Alcoholism is a debilitating disease that can destroy a person's health, livelihood and family. More than 100,000 deaths are directly linked to alcoholism as a result of drunk driving, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and accidental falls. The good news is that there is help available to those who need it -- and want it -- through Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous (also called AA) is the most popular and successful treatment program based on its 12 steps of recovery. Here are the 12 steps and brief explanations of each.
Step One
You admit you are powerless over alcohol---your life has become unmanageable.
The first requirement for stopping drinking is admitting that you're powerless over drinking and are ready to stop. If you still think you have a few drinks left in you, this is not the time to try to stop drinking.
Step Two
You came to believe that a power greater than yourself could restore your sanity.
While getting sober does not depend on any organized religion, most recovering alcoholics find that it's helpful to believe in some source outside of themselves as a controlling entity in their lives. It can be something as simple as a doorknob -- as long as it's not yourself.
Step Three
Made a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God as you understand Him.
One of the most important steps in recovery is making a decision to turn control over to an entity outside your control, once you've identified who or what that is. If you're not comfortable with the concept of God, choose something else other than another person.
Step Four
You made a fearless moral inventory of yourself.
True recovery begins when the alcoholic performs an inventory of his shortcomings. Few recovering alcoholics are free from them. Be specific and write down everything you can remember. The list can be long.
Step Five
You admitted to God, to yourself and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Recovery continues after acknowledging to God, yourself and another person of your choosing how you have wronged others and faced up to the results of your drinking. This is the time to admit to the true ramifications of your disease.
Step Six
You are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Many alcoholics acknowledge their shortcomings but aren't quite ready to let them go. Character defects like self-pity and self-centeredness mysteriously add comfort to the practicing alcoholic. Recovery begins when you're ready to let go of them.
Step Seven
You humbly asked Him to remove your shortcomings.
One of the most important steps after recognizing your shortcomings is to ask for help. It begins with your higher power or whomever or whatever you use as your outside reference. At this point, you are abandoning control over your life and asking for help -- regardless of how it comes.
Step Eight
You made a list of all persons you harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
After completing an inventory, you should have a good idea whom you've wronged over the years and what you did to them. This starts one of the most healing properties of recovery. Attempt to list everyone you can remember, far and near -- even those who have passed away.
Step Nine
You made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
True recovery begins when you approach people you have wronged and apologized with all your heart about the things you've done to them. Make an honest effort and be as honest as humanly possible. For those you can't meet in person, a letter may suffice. For those who are no longer alive, write a letter, and then burn it.
Step Ten
You continued to take personal inventory and when you were wrong promptly admitted it.
After you've cleaned house, you'll want to maintain order. Old habits die hard. As soon as you catch yourself repeating your old ways, immediately apologize to the person you've offended before it has time to fester. Lost opportunities and resentments are guaranteed paths to drinking again.
Step Eleven
You sought through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God, as you understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for you and the power to carry that out.
Reserving time each morning to pray and meditate is a way that you can ensure long-term recovery. Spend a minimum of 20 minutes each morning, speaking to your higher power, asking for guidance on how to live your life during the upcoming day. Avoid asking for specific things like getting the job or the girl. Instead, remain open and be guided by your higher power's plan -- not yours.
Step Twelve
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, you tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all your affairs.
The most important part of the 12-step program is sharing your recovery with others. Giving away what you have in terms of sobriety will ensure your continued sobriety and will help others get what you already have.
