcomer to sobriety should have as much fun as possible. Kelly believes in doing "whatever it takes" to keep the new person around long enough to experiencing the miracle of recovery.