A twelve-step programme is a set of 12 guiding principles that serve as a framework for recovering from addiction. The 12 steps, which were created by one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), became the core of that organisation’s approach to assisting people in recovery from alcoholism. Other fellowships that care for the needs of people suffering from substance abuse disorders and, more lately, other behavioural difficulties have adopted it.
Although some organisations have modified the original 12 steps to meet the requirements and circumstances of their members, 12-step programmes generally follow the core concepts described in the original AA text, which define the following process:
Organisations that offer 12-step programmes usually hold weekly meetings that are open to anybody dedicated to living a sober life. Attendees at meetings can provide each other with support, counsel, and companionship, as well as help each other stick to the 12 steps.
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Those who have never attended a 12-step group before will be naturally concerned about what to expect. These gatherings are generally informal and welcoming, and they resemble social groups. Speakers and members will share their perspectives on a particular topic at the sessions.
Because they know that no one will condemn them, most members feel safe coming out and sharing their experiences. On the other hand, some members choose to remain silent at first until they are more at ease with the process and the other members. It’s vital to remember that no member is ever forced to speak up; instead, they do so on their own initiative.
Members can bring guests who do not have addiction issues to an open meeting. Many members also choose to attend an open meeting as their first gathering. Open meetings are an excellent method for new members to learn more about the fellowship group.
Only those with addiction disorders are allowed to attend closed meetings. These are more intensive and intended to help people struggling with addiction get the help they need to stay clean. Closed meetings are not open to the public.
Though the original Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have been modified throughout time, the principle of each step remains the same for all 12-step recovery groups.
You can acquire insight into your own experiences and strength and hope for your recovery by studying the steps in-depth and learning how others have implemented the concepts in their life.
The steps and principles are as follows:
After years of denial, recovery might start with a simple acknowledgement that a person is powerless over a substance of abuse. Friends and family members may also utilise this stage to acknowledge their loved one’s addiction.
You must first believe in a higher power before it can begin to work. Addicts believe that there is a higher power that can assist them in their recovery.
Recognise that you cannot modify your self-destructive decisions on your own; with the help of your higher power, you can.
The person in recovery must recognise their issues and gain a thorough understanding of how their actions affected themselves and others.
This step offers a lot of room for improvement. In front of their higher power and another individual, the person in recovery must own their mistakes.
Accepting character flaws as they are and becoming completely willing to let them go is the key to Step 6.
Step 7’s spiritual theme is humility, or requesting a higher power to do something that cannot be accomplished via willpower or determination alone.
Before entering rehabilitation, make a list of those you injured.
Making apologies may seem difficult, but it may be a terrific way to start rebuilding your relationships with people who are serious about recovery.
Nobody hates to acknowledge they’ve made a mistake. It is, however, an essential step in maintaining spiritual growth in recovery.
The goal of Step 11 is to uncover your higher power’s life plan.
The person in recovery must spread the word and put the program’s ideas into practice in all aspects of their lives.
The first three steps are known as the “decision” steps. They are concerned with acknowledging that a particular substance or activity has taken control of your life and recognising that this is a problem that must be addressed.
Steps four through nine are “action” steps that emphasise receiving help and working hard to get sober. Individuals are encouraged to take stock of their lives and assess their flaws while progressing through these processes. Recovering addicts are also encouraged to consider and apologise to individuals they have damaged or injured.
Steps ten to twelve are called the “maintenance steps”, and recovering addicts will be required to focus on maintaining recovery while going through these steps. After completing the twelve steps, recovering addicts should actively teach other addicts the techniques they’ve learned and encourage them to get the help they require. Most recovered addicts understand that now is the time to put what they’ve learned to good use by assisting others in their recovery.
If you follow the twelve steps completely and honestly, you should find that your recovery path is more meaningful and joyful.
In 1939, AA founder Bill Wilson published Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, often known as ‘The Big Book,’ which outlined the 12-step programme. Wilson, a former Wall Street businessman whose career had been wrecked by alcoholism, joined a spiritual movement supporting abstinence and met Robert Holbrooke Smith – “Dr Bob” – with whom he co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in 1935. The two men devised methods to aid fellow alcoholics in achieving and maintaining sobriety.
The ‘Twelve Steps,’ defined at the beginning of the book’s fifth chapter, became established as the heart of AA’s method of tackling alcoholism. AA began to grow to a national (within the United States) and eventually an international fellowship. Along with the 12 steps, the book included the ‘Twelve Traditions,’ which functioned as standards for the governance of AA groups and meetings and still do today.
Individuals suffering from addictions to other substances began to express a wish to attend AA meetings as the organisation grew and its success in aiding alcoholics became recognised. As a result, Narcotics Anonymous was founded in California in the early 1950s to assist people suffering from drug addiction.
NA’s 12-step programme and governance mechanisms were modelled after AA’s, and this approach has since been adopted by a large number of other organisations that support people suffering from specific substance addictions (such as Cocaine Anonymous) or behavioural disorders other than substance abuse, such as eating disorders, gambling, and love & sex addiction.
The 12 steps were first established and performed by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) in the 1930s, and they required you to recognise that you could not control your addictive behaviour or substance addiction. Accepting the counsel of a ‘higher power’ can help you apologise to yourself and others once you’ve opened yourself up to receiving help from others.
Your ‘higher power’ could be a person or an abbreviation, depending on how you understand it. GOD,’ for example, may stand for ‘Good Orderly Direction.’ It could also be someone close to you, such as a family member, a friend, a religious God, or your support group.
The 12-step program’s primary goal is to assist you in accessing your spiritual resources. The following stages will teach you how to act with honesty, compassion, open-mindedness, and altruism to become a happier and better person. Giving back to others can help you heal and continue your holistic addiction recovery once you are no longer consumed by substance abuse or addictive behaviours.
The original twelve steps, as published by Alcoholics Anonymous, are as follows:
The twelve traditions are the spiritual principles behind the twelve steps and help understand and apply the steps themselves.
Several of the original 12 steps created by AA’s founders expressly mention God and a “higher power,” which is often problematic for those who do not believe in such power or do not hold monotheistic religious views. Most 12-step organisations, however, do not consider themselves to be “faith-based,” and many addiction specialists advise people who discover that the steps in question contradict their own values to adjust them to fit their convictions.
The main focus of 12-step programmes (according to many addicts who have successfully completed these programmes) is not referring to a “higher power,” but rather the meetings and the support and camaraderie they get from them.
Other models, such as the SMART Recovery methodology, have been developed to take elements from the original 12 steps but do not include any spiritual aspects or require acknowledging the existence of any higher power. This is beneficial for individuals who wish to take advantage of 12-step programmes without adhering to the more spiritually focused requirements of the original 12 steps. Contact an addiction professional for further information on alternative methods of support.
One of the most significant advantages of enrolling in a residential rehab centre’s inpatient programme is that the expert therapists can guide you through the 12-step therapy book known as the ‘Big Book.’ Their knowledge enables you to comprehend the text and grasp what each stage requires. If you don’t know how to correctly incorporate the principles into your everyday routine, starting your 12 steps at AA or on your own can be challenging.
Inpatient programmes at Compare Rehab UK include 12-step therapy as well as additional treatments like CBT, DBT, and trauma therapy. You will be introduced to the 12-step programme if you choose to begin your recovery journey at a private rehab clinic.
It is impossible to complete all 12 steps of this therapy at a rehab clinic. Everyone goes at their own rate through the steps, and it’s crucial not to rush through them. The highly qualified therapists will introduce you to the programme and provide you with the tools you’ll need to finish each phase once you’ve left the rehab facility.
The experts will assist you in understanding the meaning of teaching steps and will help you with step assignments. Looking at an example timetable, you can see how the holistic therapy plan incorporates the 12-step programme as a practical foundation for your inpatient rehabilitation treatment.
The support group and therapists will ask you questions and listen to your story to help you develop a plan for continuing the 12 steps after you leave residential rehab. The therapists will be by your side during your treatment and during your aftercare to ensure that you continue to receive support in completing the 12 stages throughout your addiction recovery.
Individuals that participate in 12-step programmes do so as part of, or throughout, a structured addiction treatment programme. Many patients undergoing outpatient addiction treatment are required or encouraged to participate in support groups, including 12-step programmes. Some inpatient treatment programmes include the 12-step method and preparatory sessions aimed at familiarising clients with the stages and preparing them to join 12-step-based groups after treatment.
The use of the 12-step approach in treatment by a given treatment facility is highly dependent on the nature of the facility itself. While most addiction professionals are familiar with the 12 steps, some refuse to include them in their treatment plans, in part because parts of the stages (particularly those involving a “higher power”) may contradict clients’ personal beliefs.
Twelve-step meetings often bring together a group of people who are struggling with addiction to talk about their problems, give advice, offer support and sponsorship, and simply spend time together in a social setting that isn’t focused on substance abuse. Attendees are usually seated in a roundtable configuration, taking turns to contribute anonymously, with a conversation controlled and guided by a designated group leader.
Some facilities offer an alternative to the 12-step programme if you feel it is not the proper treatment for you. People who do not want to participate in 12-step counselling offer the Strengths model programme, for example.
12-step therapy has long been proven to be a successful treatment for addiction recovery. Although the 12-step method originated with Alcoholics Anonymous, it is now extensively used in numerous treatment centres. This therapy is used in inpatient rehab for the following reasons:
12-step therapy is also used in outpatient fellowships in a group context, such as:
12-step counselling gives you step-by-step instructions for replacing addictive beliefs and behaviours with healthy, constructive, and attainable goals.
From step 1 to step 12, the 12 step programme puts you on a clear path to self-improvement. The steps are designed to teach you the significance of reflecting on your actions rather than dwelling on them. You can begin to refocus your life goals and open yourself to the help of your therapist, family, and friends after you accept your issue. You’ll still be you, but your addiction rehabilitation can help you break free from your struggle, inspiring you to pursue your personal goals and make amends with those harmed by your substance abuse or addictive behaviour.
If you have a SUD (substance use disorder) or qualify for substance abuse issues of any kind, you may need to enrol in a 12-step programme. Consult your therapist, doctor, or another medical expert if you’re unsure whether a 12-step programme is good for you. They may be able to tell you whether or not a 12-step programme can help you. At the very least, you can go to a free 12-step group on your own to determine if it’s good for you. Make sure not to base your decision solely on one encounter, as each one is unique, and some may better suit your personality and aims than others.
Working through the 12 steps for the first time can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Many 12-step sponsors encourage sponsees and newbies to attend 90 meetings in 90 days, or at least one meeting per day for three months, in AA and other 12-step programmes. Overall, the focus of working through the 12 steps in any 12-step programme should be on how carefully you are doing your step work and how you are using the steps to positively impact your everyday life, not on how long it takes to get through them once.
There are several programme options to peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12-step treatment.
Individuals suffering from a SUD can receive the most comprehensive treatment in residential treatment programmes. Residential programmes are available at professional recovery centres, and they provide an atmosphere free of possible triggers and consuming temptations. Medical detox is usually the first step in a programme. Participants are required to stay on-site for the duration of the programme, which is generally 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on the individual’s needs. Medical care, mental health services, pharmaceutical administration, group and individual counselling, behavioural therapy, experiential workshops, wellness and fitness activities, and nutrition and health instruction may all be included in residential rehab.
Outpatient substance treatment programmes are often held late at night or early in the morning at a local treatment centre. This helps people stay at home and keep a normal daily schedule, reducing the amount of time they spend away from work, school, and family duties. Programs can last many months and may involve medication-assisted detox, individual and family counselling, behavioural therapy, and support groups.
Many faith-based groups provide alcohol addiction treatment that is typically free and does not need participants to subscribe to any religious beliefs. These free programmes include a clean and healthy living environment, food, holistic work therapy, leisure time activities, group and individual counselling, spiritual direction, and the development of vital life skills. The Salvation Army is one of the most prominent groups, offering spirituality-based residential alcohol rehabilitation programmes at some of their Adult Rehabilitation Centers around the country.
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Short-term residential programmes created the idea of adopting a modified 12-Step approach to allow a shorter stay in treatment with follow-up through a 12-Step fellowship. This is a technique to provide the crucial post-treatment structure that aids in long-term recovery. Other programmes have incorporated the 12 Steps into their treatments by encouraging clients to attend 12-Step fellowship meetings and implementing 12-Step ideas into their procedures.
While 12-Step facilitation programmes may not always follow the steps, they do promote the use of a 12-Step methodology hoping that clients would continue their sobriety following recovery. Furthermore, several treatment centres build their service models around some of the ideas taught by the 12-Step programme. These facilities can provide research-based treatments and foster a more scientific understanding of addiction treatment, but they also incorporate aspects of the 12-Step program’s spiritual, psychological, and practical activities. As a result, a comprehensive model of care is developed to guide clients through rehab and provide tools that they can employ afterwards to sustain their long-term recovery.
Since its origin with AA, the 12-Step model has been adopted and modified by various organisations, offering both addiction therapy and non-addiction treatment. Many groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous, follow the steps precisely as AA intended. Others have tweaked the stages to suit their preferences and cultures. For example, a Native American group has merged the 12 Steps with the Native American notion of the Medicine Wheel to develop the Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps programme, which is created exclusively to aid indigenous Americans struggling with alcoholism and addiction. Others have proposed similar concepts for incorporating the 12 Steps’ basic ideas into a cultural framework that makes sense to people of that culture.
Another difference stems from the fact that some people are uncomfortable with the 12-Step program’s religious aspects. The 12-Step approach was founded on Christian principles, as indicated above and evidenced by the steps themselves. Non-Christians have changed the steps to refer to their own religious or spiritual practices to better connect with the 12-Step program’s structure. Several non-religious 12-Step groups have also changed the steps to fit a humanist model, allowing agnostics and atheists to participate in the programme without feeling compelled to follow a religion they don’t believe in.
Even with the above variants or through groups that facilitate the 12-Step programme, some people do not like or are not interested in it. When there is evidence that there are ways to practise internal control over the recovery process, some people don’t enjoy basing their recovery on the assumption that they can’t manage their addiction.
SMART Recovery and Moderation Management are two examples of programmes that use this active control concept. These organisations follow a similar peer-sharing approach, but they don’t believe in surrender. Instead, they advocate for the individual’s empowerment to take charge of their addiction therapy and recovery.
Individuals who have completed an addiction treatment programme in rehab should not believe their recovery to be complete just because they have completed treatment. The most challenging phase of the recovery process is when a person leaves the protective confines of rehab and must apply the coping techniques and lessons learnt during treatment in the far more dangerous outside world. Many people in recovery prefer to think of themselves as still addicted, even if it has been many years since their last instance of substance abuse, as this mindset helps to ensure the vigilance and dedication required for long-term recovery.
They can play a crucial part in an individual’s ongoing recovery long after treatment is completed. Many rehabs that provide aftercare to patients include the option of attending 12-step meetings in their aftercare programmes. Some people participate in the meetings on a regular basis, often right after finishing treatment; others prefer to go only when they are very tempted or merely to keep up the habit of going to meetings and offering support to other people in recovery.
Relapse prevention is essential for long-term recovery, but one relapse should not be seen as a complete failure of treatment or a guarantee that the relapsing individual will relapse into a full-blown addiction. Instead, relapse should be viewed as a stumbling block on the road to recovery — one that should be avoided wherever possible but does not mean that the journey is doomed.
Attendance at 12-step meetings and adherence to the 12 steps themselves should not be understood as a guarantee that the individual in question will be immune to temptation: many people who attend 12-step meetings struggle with temptation, and some relapse despite some their sponsors’ best efforts. However, working with other attendees can provide individuals with the support and companionship that can be the difference between fighting temptation and succumbing to it or between a solitary relapse and a full-fledged relapse.
Sponsors can be very helpful in this sense. Many people in and out of treatment value the ability to contact a sponsor whenever they feel particularly tempted and at risk of relapsing. Sponsorship is an essential part of the 12-step programme. Many people find that becoming a sponsor to others in recovery who are less far along the road to permanent abstinence than they are may be quite beneficial.
Most experts believe that the most effective way to achieve and maintain recovery is to enrol in a research-based, residential treatment programme that is tailored to an individual’s requirements. Whether this programme incorporates 12-Step elements, is based on the 12-Step philosophy, or is a replacement for the original model of addiction treatment, care must be adapted to the person. Working with an addiction treatment professional can help you choose the right treatment option for you, putting you on the road to recovery.
You may experience significant consequences if you are addicted to a particular substance. In most cases, overcoming addiction without expert assistance is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. The sooner you admit to having a problem and seek help, the sooner you will be able to obtain the help you need.
When you realise you need help, the first place you should go is to your doctor, who will be able to examine the type and intensity of your addiction and your present physical and mental health. A physician can recommend additional treatment if necessary.
It may also be good to speak with an addiction specialist who can discuss various treatment options with you. Compare Rehab UK can provide you or someone you know that needs help with this information and support. Contact us on 0800 999 1083 to learn the various types of substance abuse treatment services available.
Although 12-step organisations are likely to meet in your region, depending on the nature and degree of your addiction, you may not be ready to join right now. Consult with an addiction specialist to determine the best time to begin participating in a 12-step programme and learn more about the 12-step model.
BACP accredited psychotherapist with 16 years experience working in mental health specialising in psychodynamic person-centred therapies treating those with a range of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, OCD and Addiction.
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