Dallas Bragg describes Samuel, someone who traded meth addiction for obsession with recovery itself. He attends endless meetings, judges others harshly, and his sponsees flee because his shame-based approach hurts more than their original addiction did. Bragg urges people like Samuel to seek therapy and honest self-reflection.
All right, this week's Tina archetype is 12 Steps Samuel. Samuel isn't using meth, but he has a new addiction that's just as harmful. In and out of the rooms for years, he continues to emotionally relapse by requiring constant meetings to stay regulated, calls to his sponsor because he is perpetually triggered by what others are doing. He remains angry, judgmental, and is very concerned by what others are doing with their recovery journey. He has been a sponsor, but his sponsees disappear because he has caused more shame in their life than being an active meth user. He can quote the Big Book, page and verse, but using that knowledge to browbeat and point out where others are going wrong. His lack of white key tags is a point of pride for him, but unfortunately, that is no correlation to living a life in recovery. If you are Samuel, why not seek help through therapy or coaching and begin the journey of self-awareness. A mirror is your best friend.
