Addiction recovery has come a long way in the last 100 years or so. It has gone from a place that was mired in judgment and stigma to a place that now has much more of a focus on empathy and compassion. Two people that can take some credit for this are the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith. With the founding of the original 12-Step recovery program, these two pioneers discovered one very pivotal part of recovery; working with others. They discovered that in addiction recovery, nothing compares to a “shared experience” with others.
What Exactly Is Shared Experience in Addiction Recovery?
The primary text of 12-Step recovery (most commonly referred to as “the Big Book”) actually has a chapter dedicated to the concept of shared experience. It is titled Working With Others. The chapter begins, stating, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from [substance and/or alcohol abuse] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail.”
This is the essence of shared experience. Individuals who were once ashamed or embarrassed by the wreckage of their past active addiction now find that their past experiences make them uniquely qualified to help other individuals that are struggling with the same issues.
Shared experience works in two ways. One, it can show individuals that don’t have as much time in recovery that with work, “they too can recover.” It is the concept of “If I can do it, so can you.” Two, it keeps individuals with experience in recovery connected to their community and on track with their treatment plans.
The Importance of Shared Experience to Addiction Recovery
There is a concept that is discussed in many recovery circles known as “terminal uniqueness.” What this means is that many individuals who struggle with addiction often feel like they are the only ones that are going through it. This terminal uniqueness is what causes many individuals to feel ashamed about seeking help. They feel like they will be judged because no one could possibly understand what their addiction has brought them to.
However, what individuals soon find out through connecting with other people in recovery is that their feelings are not unique at all. Now, that doesn’t mean that their specific story isn’t unique. What it means is that the way they felt in active addiction is not unique. The details differ, but the emotions are wholly relatable.
It is when individuals realize that others felt the same intensity of despair, loneliness, and hopelessness in their active addiction that they then no longer feel so alone. This is when they also realize they can use their story and their experience, both in active addiction and in recovery, to help others who are struggling. Also, helping others can be a critical key to long-term recovery.
The Importance of Helping Others in Addiction Recovery
While it may seem paradoxical, by helping others in addiction recovery, an individual is actually helping themselves even more. By helping others, they are getting away from their own struggles to focus on someone else’s, and it’s quite difficult to focus on two things at once.
The Chapter Working With Others describes what may happen when helping others in recovery. It illustrates how “Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends – this is an experience you must not miss.”
There are many pivotal parts to a program in addiction recovery, and yes, some of them are very individualized. For example, many people utilize one-on-one psychotherapy to get to the underlying emotional issues of their addiction. Ultimately, it is important to remember that no matter how much others try, recovery does come down to individual action. However, when those actions incorporate shared experiences with others, the chances for success can be greatly increased.
The Importance of Shared Experience at Clearview
Here at Clearview, we take the concept of shared experience very seriously. We utilize a program by which our students that are farther along in their recovery help and mentor our newer students. This not only helps them understand how the program works but it also shows our younger students that there is hope and happiness on the other side of their struggles.
In Matthew 5:42, Jesus tells us, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” This is what shared experience is all about in addiction recovery. What was once thought of as troublesome baggage is now our greatest asset. We are not meant to go through life alone, especially in addiction recovery.
At Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we like to say we light the path of recovery. However, we also give the light to our students, so they too can one day light the path of someone else in need.
Being able to relate to others that have the shared experience of active addiction (and addiction treatment) can be critical for successful long-term recovery. This is because it rids the individual of “terminal uniqueness” (feeling alone in their addiction struggles), as well as being able to see how others like them have managed to recover. Here at Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, shared experience is integrally integrated into all of our treatment plans. We have found that this shared experience not only helps our students connect but it also helps them connect with others after they leave our center. For more information on shared experience in addiction recovery, please reach out to Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.
