The Difference Between “Clean and Sober” vs. “Being in Recovery”?

12 Step Recovery – Guest Submitted by Cameron J.

It is hard to imagine my life in five months let alone five years. Going on the assumption that I am still sober in five years, my life will far exceed my wildest hopes, dreams and expectations. At least that is what I am told by those around me that have been clean and sober for years and years. I would like to say and think that by the time I am approaching five years sober, I will have money, property and prestige, but as I have also been told, that MIGHT not be the case. That is not to say that I won’t have those things in my life, however what I am beginning to learn in recovery is, that whether I do or do not have money, property or prestige, I can live a happy, joyous and free life….conditional of course on the daily maintenance of my spiritual program. In my recovery, I am learning that it is not the monetary things that make me who I am nor do they ensure that I will become the man that I am trying to become, in fact, they may do just the opposite.

As it says in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, it makes clear three pertinent ideas: A) That I was an alcoholic and that my life had become unmanageable B) That probably no human power could have relieved my alcoholism and C) That God could and would if He were sought. This is not my first attempt at getting clean and sober, nor is Miracle House my first treatment program. This is however, my first and last attempt at real recovery!  There is in my experience a significant difference between trying to get sober and getting recovery. The way I look at it, sobriety is a result of working a program or recovery. A person can be clean and sober but not actually be in recovery, but it is not possible to be in recovery and not be sober. In the big book, it states that alcohol is not the problem, it is but a mere symptom of the problem. In other words, drugs and alcohol is what I use to treat the problem, it is my solution and my problem is me. It is how I cope and deal with my issues, my fears, my defects of character as well as the mode of celebrating my accomplishments.

Another thing that I have learned in recovery is that anything that I achieve in my sobriety is not because of my own volition, It has been given to me at the discretion of my Creator (or by the God of my understanding). It is such a freeing and comforting realization that anything of monetary value, jobs or future accolades is a testimony of a loving and caring God doing for me what I was unable to do for myself. On the opposite side of the spectrum is that any trial, struggle or challenge that I face in my recovery can be overcome with the help of that same loving God. So at the end of the day, all am responsible for in regards to my sobriety, my recovery and my life is the daily maintenance of my spiritual program and to practice the principles I learn from the big book in all my daily affairs!