Stuck!
There’s a point a lot of us hit where something just stops moving. We can’t stay sober. Or we are sober but miserable. Or we’re doing the work but not seeing change. Or we’re staring at the same resentment that won’t go away.
This is one of the most dangerous places in recovery. Not because it feels intense, but because it feels flat. Hopeless. Like nothing is working. This can also be a place where we can learn to lean in instead of staying stuck.
- How do I know I’m stuck?
- The holding pattern
- What’s actually happening
- What to do next
- What to pray for
- Quick reference
How do I know I’m stuck?
Being stuck doesn’t always look dramatic. Most of the time it looks like repetition.
Same patterns. Same slips. Same excuses.
- Talking about recovery more than actually doing it
- Resentments that won’t move
- Avoiding step work you already know you need to do
- Feeling disconnected, flat, or checked out
- Waiting for motivation before taking action
It's crucial at these times that we are talking to our sponsors and getting guidance.
"Most of us aren’t stuck because we don’t know what to do. We’re stuck because we don’t want to do it."
But that’s not the only kind of stuck.
Sometimes it feels like nothing is moving forward… but nothing is really wrong either.
We get into that “what’s next?” mindset, looking ahead instead of staying in today, and start thinking something must be off.
In my experience, this is different.
This is a holding pattern.
A place where I’m not avoiding… I’m being slowed down intentionally.
Not my favorite thing. I may have a little experience here 🙂
A place where my Higher Power is making space for me to breathe, take in what I’ve learned, and start applying it, step by step.
"Just because I don’t see movement doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Recovery is an inside job."
Growth doesn’t always feel like progress.
But I want results. Now. Preferably yesterday. But maybe that's why I'm being held up, so I don't miss what He's trying to teach me. Maybe this is where I actually do take a deep breath... and trust.
Sometimes it looks like nothing... until you look back and realize He's been at work and you’ve been changing the whole time.
OK, back to the troublesome type of stuck.
When I’m stuck, it usually comes down to one of a few things.
I’ve drifted back into self-reliance.
I’ve stopped being honest about something.
I’m avoiding discomfort like fear, shame, amends, or inventory.
I’m waiting to feel different before I act.
Recovery doesn’t stall randomly. It stalls when I stop taking action.
"Feelings don’t unblock recovery. Action does."
Get small and get honest.
Do not make this bigger than it is. You probably do not need a brand-new life plan. You probably need one honest action. Just one.
- Call your sponsor!!!!!
- Tell the truth about what you’re avoiding
- Write the inventory
- Go to the meeting
- Make the amends you already know you owe
- Pray even if you don’t feel spiritual
This is all pretty easy to say but when we're in it? I get it. And if I'm brutally honest with myself it usually comes down to: I. Just. Don't. Want. To.
But my next action here is critical. Especially when I don't want to.
"You do not have to feel ready.
Sometimes we just need to take the actions of recovery, and the rest will follow."
Quick question:
How many times after you've actually taken that next step have you looked back and said:
“That was hard, but it wasn’t anywhere close to what I thought it would be.”
Were you glad you did it?
"Stop believing the lie that you can't get unstuck. It's a bunch of BS."
Ask for willingness.
Not a perfect feeling. Not instant relief. Just willingness.
God, help me stop resisting what I already know I need to do.
Help me see straight.
Help me take the next right step and leave the rest with You.
A lot of the time, getting unstuck is not about force. It is about surrender.
Notice the pattern.
Tell on it.
Write it down.
Get around recovery.
Take one next step.
Do it again tomorrow.
"Stuck is not the end. It is usually the place where surrender finally gets real."
If things feel heavy or out of control, you do not have to handle it alone.
If you are in immediate distress, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free and confidential support is available 24/7.
If you are struggling with addiction and need support:
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
- National Drug Helpline: 1-844-289-0879
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 right now.
Reach out to a sponsor, a trusted person in recovery, or a real-world support line. Connection matters here.