Hi, Everyone, Been a couple days since I visited the Board, so this is my check in. Got a phone call Thursday from a guy I sponsor but haven't heard from for a few weeks. OK, many weeks. He suffers from depression and mental issues, in addition to addiction. I have tried to keep the door open by calling him occaisionally, just to let him know I am available if he wants to talk. He is not a newcomer, went to his first meeting in 1982, has had multiple years clean at various times over the years; was a substance abuse counselor at a local treatment facility once for several yrs. He knows more than I do about addiction, treatment, and recovery...How do you sponsor a guy like that?
Anyway, he is currently unemployed, and has been lying around his apartment for three months watching tv and feeling depressed. He says he went out only to get food every couple days, and was just waiting to gather his courage to jump out his 7th floor window. He stopped paying his rent, tho he had money, but wanted to save it for his final expenses...he also stopped drawing his unemployment compensation because he just didn't care and it was too much effort to send in the vouchers...?
When he called me I was thrilled at first. Then as we talked I realized that he really didn't want any help, he just had no one elst to call when the sheriff came to evict him, and nowhere to go!! I brought him home and fed him while we waited for his sister to get off work and come get him. Man, it's hard to watch someone you care about suffer and not be able to do ANYTHING! At least he did call me again the next day and today to let me know he had gone to the doctor. All's I can do is pray...
I also got a call from another guy who calls me "Sponsor" but who I haven't really sponsored in over a year. He has 6 years clean and didn't even bother to get his medallion at his home group in November. He called to tell me he had left his "significant other" and was moving back to Wisconsin to get back with his ex-wife... But he still wants me to be his sponsor! I told him he could keep telling himself I was his sponsor if he wanted to, but we both knew the truth- I wish him well, though.
On a brighter note, I attended the Louisville (Ky) Area Convention of NA on Friday night and Saturday but had to come home to Indy in the afternoon to sleep for work tonight. Heard some wonderful speakers and shared in some fantastic recovery to get re-charged myself. That's what makes it possible for me to keep my own recovery fresh and alive when I sometimes feel surrounded by people who are emotionally draining. It was great to be able to get away on the spur of the moment. Spontaneity can be great for my recovery when I sometimes feel so stuck in routines.
Well, guess that's all I have to share. Hope I didn't bore anyone to death, just needed to vent a little. Thanks for being here. Big NA Love...Dan
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"With a sweet tongue of kindness, you can drag an elephant by a hair." ~Persian Proverb
You know the rest of the story. Our other responsibilty is to be there when one of us reachs out for help. Them seeing you clean makes a difference your proof that the program works.
I know this because I have been that wayward sponsee and friend before, who would dissapear for years then call one day looking to talk, in some sort of trouble.
The important thing was every time I called one of those guys were clean and living a good life.
