Recovery support https://ecosoberhouse.com/ groups and individual therapy can help you if you are struggling to make amends or accept the responses of others. A sponsor or therapist can help you talk through your choices, determine the best course of action for making amends, and consider how your actions may affect others as you seek to make amends. If you’ve devoted the necessary time and energy to the first 8 steps, you should have a solid foundation from which to approach making amends in Step 9.
What Does Making Amends in Recovery Actually Mean?
Researched, fact-checked and transparent articles and guides that offer addiction and mental health insight from living amends definition experts and treatment professionals. Every month, 150,000 people search for addiction or mental health treatment on Recovery.com. Making amends can stir up old wounds, especially when the other person played a role in the pain. But by focusing on your part and letting go of expectations, you create space for peace, growth, and lasting recovery.
- This shows you understand how you hurt them and are willing to listen to their opinions and thoughts.
- We list any treatment center that meets our rehab criteria, giving you the best list of options possible when looking for treatment.
- The people you hurt may not forgive—and that’s okay—but you’ll gain peace, grow stronger, and honor your path in recovery.
- It’s important to be in a state of readiness, both emotionally and mentally, before reaching out.
Breaking Down Step Nine Of AA Alcoholics Anonymous
For example, say you stole money from a loved one when you weren’t sober. Generally, AA participants should aim to make full amends as early as possible. But only as long as it causes no Substance abuse additional harm to the people you’re addressing. To complete this step, you must be willing to admit to and face the impacts your past has had on your life and others’ lives.
- This spiritual foundation is crucial in helping you find the courage needed to complete your amends while also keeping you grounded in your recovery.
- Generally, AA participants should aim to make full amends as early as possible.
- I didn’t move forward until I had reached a place of forgiveness and acceptance—because amends made with bitterness still carry weight, and not the kind that heals.
- Most people have amassed a bundle of actions towards others that reduce their spiritual moral sensitivities.
- My living amends is being the son she deserves–someone who will do for her as she has always done for me.
- It provides a solid foundation upon which broken relationships can be mended, and new, healthier relationships can be built.
Levels of Care
Remember that your journey is unique and valuable, and every step — no matter how difficult — brings you closer to healing and self-improvement. Begin by choosing an appropriate time and place, and communicate your intentions honestly and succinctly. With resolution, you aim to find a solution or explanation to the problems caused by alcoholism. In this step, you look for answers and solutions and finally lay these issues to rest. The 9th step in AA is about making amends, regardless of the outcome. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
