12-step
The 12-step program has long been a popular form of addiction treatment that is widely known by both people who struggle with these sort of issues, as well as those in the mainstream. Thanks to their popular "admitting you have a problem" and "Hi, my name is Joe and I'm an alcoholic…" catchphrases, the 12-step program has been both mocked by the media but more importantly has been accepted as a method of treatment that is not to be ashamed of.
The 12-step program was originally designed by Alcoholics Anonymous as a way to help alcoholics with their struggle against "powerlessness" when it comes to quitting the bottle. Since then, other groups have adopted the program, including Narcotics Anonymous and other self-help groups who could easily take the 12 steps and customize them to help their own.
The only requirement to join one of these groups is a desire to stop whatever addictive behavior you are experiencing, as you cannot be helped until you are ready to help yourself.
No matter what group you join, the 12-step program follows the same format. Members are required to meet in a group setting in order to recount their experiences, and find strength and hope in the commitment and friendship of other group members. The 12-step program focuses on the fact that the alcoholics are suffering from an addiction or illness, rather than a dirty habit or a disease. This helps users of the 12-step program to feel better about themselves and have a bigger hope when it comes to recovery.
According to Wikipedia.com, "The illness is attributed to a physical allergy that creates uncontrollable cravings coupled with a psychological obsession that keeps finding rationalizations for relapse. Recovery from the illness can occur by taking individual responsibility for one's own recovery and relying on the will of a Higher Power while following the Twelve Steps. True to the Twelve Traditions, twelve-step programs do not take positions on outside issues, including medicine."
While 12-step is altered and customized for different groups to meet their needs, the original 12 that was started by Alcoholics and serves as a skeleton for all others is as follows:
• We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
• Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
• Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
• Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
• Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
• Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
• Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
• Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
• Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12-step program began in Akron, Ohio. 12-step was originally written by Wilson and was based upon teachings by a pastor, Dr. Carl Jung, scriptures from the bible, and a myriad of writings regarding the idea of a "higher power."
A book was written after A.A. experienced an amazing amount of recoveries within their alcohol treatment program using these steps. While A.A. has always been known as a group associated with religion, namely the Christian faith, there has always been a desire to keep it separate from religion and most people have benefited from the program no matter what their beliefs.
The 12-step program has proven itself to be a great resource for many alcoholics both stateside and internationally, as well as many other groups as well. Whether you find your strength in God, as the 12-step format encourages, or rather you find it in the strength of positive reinforcement and group support, then chances are it could be your ticket toward a happier, healthier, addiction-free life.
Comprehensive list of other 12-step groups:
Alcoholics Anonymous
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Anonymous - for people suffering from ADD
Al-Anon/Alateen
All Addictions Anonymous
Anti-Nutrient Addicts Anonymous
Borderliners Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous
Chemically Dependent Anonymous
Compulsive Eaters Anonymous
-Clutterers Anonymous
Crystal Meth Anonymous
Codependents Anonymous
Codependents of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
Codependents of Sex Addicts
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Debtors Anonymous
Depressed Anonymous
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Emotions Anonymous
Eating Addictions Anonymous
Families Anonymous
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous
GamAnon
GreySheeters Anonymous
Incest Survivors Anonymous
Marijuana Anonymous
Methadone Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Nar-Anon
Nicotine Addicts Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous
Online Gamers Anonymous
Pagans In Recovery
Procrastinators Anonymous
Recoveries Anonymous; the Solution Focused Twelve Step Fellowship
Rape Survivors Anonymous
Sexaholics Anonymous
Sex Addicts Anonymous
Survivors of Incest Anonymous
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
Spenders Anonymous
Self-Mutilators Anonymous
Social Phobics Anonymous
Self-Therapy Anonymous
Workaholics Anonymous
Addiction
When one hears the word addiction, a lot of thoughts come into play, a multitude of which may not be very positive. The actual textbook definition of addiction is, "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma."
Doesn't sound like much fun, does it? This is the sort of mental anguish that millions of Americans deal with on an everyday basis, not to mention the label that our society puts on them as weak or unstable people. The truth of the matter is that addiction can come into the life of anybody, and most people just don't expect it to get to the point where professional help is needed. However, this often becomes the case.
Most medical professionals describe addiction from a physiological perspective, blaming the body rather than the mind for the issues. However, true addiction usually contains both mental and physical components. There is also a disagreement over what is actually addiction. It is usually described as a dependence on a substance that controls your psychological abilities such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These materials will cross the blood-brain barrier when taken and can alter the chemical balance of the brain. However, in today's world of modern medicine, other life-altering compulsions are now usually considered addictions such as gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, work, exercise, self-mutilation, shopping, and many more.
Because of this apparent necessity for separation, there are two acknowledged forms of addiction. The first of these is physical dependency.
Physical dependence comes about when a person's body experiences actual withdrawal symptoms when the addictive substance is taken away. While psychologically your body may always seem and feel addicted to the substance, physically only certain things can cause your body to go through genuine withdrawls. These are the above mentioned substances of tobacco, alcohol, and narcotics.
The rate in which a person becomes addicted to these substances varies depending on what is being ingested, how often, and also their genetic makeup and susceptibility. Some addicts claim they felt a dependence after their first drink or drug use, while many others report that they can socially use without ever becoming addicted.
The second genre of addiction is psychological addiction. This is when a person's craving for a particular substance shows know practical boundaries and the mind is driven to satisfy the addiction without taking other things into account. People with psychological addictions tend to get addicted because the substance they are ingesting helps them to mask other feelings such as fear, anger, loneliness, or anxiety.
Addiction almost always involves some sort of professional recovery and treatment, including the 12-step program and other methods of therapy that have been medically proven to be effective.
Interventions are also often used to curb the defiant attitude of anger and denial that many people suffering from addiction face. Using friends and family members to help the ill person touch the ground of reality, intervention is often a very successful first step of addiction treatment.
Addicts most often always realize that they are hurting themselves, but the idea that they are hurting others hardly ever crosses their mind. When faced with the cold, hard facts that they are compromising their loved ones' quality of life, many addicts who otherwise would never seek help tend to break under the pressure and begin to slowly recover.
Having an addiction is never anything to be ashamed of, and millions of Americans all over the country are struggling for a solution just as you may be. If you find yourself in the reflection of any of these words, then consider getting the help that you need (and deserve!) today.
Addiction Counseling
Addiction counseling is one of the most valuable tools available nowadays for those recovering from substance abuse issues. Talk therapy and support groups in fact are one of the only effective treatments out there for those who are dealing with alcoholism and addiction to different narcotics.
Even the Red Cross, who usually works to bring relief solely to the physical needs of the public, has realized the importance of addiction counseling. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the powers that be at the Red Cross issued statements insisting that shelter facilitators allow addiction counselors in to work alongside relief workers and volunteers.
The actual letter stated that shelter managers "must allow substance-abuse counselors to enter the shelters in order for people with substance-abuse problems to receive appropriate counseling."
This instruction was based upon the realization that those who are suffering from addiction are majorly affected by traumas, and that the success of their recovery depends upon the ability to receive help on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, even without natural disasters taking place, many addicts across the nation are not able to receive the help that they need because of money and circumstance. How can one receive help for an addiction that has already wiped them out physically and financially, when therapists can be outrageously expensive?
The Red Cross' commitment to those impoverished and hurting is one solution, however fortunately for many there are a few others. One solution comes in the form of the word wide web. Many addiction counselors now provide "online therapy" for addicts, and the results have been positive. While sitting in a counselor's office for less than an hour can cost you hundreds of dollars, online addiction counseling is usually about half the cost and also provides a resource for those who are too intimidated by the idea of going in to a physical location and admitting that they are fighting an addiction.
The online counseling option is convenient and non-invasive for many people, and online addiction counseling support groups are often available as well. In fact, message boards themselves serve as a form of support for those who suffer from addiction. Just being able to read the messages and encouragement from others who are struggling in the same sort of ways.
Another resource for those who are down and out and find themselves living with a substance addiction are graduate students and psychology interns who offer their services on a sliding fee scale. Based upon your income, these therapists-to-be charge lower fees and can be just as informed and effective as a seasoned professional.
Addiction counseling involves a few different methods, but the most effective thus far is the 12-step program that was started by Alcoholics Anonymous. Using a nondenominational spiritual foundation coupled with strong accountability and a positive group setting, many addicts have overcome their issues through this program that is now used worldwide in many different forms.
Addiction counseling may be a difficult thing for a substance abuser to accept and cooperate with. They may be prideful, afraid of losing family, friends, or employment, and a myriad of other emotions that a healthy person may never think of or consider. It is important to support the alcoholic or substance user in your life with unconditional love and acceptance, while showing them the positive results of other lives who have given addiction counseling a try.
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