What are the 12-Steps?

There is no question that overcoming any type of addiction is hard. Thankfully, with the treatment options available today, recovery is possible and so worth it.

At Focus Integrative Centers, our providers specialize in a variety of behavioral health concerns including substance use. While Focus does not specifically act as a 12-Step program, the philosophies are blended into the addiction treatment framework. Understanding what the Twelve Steps are can be helpful tools in the fight against addiction and offer strength to anyone ready to find freedom from the control of drugs or alcohol.

AA and the Twelve Steps

Alcoholics Anonymous originated in the 1930s, envisioned as a safe, supportive space for all who struggled with alcohol addiction. More than 80 years later, AA is now international with many branches, including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), the largest global program for drug addiction. 

The Twelve Steps were originally created as a procedure for guiding recovering alcoholics, however, these Steps are now used for any type of addiction to provide support to a wider range of those in need. Members’ success is partly attributed to how relatable each Step is to their experience. The model offers structure and is intended for people to help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from the substances they are struggling with.

Step 1: Admitting Powerlessness

The first step in overcoming addiction is acknowledging that there is a problem. That’s why the First Step states, “We admit we are powerless over alcohol - that our lives became unmanageable.”.

As your recovery starts, acknowledge that you have no power to manage an addiction-ruled life. You cannot successfully move forward without admitting to being powerless.

Step 2: Have Belief in a Higher Power

The second step states “Come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.”. Believing in a Higher Power can take a religious approach (such as belief in God) or be more universal/spiritual-based. Realizing that something higher than us is at work can be a powerful foundation for treatment.

Step 3: Give Control to Your Higher Power

Once you have acknowledged your Higher Power, your next step is to hand over the control of uncontrollable things. Step 3 says, “Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.”. Realize that by not trying to manage the unmanageable, you give yourself the power to be who you are - a person needing healing.

Step 4: Moral Inventory Time

Looking deep within yourself, Step 4 instructs you to “Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”. Look past your addiction, to any areas where you struggle. Consider any place in your character that needs recovery. Celebrate the things you are doing well. And get to know yourself as you take inventory of who you truly are.

Step 5: Admitting Your Wrongs

While taking personal responsibility for your behavior and thought process, it’s an important element of growth. Step 5 says, “Admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”. Don’t let the inability to admit your wrongdoing be a stumbling block to your recovery.

Step 6: Make a Change

As you press on in the journey, Step 6 states, “I’m entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”. You’ve admitted your wrongdoing. Now it is time to let God help make positive changes to your life.

Step 7: Removing Shortcomings

Step 7 of the Twelve Steps toward recovery is to “Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.” Essentially, this means allowing your Higher Power to take away the negative patterns of behavior you’ve previously displayed, so the addiction will not grow out of control again.

Step 8: Listing Those You’ve Hurt

While challenging, Step 8 is impactful - not only for yourself but potentially for many other people. Addictions can cause wounds in others, so it’s important to “Make a list of all persons we had harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.”.

Step 9: Make Amends

Step 9 can be difficult, telling you to “Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” Apologize for the mistakes you’ve made. Make every effort to repair the relationships you can, whatever it takes.

Step 10: Never-Ending Personal Inventory

“Continue to take personal inventory and when wrong, promptly admit it.” As long as you are alive, know that you will make mistakes. The power of Step 10 is that you acknowledge those mistakes quickly and correct them before they become unmanageable.

Step 11: Continually Improving

Moving forward in recovery, Step 11 encourages you to “Seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”. Connect with your Higher Power, acknowledge recovery is ongoing, and make every effort to live a sober life.

Step 12: Pay it Forward

Step 12 is about giving back to others from what you have learned in the recovery process. It says “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we will carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”. Take what you have learned and pay it forward to others struggling with addiction.

Start Your Recovery Journey Today

Whether you are looking for an intensive outpatient program (offered at our Knoxville office) or a residential facility (as found at our Chattanooga location), our team of dedicated professionals can help you make a positive, life-changing impact. Complimentary and confidential assessments are provided to determine the appropriate level of care you need.


Contact us today for more info and begin your journey to recovery.

 

Archive

Categories

Lauren Sterritt