Getting sober at any age is difficult. Substance use disorder is one of the most unique challenges faced by anyone, specifically because it convinces us we do not have it. If we’ve made our way to the rooms of AA or similar recovery groups, it may seem to be full of old, uninteresting people.
We don’t always see young faces, so we assume young people just don’t get sober. After all, we’re young and resilient – how bad could our drinking or using really be? It’s easy to think of our drinking or using as a “phase” we’re going through, too.
Many young people seem to be doing the same things we are, so why should we define ourselves as having a problem if they don’t? The decision to get sober is a matter of personal experience. You may feel like you need to get sober while others don’t, but starting recovery young is always a great choice.
You Grow Up In Recovery
Young people get the chance to grow up in recovery. Not only are we learning a new way of life, we’re literally moving through the rites of passage of young adulthood. Many young people acquire their GEDs, high school diplomas, or their first driver’s license while in recovery. This sounds like it could be awkward or embarrassing, but anyone who got sober young will tell you the opposite.
Far from being a strange, unpleasant experience, growing up in recovery means you get a built-in support system. Every young person goes through trials and tribulations. If you’re in recovery, you’ll have a group of people cheering for your success. When things get rough, you can lean on them and their experience to make sure you don’t stray from the path.
While we may be put off by all the older people in recovery at first, we quickly come to rely upon their expertise. These people know how to navigate the challenges of life without picking up a drink or drug. They may even have firsthand experience with the same issues we’re walking through.
“You’re So Lucky You Got It Young”
Of course, getting sober young isn’t all roses and cupcakes. Older people can be our greatest supporters and mentors, but they can also look down on us. You might get tired of hearing the phrase, “you’re lucky you got it so young.” You may hear other annoying cliches like, “I’ve spilled more alcohol than you drank,” or things to that effect.
It’s important to remember that every single group of people has a few rotten eggs. While these older people may be delightful in other ways, people in recovery may resent you for having gotten sober young. We should strive to never take other people’s inventories, but recognize that people who got sober older may experience regret about how long it took them to get sober.
They see that you’re able to skip decades of misery, which they were unable to escape. This is an unpleasant experience for them, and they may take it out on you. However, keep in mind that the people who will talk nonsense at you about getting sober young are vastly outnumbered by those who will jump at the first opportunity to support you.
Remaining Teachable
People who get sober at a young age have to remember that they are in no way better than anybody else. Sure, we’ve been able to sidestep the late-stage impacts of alcoholism and drug abuse, but this isn’t proof of our virtuous nature.
Most of us understand that getting sober relies upon faith in a Higher Power and reliance upon our fellow alcoholics and addicts. Still, when we’ve put together some time sober before the age of 30, it’s tempting to get a big head about the whole thing. We see people come into the rooms in their 40s and 50s taking newcomer chips, and begin to think of ourselves as superior for getting into recovery so young. This is a trap and we must avoid it.
Everyone in recovery has to make sure they understand that our entrance into the recovery world is not entirely up to us. Getting sober early or late is not a reflection of how intelligent or “good” we are. Some people need to suffer more significant consequences, while others are able to hit “rock-bottom” without life-shattering repercussions.
Neither one is inherently better than the other one. After all, once we start getting sober, we all have to go through the same process to remain that way. Substance abuse, in many ways, is the great equalizer. Once we can understand that we’re a single cog in the machine of recovery, no more important than anybody else, we can truly discover the humility required for long-term sobriety.
It’s never too young to get sober. While you might think you haven’t suffered enough or truly hit rock-bottom, the opportunity to change your life is still available to you. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we cater to people of all ages and from all walks of life. As we’ve said, alcoholism and drug addiction can happen to literally anybody. These diseases do not care how young, old, rich, or poor you are. Fortunately, recovery works the same way! No matter what your life experiences are, recovery is available for you if you are willing to ask for help and put in the work. It’s never going to be an easy or perfectly smooth road to travel. Still, the results are always well-worth the journey. If you’re interested in changing your life or even just learning more about addiction and recovery, give us a call today at (951) 526-4582! Our trained staff and experienced therapists are standing to help guide you and answer any questions you may have.