12-Step Support in Riverside
Those in the Riverside County recovery community have no doubt heard the phrase “one day a time” more than once. This saying is a reminder to all that regardless of how long you have been working towards overcoming the battle with drug or alcohol abuse, this journey is a lifelong process that will be achieved one step at a time.
Local Resources
For men and women who have successfully completed a treatment program, it will be vital to engage with aftercare supports such as 12-Step meetings within their community upon returning home. These meetings have helped countless individuals throughout the world stay true to their goals for recovery because they provide access to local support from others who have also struggled with addiction in some form.
The Riverside County recovery community is composed of individuals from all walks of life, and by becoming an active participant in one’s local 12-Step groups, one can access all types of benefits. In these groups, you can meet a sponsor, receive psychoeducational materials related to recovery, share your story, and listen to the collective wisdom of the group.
Finding a Meeting
If you have never been to a 12-Step meeting such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), you may not know what to expect. Fortunately, many tools exist to help you find a meeting that is a good fit for you, and if you are local to the Riverside, CA area, you can review a list of meetings in a directory compiled by the Inland Empire AA group. As you review the many options for meetings in your area, you will begin to see that there are a wide variety of options to choose from. 12-Step meetings are scheduled at different times and locations throughout Riverside, California & the greater Los Angeles area, and this website provides a sorting tool so that you can search meetings that meet your desired criteria, including options for location, time/place, gender, LGBTQ, and open or closed meetings.
Once you begin reviewing the various meetings in your area, you can narrow your list to those that appear to be a good fit for you. Still, it may take some time for you to find a meeting schedule that you’re comfortable with, so take a look at the following tips for selecting a 12-Step meeting that’s right for you:
- Pay attention to meeting times and locations. If you select meetings that are convenient for your schedule, and close to your home or work, you will be more likely to attend regularly.
- Attend several meetings in different locations and at different times throughout the week. You will soon find that no two meetings are alike, and then you will be able to compare and contrast the different options available to you to find an appropriate fit.
- Speak up. When you’re ready, participate in meetings, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. In this way, you’ll make the most of the supports available to you.
- Listen to speakers as they share stories of the challenges and successes they have experienced. Know that you are not alone in your recovery, and by listening to others, you will learn so much from those who have had or who are having similar struggles with substances of abuse.