A Look Into the 12 Steps
The 12 Steps was first created in 1935 by Dr. Bob and Bill Wilson, who were part of the Alcoholics Anonymous movement. The recovery program aims to help individuals overcome their addiction and alcoholism. The 12 Steps are designed to help individuals transform their perception of themselves. According to Alcoholics Anonymous, a psychiatric change occurs when people undergo a complete spiritual and emotional shift.
The Steps
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous remain the same for all programs that use a 12-step model. Although the format has changed over time, the principles of the program remain the same. Through the steps, you can explore the principles and gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your recovery. It also helps you connect with other people who have successfully gone through similar experiences.
Honesty: After many years of denial, people can finally admit that they are powerless over their addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Faith: Before a higher power can function, people must first believe that it can. For those struggling with addiction, this belief can help them think that there is a higher power that can help them.
Surrender: By surrendering to the higher power, you can transform your actions and avoid repeating the mistakes that led to your addiction.
Soul-Searching: The person in recovery must also identify their problems and clearly understand how their actions affect others.
Integrity: The fifth step of the program, integrity, provides an opportunity for growth. To do so, the person must acknowledge their mistakes in front of their higher power.
Acceptance: The key to success in this step is acceptance. Accepting the character defects that caused your addiction and letting go of them is the key to this process.
Humility: The seventh step of the program is humility. This is the belief that a higher power can do something impossible to accomplish by yourself.
Willingness: The next step is to create a list of people you have harmed before entering the recovery process. This exercise is vital for the program.
Forgiveness: The next step is to make amends for the actions that led to your addiction. This process can be very challenging, but it can help people start to heal their relationships.
Maintenance: Getting honest with yourself is a necessary part of any recovery process. It can help maintain positive spiritual development.
Making Contact: The goal of Step 11 is to find out what the higher power has for you. This will guide you through the next steps in your recovery.
Service: The person in recovery must also carry the program’s message into their life. They must practice the principles in every area of their life.
The 12 Steps are widely used in rehabilitation programs worldwide, and they can help people find support and help wherever they are. Recovery support is different for every person. It can be someone who helps them continue their 12 Step education, a buddy to introduce them to others in recovery, or a facilitator who will teach them more about the program.