After a bit of time in sobriety, and this is perfectly normal, us addicts tend to find ourselves pulling back a little bit from Alcoholics Anonymous and/or other 12 Step Meetings. We pull back from our home groups and even our sober friends. Who can blame us right? There have been so many changes in the past number of days, weeks, and months, we might feel we need to take a breather.
A large percentage of alcoholics and addicts tend to pull away from people well before they stop using. Most of us have alienated friends and family, and consciously and subconsciously feel that the only solace we can find is through alcohol and other drugs. But once we’ve found our way to sobriety, via a medical detox or through another avenue of help, we ease into being surrounded by others. There is a comfort in like-minded recovering addicts.
Then you miss a meeting, or cancel plans and stay in for the night; nothing wrong with that at all. Maybe you take a bath, curl up with a good book, or even meditate. These are all wonderful ways to spend your time when away from your sober community. There really isn’t a cause for concern. The concern should begin with this become more the norm than the exception.
If you are in your first 90 days of sobriety, you might still be a bit shaky, so it is not advised you be cavalier about missing meetings. You should try very hard to be in 90 meetings in 90 days. If you are physically ill, be sure to talk to your sponsor or another sober buddy. It will help.
There are other forms of isolation, and a lot of us fall prey to it. We go to meetings but sit in the back, don’t volunteer to speak, and certainly don’t participate. 12 Step programs are a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism and addiction.
No one can get sober alone and find happiness. You must reach out for help every day.