The 12 step program was originally created for people struggling with alcoholism. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the first incarnation of many groups that utilize the same format and fall under the title of a 12 step group. The founders discovered that the only way they were able to stay sober was to share their stories, pain, and successes with others who were also struggling.
Instructions
How It Works
1. Have all the information about the meetings ahead of time to eliminate any obstacles that can keep you from attending. Although deciding to attend a 12 step meeting is a powerful first step, in addiction, follow through is not necessarily a strong point. Any community phone book or online search engine lists 12 step meetings, but to get support, information, and a live person, call the National Drug and Alcohol hotline (1-800-662-HELP).
2. Ask a friend to hold you accountable and possibly go with you. Figure out ahead of time directions and transportation. Once you attend a meeting, pick up a schedule of meetings and phone numbers that can assist you in further planning.
3. Get a sponsor. A sponsor is someone of the same gender who has significant time in sobriety and has the kind of recovery you want. The sponsor is someone you can call when struggling, when challenged, and when you are triggered to use. He will go through the steps with you and hold you accountable. The best way to obtain a sponsor is to ask. It is common practice to get a temporary sponsor until you become more familiar with the program and the people.
4. Use all the available tools of the 12 step program if you want to receive the full benefit. This includes phones, meetings, sponsors, and the 12 steps themselves. When you go to meetings, you will be given phone numbers of others you can call when necessary. They should be used because addiction is isolating. The goal of these groups is recovery through sharing with each other.
The 12 Steps
5. Go through the 12 steps in order. Start with step 1 and stay on it until you and your sponsor agree that it is complete. The 12 steps are designed to be cumulative. The second adds to the first, the third adds to the first and second, and so on. None stand alone. Sometimes there is a specific step that needs to be revisited. There are no hard and fast rules on how you do the steps, but honesty, openness, and willingness (HOW) are always vital.
6. Consider steps 1, 2 and 3 the foundation. In step 1 you need to look honestly at your life and realize that you have an addiction and are powerless to change on your own. Steps 2 and 3 require you to decide if you are going to attempt to continue running your life or giving it to your higher power and believing that the higher power can bring you out of addiction. You will need to decide what your higher power is to you. Remember that none of these steps need to be done alone; utilize your sponsor.
7. Think of steps 4, 5, 6 and 7 as "inventory steps." In these, you make an inventory of your wrongdoings. When you do this inventory, which should be exhaustive, you can use various step 4 workbooks or worksheets. Obtain these from your sponsor. After you do the inventory, you are required to share it with another person and God as you understand Him. Finally, you will need to be willing to allow your higher power to remove these character defects and then ask your higher power to do the work required.
8. Make a list of all the people you have harmed in your addiction and then make amends however you can to these people; these are steps 8 and 9, which are a continuation of the self inventory. The one caveat is that you should never attempt amends to someone who could be hurt by such revelation.
9. Maintain the positive change during steps 10 and 11. Continue to daily inventory your behavior and attitudes and make changes when necessary to maintain recovery. Part of this daily practice will also be to use prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with your higher power. This prayer should focus on the knowledge of God's will for you and the ability to carry that out.
10. Reach out to others in step 12. Help others who are struggling with addiction and in doing this, you help yourself maintain your sobriety. These 12 steps may seem difficult to fulfill but this fellowship is designed for those who have gone through them to assist those who are working on them.
