12 Step Program of AA

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The 12 step program of AA (Alcohol Anonymous) are the basis of all twelve step programs. These are the steps – from the General Service Office of AA

1) We admitted we are powerless over alcohol –that our lives had become unmanageable.

2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

5) Admitted to god, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character

7) Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10) Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11) 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.

12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Copyright A,A, World Services Inc.

How 12 Step Meetings Work

The 12 steps are begin with breaking denial and admitting that you are powerless over your addiction. Then you must give yourself up to the higher power as you understand him.

As you give yourself up, you should become a better person by taking a moral inventory of yourself and your behavior. You must also make amends for the hurt and pain that you caused others. Each of the steps is worked with a chosen sponsor.

The message is to 'keep coming back'. Reaching out to a sponsor, doing the 12 steps and to attend meetings is the basis for staying sober.

The 12 step program of AA

The 12 step program of AA is a self-help recovery program for alcoholics, but there are many other recovery programs based on the steps. CA (Cocaine Anonymous) GA (Gamblers Anonymous) NA (Narcotics Anonymous) SA (Sex Anonymous) for sex addiction, CODA (Codependency Anonymous) OA (Overeaters Anonymous) for compulsive over eaters.

These anonymous groups are not run by professionals. They provide support through their members – and all of them are in recovery. Members choose a sponsor who they call in times of need. The official AA website can help you find a meeting near you.
Treatment for addiction is not only with the 12 step program of AA There’s no cookie cutter solution. Some people prefer counseling for others recovery coaching, personal coaching or rehab is the answer.

Whatever your choice, it’s not easy.

To see if you need help, take this self test for alcoholism

Here's the AA website If you've grown up in an alcoholic/addict family this page can help you.

Any questions on this or other addictions on this site?
Here's where to ask

More information on alcohol abuse