There is a saying in the rooms of 12-Step recovery fellowships: “Whatever you put before your sobriety, you will lose.” When we entered into the beginning stages of our recovery, we made the decision that we were willing to go to any lengths to achieve victory over alcohol and drugs. Sometimes, however, we begin to…
The goal of the Twelve Step recovery model is for an individual to have a spiritual experience and entire psychic change as a means of maintaining permanent sobriety. The mental obsession with alcohol and drugs is removed and we successfully recover from a hopeless state of body and mind by working the Twelve Steps and…
Fellowship can be one of the best parts of entering into recovery. We go to meetings and are surrounded by others who understand the struggle of addiction and alcoholism—we realize we are no longer alone and can help and be helped by others who are just like us. Yet, there are times when we simply…
Entering into a program of recovery requires one to make a commitment to go to any lengths to achieve victory over addiction and alcoholism. There are moments, however, when we feel overwhelmed with mental, physical, and spiritual pain. These feelings are entirely normal and strike most significantly during the stages of withdrawal. If we are…
Many people entering into Twelve Step recovery fellowships are uncomfortable with the seemingly ubiquitous use of the word “God.” Twelve Step recovery, however, is not religious—the use of the word “God” is simply referring to the concept of a power greater than oneself. We realized that we were powerless over alcohol and drugs, and to…
Detox is one of the first steps toward a life of sobriety. It is the process of detoxifying the body of all traces of drugs or alcohol. Chronic drug and alcohol use can lead to physical dependence, and if we are to recover from addiction we must go through the process of detox, no matter…
Twelve step fellowships stress the importance of giving up self-will and trusting in something greater than yourself. We learn to stop trying to assert our will over every facet of our lives. Instead, we learn acceptance of the unchangeable and faith in a higher power. When we make the decision to “turn our will and…
Addiction leads to isolation and deep depression. We often leave behind our loving friends and family in exchange for friendships with others who are also using or drinking. These friendships are often superficial and quickly dissolve one we are no longer willing to engage in addictive behaviors. We may initially feel lonely, but leaving behind…
Denial can be one of the strongest impediments in seeking help for addiction and alcoholism. We use all forms of self-deception to keep ourselves from admitting the truth—that we are powerless over addiction and our lives are unmanageable. We may face dire consequences as a result of our behaviors, yet still maintain the belief that…
Many people believe that if they have a problem with one drug, they can simply switch to using a different, safer drug. For example, someone with a heroin addiction may think that, once they are no longer physically dependent on heroin, they can use marijuana with impunity. From the collective experience of many men and…