Can someone please explain to me the benefits of working the twelve step program. Right now I’m still looking for a sponsor and lately I’ve been feeling somewhat alone in fighting my addiction. Do you think working a twelve step program can benefit me? And how can it benefit me? I genuinely would like to know.
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12 steps will benefit anyone who works them. Like with anything in life. You get back what you put in. It works if you work it. I can go into further detail if you like
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Yes if you can go into more detail, I’d really Appreciate it
First, let's take care of that feeling of being alone. I would recommend finding the AA meetings in your area and start attending regularly. It won't take long to meet some very nice people who genuinely want to help you. They'll share about their own experiences with the steps. You can do this
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Read the 9th step promises in the Big Book. They give a good overview. One of my favorite readings.
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- We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. People who finish the Steps will experience relief from the suffering of addiction and feel free to pursue a new life without alcohol.
2)We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. Those who work the program will gain a sense of acceptance that allows them to process their experiences, learn from them and move on without guilt.
3)We will comprehend the word serenity. Addiction can lead to a constant state of inner turmoil. The AA program helps people find a calmness that is rare during the active use of alcohol and which many alcoholics have never known in their lives.
4)We will know peace. The 4th Promise builds on the 3rd Promise, acknowledging that a life of peace and undisturbed tranquility will be experienced.
5)No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. Many individuals with a substance use disorder don’t believe that other people understand what they’ve been through but, in Alcoholics Anonymous, they often meet people who can identify with and learn from their experiences.
6)That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. Addiction can make people feel worthless and guilty about their actions. The Steps can help individuals feel that their lives have a meaning and a purpose, particularly through helping others.
7)We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Addiction can lead to many self-centered behaviors. Helping other people find recovery can bring alcoholics outside of themselves and help them develop a genuine interest in other people.
8)Self-seeking will slip away. The tunnel vision of focusing only on oneself and drinking usually begins to fade as people work the Steps.
9)Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. AA can shift one’s perspective from hopelessness to hope. People can begin to imagine a life where they are happy.
10)Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. Alcoholics who recover through AA don’t feel like they must continue to hide or worry about how to support their addiction and maintain financial security.
11)We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. As the AA member gets deeper into the recovery process, they begin to see situations more clearly and can tap into their inner resources.
12)We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. The concept of a higher power is central to AA. This higher power, be it God or something else, becomes a guiding force in the person’s life.
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