Published by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in 1939, the AA “Big Book” detailed the foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous, including the 12 Steps to Recovery. The 12 Steps have been effective for many recovering addicts, because they take the burden off the individual and frame the addiction as part of a greater plan. With the understanding that you’re not fighting through your addiction alone, you can follow a clear process that has helped thousands of addicts recover from their addictions.
Here are the twelve steps as noted within the book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This 12 step program for drug addiction and alcoholism is designed as a clear path to help individuals along the road to recovery. Note that “God” can take the form of any higher power that resonates in your life:
Step 1
We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 2
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.
Step 4
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5
Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7
Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 11
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s 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 other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Conquering your addiction involves a full-hearted effort on your end. Alcoholics Anonymous has helped thousands of addicts to lead normal lives that they can be proud of. This program can help you as well if you’re willing to put forth the time. If you’re ready to make your recovery a reality, contact Myrtle Beach Recovery today.
If you’re ready to make your recovery a reality, contact Myrtle Beach Recovery today.
