Going to your first 12 step meeting can be a very scary thing for an addict or alcoholic seeking recovery. By nature, addicts and alcoholics are isolative and the very thought of being in a room full of people can be earth shattering, terrifying or even embarrassing to admit that we to have a problem. However, your willingness to be clean and sober overwhelms the scared and embarrassing thoughts and you press on and take that leap of faith and attend your first 12 step meeting.

You arrive at the meeting and you are suddenly welcomed by people who claim to be just like you. They give you a hug and tell you, “Just for today, you don’t ever have to feel this way again”. Every part of you wants to believe what these fellowship members are telling you, but your disease is telling you to resist these new ideas of recovery. Still, your willingness for a new way of life takes you into the meeting and you find a seat. You are looking around the room judging everyone you see because you really don’t know any other way to receive people into your life. You notice many of them are smiling, talking or even laughing. You suddenly realize you want what these strangers that you are judging have. The idea dawns on you that this program really may work, but feel very dismayed because you just don’t know how to work it.

The meeting begins. The room goes quiet and the chair person begins a moment of silence and the Serenity Prayer. The readings begin and when they are over the chair person asks, “Is this anyone’s first meeting”. You raise your hand scared out of your mind and state your name. The fellow members in the room say things like, “Welcome”, “Stay” and “Keep coming back” and for the first time in a long time you realize you are wanted and accepted somewhere. As the meeting progresses, you hear many new things about steps, living life in recovery, home groups and sponsorship. This all confuses you, but you continue to keep an open mind.

The meeting has almost reached an end and a fellowship member goes to the front of the room and begins to acknowledge various amounts of clean time. He says, “Is anyone here with 24 hours or just a desire to try this new way of life”. You get up, look around and realize people are clapping, smiling and exiting their own chairs to give you a hug. You feel comforted and more inclined to keep coming back. As the meeting ends you are gathering quite a crowd of fellowship members to welcome you to this new way of life and give you their phone numbers and contact information. It suddenly hits you, coming to this meeting was so very scary, but ended up being one of the most rewarding things you could have possibly ever done for yourself. You know your work has just begun on this new journey of recovery, but you know in your heart you have finally come home.

At Seabrook, we are committed to providing quality addiction treatment for the physical, emotional and spiritual illness of chemical dependency. Our structured, nurturing programs, along with the principles grounded in the Twelve Step philosophy of recovery, combine to foster the kind of change necessary for a clean and sober life. Our wide range of addiction treatment services include: intensive detoxification, individual and group therapy, and education in the biological, social and spiritual aspects of addiction in residential treatment. Seabrook will provide you with the tools you need to continue to live a clean and sober life. You are encouraged to get clean with us and continue to your recovery at regular 12 step meetings.