So what are these 12-Steps about?

Self-Help groups are formed to help people achieve a common goal in terms of addictions, mental disorders and other psychological issues as codependency, family members of alcoholics and more.

Anyone that commits to a goal needs a plan to achieve it, the 12-Steps are that plan, they help members of the group write the path toward their specific goal.

Each group would specify in those steps the issue they want to be helped with so in general terms, we will call that issue: “the problem”.

1. We admitted we were powerless over our problem—that our lives had become unmanageable.

My life is a mess!

This is about acceptance, it seems easy to say but in reality to be able to recognize that you cannot handle a problem is one big step. Phrases like: I can stop anytime! – I can handle it! – Is not that bad! Are very common so, to admit that you are powerless and that change is needed, you will be on the perfect start point.

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

There is help from other people!

The realization that you cannot do it by yourself and that the need for others to intervene in your life is a must is what this step is all about.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a Higher Power as we understood it.

There is help from a Higher Power!

This is a step that confuses a lot of people; some people tend to think a Self-Help group is a religious group since it talks about this Higher Power. None of these groups follow any religious and that is why they respect and accept anyone from any religion, gender and cultural background.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

I need to look at my life!

Recognize how you have contributed to the problem and what you can do to change. This is a self exploratory step where you stop pointing the finger to the external world and decide to take responsibility over your own life and actions.

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

Now I recognize my faults to others!

One thing is to recognize to yourself your own issues but to stand in front of others and accept that you have a problem and that this problem has affected your life as well as the life of others is another big but necessary step.

6. Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove all these defects of character.

Surrender!

Faith, hope, spirituality are what make this type of groups work. This steps means that you surrender and accept help.

7. Humbly asked our Higher Power to remove our shortcomings.

Ask for help!

Receive help and ask for help are two different concepts. For some people their prides stop them from being able to ask for help; humility is a huge part of your recovery.

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

Who did I harm? How can I fix it?

This helps you to face the consequences of how your problem has affected others.

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

Try to fix things!

You put in action what you have accomplished with the previous step.

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

Constant personal check up!

This is when the long term goal takes over; this step would help you go on and on every time you feel weak so you can start all over again. Recovery is a lifetime commitment.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power as we understood it, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Continue a spiritual relationship!

These groups are spiritual, meaning that years of treating individuals with addictions and mental problems have taught them that people need to believe in any form of Higher Power that in their own eyes is bigger and stronger than themselves and their problem.

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

Reach out to others that also need help!

It has been proven that when we set our minds to help others, our problems become smaller or even insignificant. Devote your time to reach to those that are suffering is the best way to never forget where you started in your recovery path and what are the steps you need to follow to maintain it.

#12Steps #recovery #addiction #substanceabuse