When you first come into 12-step recovery and meet the old-timers, one thing is clear—many people in those rooms know how to sound good. The problem, however—just like with many self-help teachers and gurus—is that newcomers, often anxious and vulnerable, have no reliable way of assessing whether the person they’re listening to is truly practicing what they preach. This isn’t a judgment of others' efforts but rather a caution to newcomers: understand that there are limitations to what a person in 12-step recovery can genuinely help you achieve. Even if they’re not intentionally misleading, many people in recovery may replace one set of harmful behaviors with another, acting out in new ways. It’s not my place to list all the questionable behaviors I’ve witnessed, but it’s important to recognize that until an addict understands the nature of anxiety and addiction, they may continue to struggle despite being sober.
