Relapse as a Learning Tool: Ariel Brito's Journey with AA and Smart Recovery
If you drink, if you have something bad that happened to you, you don't come into a meeting or go see a therapist or your psychologist or any program and say: okay, I drank yesterday, so I have one day back. No, you say this, I drank yesterday and that was a learning experience and it won't happen again. That's Smart Recovery.
What if a relapse could be seen as a stepping stone rather than a setback? Ariel Brito dives into this intriguing concept in her episode of SOBER.NIGHTS.NYC. Reflecting on her own experiences, Ariel recounts a summer where she strayed from her Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, leading to a period of indulgence and emptiness. Despite having eight years of sobriety under her belt, she faced challenges in managing her finances and finding purpose in life.
This led her to discover Smart Recovery, a science-based program that focuses on self-management and offers a fresh perspective on addiction treatment. Through candid storytelling, Ariel highlights how Smart Recovery helped her view relapse not as a failure but as an opportunity to learn and grow. She contrasts this with the traditional AA approach, sparking a thoughtful discussion on the benefits of both methods.
Whether you're new to recovery or have been on the journey for years, Ariel's insights on managing finances, finding purpose, and embracing a balanced lifestyle in sobriety offer valuable takeaways. Tune in to explore how different paths can lead to the same goal: a fulfilling, sober life.