The addiction recovery process is not an easy road to walk. It takes everything from courage, passion, and strong willpower, to the feeling of acceptance to achieve the results you seek. If you are considering treatment options for substance abuse, the 12-step program has proven among the most popular and proof-positive across the world. 

12 step program, first developed and used by Alcoholics Anonymous, is a treatment plan to help addicts overcome their addictions and compulsions. It is spiritual in nature and allows individuals to live a fulfilling life with sobriety. These 12-steps can be intimidating at first but can lead to sobriety if addressed step by step. Continue reading this article to know more about 12 step programme and find out if it is right for you.

Your 12 Steps to Recovery

While the 12 step program varies in different support groups, they all follow basic principles, which are:

  • Admit that we have no power over alcohol or drugs, we are addicted to them.
  • Believe that we can get help from others and it could help restore us to sanity.
  • Willingly surrender to the higher power for our own good.
  • Make a moral inventory of yourself – healing and seeking forgiveness.
  • There should be no fear in accepting or admitting our wrongs in front of a higher power, ourselves, and another human being.
  • Ready to allow the higher power to correct any defects or shortcomings in one’s character.
  • Asking the higher power to remove these defects or shortcomings allows us growth.
  • Make a list to amend with all the people that we had harmed in any way.
  • Contacting those who have been hurt, unless they get hurt by doing so.
  • Continue to take personal inventory of the healing process and admit wrong decisions.
  • Connect with a higher power through prayers and meditation.
  • After having a spiritual awakening by following these steps, take a pledge to carry this message to other people in need.

This 12 step program is a structured pathway where addiction counselling is provided so that you can understand yourself, open up to accepting help, and build a connection with a power greater than yourself to seek help. 

7 Benefits of 12-Step Addiction Recovery Program

It has been observed that patients who participate in 12 step programme successfully establish a fulfilling and sober life for themselves. Hence, 12 step programme has several benefits including these seven:

  1. You Become a Part of Sober Community

One of the greatest benefits of this 12 step program is that you will become a part of a sober community. When you attend these meetings, you will meet people like you who are already sober or on the path to sobriety. Having this strong network of support will speed up your addiction recovery process. On the contrary, if you stick to your old social group, who are still consuming alcohol or drugs or both, it will make sobering up a tough battle for you. However, the social groups in this 12 step program are far better at relating to your challenges and are willing to help.  

  1. You Will Learn New Strategies to Achieve Sobriety 

The 12-step recovery process not only helps you but also encourages you to help others in need. In the meetings that occur during the 12 step program, you will meet everyone from newcomers who are getting through their first day sober or people who are struggling for the past 10-15 years to be completely sober. They all discuss and share their stories without any judgment. Hence, being a part of this space will teach you a few tips and tricks for overcoming addiction.

  1. You Build Meaningful Relations

The success of the 12-step meeting or addiction recovery process also lies in cultivating a strong sense of connection and belonging. As they say, it needs a whole lot like a village to help people stay sober. As part of the 12 step program fellowship, all the candidates or sufferers share similar experiences to yours, so that you know each other on a deeper level.

  1. 12-Step Meetings Provides Enhanced Safety

Detoxing from drugs or addiction recovery can be a dangerous and life-threatening experience for many people who go through this struggle alone. With professional help from the counselors, you can feel safe, and that’s the biggest benefit of the 12-step program.

  1. 12-Step Program Ensures Accountability

In the 12-step program, you are encouraged to find a sponsor. A sponsor is a member who will help to guide you through the steps. So, whenever you need help, are captured in a moment of loneliness, or facing a crisis situation, your sponsor will provide support, guidance, encouragement, and most importantly, accountability. A good sponsor is not judgmental and you can trust them with your sensitive information.

  1. You Get Access to Free Meetings

The 12-step programs are easily accessible and don’t cost you anything at all. You can check in your city and towns if they have local 12 step programs so that you can start your journey today.

These programs are available in different languages and have flexible timings to fit into your daily or weekly routines. The only thing needed from you is the will to stop drinking or using drugs.

  1. 12-Steps Stand the Test of Time 

First created in the 1930s, the popularity of the 12-step recovery plan remains the same even today. Quite effective for those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, the 12-step program ensures that you have all the tools in place to be right on the track of sobriety and lifelong addiction recovery.

Take a Journey towards your Addiction Recovery Today

While imagining quitting alcohol and drugs can be easy, taking the first step towards it is otherwise scary and overwhelming. Hence, the 12 step programme helps you to achieve sobriety and makes you feel welcome and accepted. For more guidance and support, the UKAT group, an addiction treatment company with 8 different addiction treatment centers is always here to help you! Contact us to know about our holistic therapy schedule that offers 12-step addiction recovery as an effective framework for your inpatient treatment.