My Sobriety Timeline
Sober since January 14, 2017
Days 1–6 (Week 1)
Government Medical Detox
Put in severe alcohol withdrawal lock-up requiring 24-hour medical supervision.
Symptoms included hallucinations and full-body withdrawals that could have become fatal.
Given a medical detox to prevent these fatal withdrawals.
Day 7 (Week 1)
First AA Meeting — Got a Sponsor
My rehab facility was originally built on a 12-step philosophy.
My first AA meeting was at rehab where I picked up a white chip.
During my first share, I asked how to find a sponsor.
After the meeting, my sponsor approached me and a close friend immediately and we started the Upon Awakening process with phone calls, meditations, and reading.
I purchased a Big Book.
Weeks 2–6
In-Patient Rehab (28 days) [Steps 1 & 2]
Residential treatment program — structured environment, group therapy, and continued introduction to the 12-step program.
I continued the Upon Awakening process with phone calls, meditations, and reading pages 87–88.
Weeks 7-8
Out-Patient Rehab (14 days) [Step 3]
Stepped down from full-time live-in facility to 3 days a week, afternoons only, while beginning the transition back to daily life.
Read the Big Book from the opening page through page 57 with my sponsor, including writing notes, underlining, and highlighting.
I continued the Upon Awakening process with phone calls and meditations, but now used the Third Step Prayer instead of pages 87–88.
Weeks 9-22
First 90 days home: 80 Meetings in 90 Days [Steps 4–8]
Returned home and immediately committed to intensive meeting attendance.
Attended 80 AA meetings within the first 90 days back.
I worked Steps 4 through 8 with my sponsor.
Held a group-conscience position at my Primary Purpose home group — "The Speaker Guy."
Attended monthly business meetings and voted on group decisions.
I continued the Upon Awakening process with phone calls and meditations, but now switched to the Bible.
Weeks 23-39
Start sponsoring other men [Steps 9-12]
Continued attending meetings and working the steps. Focused on building a new life in recovery.
By week 39, I had progressed far enough to start sponsoring other men.
I continued the Upon Awakening process with phone calls and meditations, still using the Bible.
Late-2017 to Current
Dual Diagnosis
Alcohol cravings have been replaced by depression and mania.
I replaced my selfish old habits with healthy daily practices:
Attending AA meetings
Bible Study
Service Work
Listening to Speaker Recordings, Podcasts, and Sobriety Videos
Home Group
Upon Awakening, Immediate Amends, Step Work (current step)
Continued sponsoring other men [Steps 10-12] while suffering from severe mental illness.
My sponsees began calling me for the Upon Awakening process, so I started adding much more variety into my program to meet their needs.
Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Traditional AA sponsorship
Audio book
Service work
Meditation and prayer
Church and group studies
AA meetings
Prescriptions
Community groups
Rehab
My Sample Schedule
After 9 years of sobriety
| Frequency | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 day a week | Full Time Job & AA Meeting |
| 1 day a week | Full Time Job & Bible Study |
| 3 days a week | Full Time Job |
| 1 day a week | Day Off & Service Work |
| 1 day a week | Day Off, Home Group & Church |
| Every day | Upon Awakening, Immediate Amends, Step Work |