12 Steps and Another 12 Steps To Help You Overcome Addiction
The 12 Step program is a set of principles designed to promote recovery from addiction. The program was originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a way to help recovering alcoholics stay sober. AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength, and hope with each other in order to recover from alcoholism.
In addition to going through the step work, 12 step programs consist of a series of daily/weekly meetings where participants share their experiences and offer support to one another. By working together, people learn how to recover from addiction and live healthy, productive lives.
The 12 steps are:
Step 1
We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 2
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3
We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Step 4
We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5
We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6
We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7
We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8
We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9
We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10
We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Step 11
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Step 12
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The 12 step program is one of the most popular methods of addiction recovery in the world, with millions of people having used it to overcome addiction and live healthy lives.
In addition to 12 step programs or other addiction recovery programs, what follows is a list of 12 steps you may utilize to further help you in your recovery journey. Some of these steps parallel the 12 step program while others may be additionally useful.
These 12 steps are as follows:
Step 1
Admit that you have a problem. This is the first and most important step in overcoming any addiction. If you don’t admit that you have a problem, you’ll never be able to change it.
Step 2
Get help from others. This step is vital. Addiction is too big to handle alone. Getting help from friends, family or a professional can make all the difference.
Step 3
Avoid people, places and things associated with your addiction. If you’re trying to quit drugs and/or alcohol, stay away from places where people are consuming these substances, at least until your recovery is stable.
Step 4
Make a list of the reasons you want to quit. This will help you stay motivated when things get tough.
Step 5
Set a quit date and stick to it. Having a specific date in mind will help you focus on your goal.
Step 6
Tell your friends and family about your decision to quit. They can provide support and encouragement.
Step 7
Get rid of all the things associated with your addiction, such as alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia.
Step 8
Avoid temptation by keeping busy. In addition to your recovery program, find new hobbies or activities to occupy your time.
Step 9
Reward yourself for staying sober. Have a nice meal with family and friends or buy an item you have been wanting if you can afford it. This will help you stay on track and motivated.
Step 10
Learn new coping skills to deal with stressful situations. This will help you avoid turning to your addiction when things get tough.
Step 11
Seek professional help if you need it. Sometimes, an addiction can be too much to handle on your own. Counseling or therapy can be very helpful.
Step 12
Don’t give up. Overcoming an addiction is a difficult process, but it’s not impossible. If you slip up, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on track and keep moving forward.
No matter how bad your addiction is, or how long you’ve been addicted, recovery is always possible. Addiction recovery takes time, effort, and commitment, but it is possible.
There are many different paths to addiction recovery, and what works for one person may not work for another. The most important thing is to find a path that works for you and stick with it. Recovery is a process, and it may take some time to find the right path for you. But once you do, recovery is possible.
