Online Sponsor?

Hey Chaz - Welcome to our recovery thread, and to the world of being in recovery. My name is Anne and I'm an addict. August 15th was my anniversary. I have 10 years of sobriety. Glad you are here with us. I think we have a great group here, and I hope you will find out the same.

Anne, RNC

Not in the recovery family but just wanted to thank you on your first day. I strongly believe in what you are doing and support you in your efforts to conquer this on your own.

Hi Chaz, Hi everyone! My name is Michelle, I'm an RN from Ohio in recovery FOUR MONTHS!!! Just getting ready to "graduate" my rehab program, and just starting the court-ordered program to get the felony erased. Yeah, it's going to be a long year. I can potentially get my license back in November, if I remain strictly compliant with all the terms of my program. Anyways, you didn't ask all that...

WELCOME! I think the title of your thread is misleading...if I were you and had a situation or a problem, needed to vent, or whatever, just post it on here and we can all jump in and support/help each other out. I'm pretty sure you still are having an in person sponsor, right? I think the human contact is essential in that kind of relationship. So you're still working, practicing, and you're stopping on your own!? GOOD FOR YOU! I wish, oooh how I WISH I had asked for help. I guess I just got sicker and sicker until I got caught, even though I could feel it getting beyond my control. You can look online for your local AA or NA (or CA) meetings and just show up. Don't be shy about raising your hand when they ask if anyone is here for their first meeting. The people I met that first day were instrumental in my recovery. I wanted to fly under the radar and just sit and listen, but allowing others to know how badly you hurt helps others approach you and offer support. Don't worry if you see someone you know there...they are there too!!!

I started out in psychiatry, which, to ME, was a bad fit. I got benefits of working on coping mechanisms, positive self esteem exercises, that kind of thing. It was good and there for me when I needed SOME help, didn't know what kind of help though. Then the BON referred me to an actual treatment center where I went next and found a great fit. I got into an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and am just entering my tenth and final week. I've learned SO much about myself in a very short time.

Of course, I recommend taking some time off work for awhile, maybe a short leave of absence, to work on yourself and your recovery, but that is up to you. I know I couldn't have worked while going through all this.

Not sure if I helped, but, bottom line is I support you in your efforts and would love to have you share your journey with us. xo Michelle

Hey Chaz - Just wanted to check on you and see how things were going for you. I hope you do have a support system that you can feel comfortable going to. We have such great members here that can be so very helpful. Mag, southernbeegirl, jack, tweety, and many more. They have been so great to me when I needed them.

I can still remember the month I had to wait for a treatment center to open up a bed inpatient. It was HORRIBLE!!! It was something I needed to do, no something I HAD to do for me. And I was so FOS the first week or so in denial, "I didn't need to be there, I didn't have a drug problem..." In reality I was stealing approx 150 or 200 mg of Demerol a day and using it at work. My first sponsor relapsed after 2 months or so. Needless to say, it was a hard road to walk.

Long story short, I did make it, thank God, and it has been a long road at times, but I am so glad I made the 10 years this summer. I really didn't think I would make it that long. I have a GREAT sponsor, and my hubbie is also an RN and in recovery. He also has 10 yrs in recovery and helps me a great deal.

Please know we are here for you in recovery - Mag and Jack can be so helpful. PM me anytime. I'll be glad to help if I can.

Anne, RNC

Would be happy to start that way as long as you are willing to have a sponsor that is a " big book thumper". However, the steps are toooooo important to take an " easy way out". So if your ready I'm ready, we can set up a way to talk to each other. I've been sober for 6 years now , work in an ED.

Congrats on your time, time4time. I'm an ER RN too.

Anne, RNC

Hey Chaz! You're right about that!! I just assumed that when I found the recovery forum, that I would be the "Lone Ranger" as far as ER nurses go. Of course, when I started working in nthe ER (I did that after finishing my 3 yr contract with the state board) and I can't tell u how many nurses I ran into in the ER that were in recovery. I could have started in th ER sooner, but I just wanted to wait a while, and of course, on my contract I had the "usuals", no narc administration for 6 months, no nights or OT for so many months, and no ICU or ER, and I think no HH.

I was shocked my first day in the ER of a big hospital where I had worked on med surg and a specialty ICU LTAC vent unit and saw my fellow addicts. It really did help me, even more than I knew at the time.

Not sure how new you are here, but I may have some info for you, I'll try to PM you. If not, I'll get it to you later.

Please know we as addicts and nurses are here, 24/7, and I don't think anyone minds lending a cyber ear if you need to vent, or answer questions if you have any. Congrats on your days clean, and I'm glad to see you here!

Anne, RNC