How to Make Amends in Addiction Recovery

Direct amends refers to going directly to the wronged individual, apologizing and taking whatever action is necessary to correct a situation. If an individual damaged someone else’s home while they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, direct amends may require that they go to the property owner, apologize and repair damages.

• Our team works closely with you throughout this process to help you achieve your goals in recovery.
• Before actually making the amends, be sure to make a list of all persons you have harmed and owe amends to, so that you have an idea of who you need to contact.
• Amends allow me to also right the wrongs I may continue to make.
• In some cases, simply opening up a conversation with a friend or family member about your history of alcohol use can begin the process of making amends.

Let the other person explain how they feel, how they were affected, and what they need to move forward. “Although it was a short stay at Discovery, I feel I got a lot out of meetings, commitments, feed back, and advice from my family.” “Dear Steve and Pete, I enjoy my time here at Discovery Institute. I really believe that the structure program is working for me.” We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives.

The Benefits of Making Amends After Addiction

Step 9 is about meeting with those people to actively redress the wrongs. The 12 Step program is beneficial in helping people smoothly transition to each new stage in their recovery. A big part of working the 12-Step Program is making amends. Unfortunately, after you get sober, all the hurt and destruction https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you caused in the wake of your addiction doesn’t just go away. You have to put in the work to repair the damage and heal those relationships. To make amends, you must do more than just make apologies for your past behavior. Instead, making amends means you apologize for what you’ve done and make it right.

In these instances, the best thing you can do is to focus on your behavior and remain faithful to your commitment to live an honest, sober life. Living amends refers to the ways in which you change how you live your life in recovery or “walking our talk.” These changes affirm your commitment to the direct or symbolic amends you made with others. Living amends represent the long-term actions you will take to remain committed to recovery. Once you enter into sobriety, there isn’t a set timeline for working Steps 8 and 9, so you might want to ask your sponsor and recovery support network for their insights about whether you’re ready. In Twelve Step recovery, your pace is your own to determine. No doubt you will experience challenges and setbacks along the way.

How Long Will Making Your Amends Take?

Though personal accountability and admitting when you are wrong is an overall theme of the 12 steps, steps eight and nine are specifically about identifying people you have wronged and apologizing to them. At first glance, it might seem like any form of sincere apology would sufficiently fulfill these requirements, but there is more to it than that. Continue to make positive changes in your life, and in time you’ll win back the love, trust and respect that your family had for you before you went down the dark path of addiction. An indirect amend is more about the thoughts and attitudes behind your behavior. For example, if you stole money from someone you should not expect that person to loan you money again.

• Have open and honest conversations about the relationship and where it can use improvement and stay committed to those changes.
• Sometimes, making direct amends with someone may lead to further harm.
• Yet, to be truly successful at forgiving and releasing past wrongs, you need to go directly to the individual you’ve hurt.
• We do not make referrals to other providers without first conducting a formal pre-screen process.
• Keep striving for more and never stop trying to better yourself.

Understanding the constant change of recovery also means accepting that old habits don’t just disappear.“When I’m not doing what I should be doing in my recovery, I see those defects come out. The goal in making amends is “to freely admit the damage we’ve done and make our apologies,” according to The Big Book. In some cases, making amends may mean paying or promising to pay “whatever obligations, financial or otherwise, we owe,” the Big Book also states. Dr. Cusner coordinated the financial turnaround of a 300 bed CCRC in Arizona, which has been epitomized as the most financially challenging state to manage CCRC facilities. Dr. Cusner also strengthened the business growth of the Ohio facilities by 12%. He was recognized by the Governor for demonstrating a “care-conscious approach” during COVID, when Dr. Cusner carefully consolidated facility residents to accommodate staff and improve clinical care.

What is “Making Amends” and Why is it Important?

Don’t hesitate to look into this excellent rehab program to provide that extra assistance you need. Addiction aside, the truth is that almost everyone could do learn to communicate better. As much as this process is about your loved ones, it’s also about you. That’s why you have to keep the channels of communication open at all times.

These promises focus on rebuilding your relationship with a loved one and moving forward from the pain of the past. When a person has died, you can still make amends for your actions. Although, you’ll have to find a different way to do so and in a way that makes a lasting impact on you and the people you love who are still here. • Indirect Amends— made only when living amends contact with the person is harmful to your sobriety, or direct contact with a person cannot be made face to face. You may make indirect amends by writing a letter, send an email, etc. You should still follow the guideline above when making indirect amends. Remember the Purpose If making an amend doesn’t pan out exactly how you had hoped it would, let it go.

Recovery is a Continual Journey

Along with reinforcing new behaviors and outlooks, making amends can also reduce stress. Many who lived with addiction have past behaviors they’re not proud of. By proactively correcting previous mistakes, those in recovery may be able to prevent future conflicts that could trigger a relapse. Although it was a short stay at Discovery, I feel I got a lot out of meetings, commitments, feed back, and advice from my family. But most of all, I felt great progress happened in group and one on one’s with counselors.

Making amends may seem like a bitter pill to swallow, but for those serious about recovery, it can be good medicine for the spirit and the soul. Northpoint Seattle’s outpatient treatment program is located in beautiful Seattle, Washington, and we work to help the surrounding communities. While progressing through step nine, it is really important to keep in mind that the way things feel is not necessarily the way things are. Resolution – finding a resolution to past experiences that trouble alcoholics in recovery.