Why Do 12 Step Fellowships Work?
Addiction Rates are skyrocketing and the only proven hope amongst the numbers are 12 step fellowships. What are 12 Step Fellowships? Why do 12 Step Fellowships work so well? How do 12 Step Fellowships work? This is article should hammer home the answers you’re seeking.
What is a “12 Step” fellowship?
A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles otherwise known as “Steps” that outline a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems.
A 12 Step program originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a method of recovery from alcoholism, the Twelve Steps were first published in the 1939 book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”.
This method has since been adopted by other twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Co-Dependents Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous and many other “Anonymous” programs.
People who participate in twelve-step recovery programs find that change from the destructive behavior of addiction is possible through fellowship with fellows who suffer from similar issues and by attending twelve-step meetings and honestly sharing personal stories.
How Do 12 Step Fellowships Work?
“The Twelve Step Recovery process is so successful because it provides a formula for integrating different levels. It is by recognizing that we are powerless to control our life experiences out of ego-self that we can access the power out of True Self, Spiritual Self. By surrendering the illusion of ego control we can reconnect with our Higher Selves. Selfishness out of ego-self is destroying the planet. Selfishness out of Spiritual Self is what will save the planet.”
Co-dependence: The Dance of Wounded Souls
The thought process behind the twelve steps is that although we may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, they are but a symptom of the overall issue. Our real issue is ourselves and character defects that block us off from our truer selves. There is a God centered focus to many fellowships, but they ask you to choose your own conception of God as you understand God.
The theory is that because many addicts and alcoholics have lived so selfishly to get the next drink or drug, they instead implement a process of self-analyzation with a sponsor or other spiritual guidance and repair their past by making amends. After they have a bit of time doing this, it is suggested that they do this with others to help them receive the benefits of removing the urge to drink or drug.
Why Does This Process Work So Well?
Well… The answer is relatively simple… The 12 Step process implements guidelines that many therapists and counselors implement, but with a 12 step fellowship you see the benefits much quicker if done so thoroughly. Many that come into a fellowship lack the faith or self-esteem to combat their drinking and drugging or addictions on their own which is why the fellowship aspect works so well. Many that come in through a twelve step fellowships doors feel comfort in the fact they can relate to the person next to them. The only requirement to join a fellowship is to want to change. A twelve step fellowship asks for willingness, open mindedness and honesty. Members want you to follow the steps that they’ve taken in order to be so successful. The proof to a new comer is the visual proof of people living happy, joyous and free lives within the rooms of the twelve step rooms they’re attending. Once they accomplish the twelve steps the proof becomes self-evident.
This article was written by Peter Dimaira of http://brightfuturestreatment.com, and should hammer home the answers you’re seeking!!!