Sponsor question?

Hey all!

I think i need a new sponser, my current one doesn’t seem to have the time for me…

My question is, when i get a new one will i have to go through the steps again right from the beginning? Im currently on step 5/sexual behaviours-actions (which i have all written out but have been waiting around 5 weeks to meet with current sponsor to go over).

Just the idea of going through everything right from the beginning is putting me off… kind of like when you get a new therapist and you have to tell them your life story right from the beginning :weary: such a drag… :sweat_smile:

Logically it makes sense to go right from the start again but part of me feels like itll be openeing up old/healed wounds which i dont feel necessary…

Thoughts?

And THANKS :hugs:

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Good question! I guess it would depend on the sponsor. But I don’t think you would need to do totally back to the beginning. Especially 1-3 once they are done they are done, but maybe a session or two with a new sponsor catching up with the main people / issues of step 4.
Although personally I did all the writing out in step 4, and then shared everything in 5, rather than write out one part, share, write out another part, share, like you seem to have done.

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Jumping right into Step 5 with a sponsor will certainly give her an idea of your background! But a short time to refresh the other steps and make sure the new sponsor is a good fit before Step 5 seems wise.

If you feel a kind of internal pressure to unload the 5th step, maybe a one time meeting with a drug/alcohol counselor could work. That is outside my direct experience, my first sponsor did do a similar thing with good results.

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P.S. - i admire your willingness to put in the work! You certainly could use your sponsor’s distancing as an excuse to skip this vital step or to stop step work altogether. Instead, you have chosen to continue and that is admirable!

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I’m sure it varies by sponsor, but all of my Sponsee’s start with the Doctors Opinion. It’s good for me to go back through the book

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Thanks guys.

Yes i have it in my head that i wont ever just do the steps once anyway, so what does it matter to go over 1-5 with a new sponsor… i think just with all the work of rehab and the progress ive made in the doing the steps so far i dont wanna go backwards/open it all up again… but then, im gonna be doing that in the future anyway? As far as ive been told the steps aren’t just a one and done thing anyway, you repeat them as needed and obviously work on them daily too.

Hmmmmm… interesting i have this reluctance… :thinking::face_with_monocle:

Maybe best i discuss this WITH my new sponsor? :sweat_smile:

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Typically, a sponsor meets you in your timeline.
Your new sponsor will review your stuff with you and help your sponsor help you.
Sponsors come and go.
It’s your journey

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