No single individual will work the 12 Steps in the same amount of time. A sponsor can aid you in figuring out the timing it should take for you personally to work on each step, as well as guide you through your work.
Programs may vary on their differences between the steps. A.A. states that the 12 Steps are:
- “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- 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.
- 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.”
What are Some Types of 12 Step Meetings
If you find yourself struggling with cutting down or quitting the use of alcohol, opiates, stimulants, cannabis, or other mind-altering substances, there are many support group choices, including 12-Step ones. Some of these include:
- Alcoholics Anonymous: This everyday person self-help group uses the “Big Book” to help guide the recovery process. A.A. allows members of any age, race, culture, and education.
- Cocaine Anonymous: C.A. does not discriminate against anyone attending its meetings. It does require the individual to have a strong desire to quit the utilization of any mind-altering substances. These meetings are free, though they do welcome contributions.
- Crystal Meth Anonymous: C.M.A supports their meetings via member donations. Anyone wishing to abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol is welcome to take part.
- Marijuana Anonymous: M.A. allows anyone to attend their meetings as long as they are wanting to maintain sobriety from mind-altering substances, especially cannabis.
- Narcotics Anonymous: N.A. began in 1953. It also does not turn individuals away. It utilizes contributions from members to continue with ongoing fellowship. They do not distinguish between any substances, including alcohol.
An Alternative Recovery Center That Has a Basis in the 12-Steps
12-Step programs can play a crucial role in you maintaining your sobriety and continued recovery. Besides peer group support meetings, trained professionals, such as those at Discovery Place in Burns, Tennessee can aid in you finding a life free of alcohol and mind-altering substances. Our alternative recovery program has an amazing combination of trained professionals who utilize a 12-Step philosophy: 12-Step recovery meetings, sponsorship, sustained work on the 12 Steps, and continued events and communication. Call us today at 1-800-725-0922 to start your drug and alcohol-free life!
