Step 12 of Alcoholics Anonymous – ‘Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs’.
Alcoholics anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is not affiliated to any organisation or political party. It does not advertise – it relies on attracting new members rather than promoting itself to them. Yet it is probably one of the best known fellowships in the world! It has over 1 million members worldwide and at the time of the new millennium 12 years ago, over 21 million AA ‘Big Books’ (the handbook of AA) were in circulation. How many people in this country are not familiar with the mantra ‘my name is …. and I am an alcoholic’? Almost everyone is, even if they have not knowingly come across alcoholism in their life! And this is an organisation with no advertising budget which started as a meeting of two individuals in 1935 in the USA.
Word of mouth
AA is purely known by word of mouth – from alcoholics carrying their message to other alcoholics and from demonstrating by their attitudes and behaviours that AA works. This is all encapsulated in step 12 – in which we commit to carrying the message to other alcoholics and working our 12 Step Programme.
Carrying the message
One of the ways in which we carry the message is by attending AA meetings. At these meetings, those of us in recovery reach out to help those who are new in, whether still drinking or not. We encourage them to come to meetings, show how people can be happy without alcohol and show them a new way of life. We try and give them both hope and practical support. In doing this, we actually find we get a lot back ourselves. We turn our blackest experiences into an understanding and empathy for the still suffering alcoholic. By helping others in this way, we feel useful and it helps our self esteem. As we see the people we have helped progress, we are grateful to have been part of their recovery.
Spiritual awakening
The other part of this step which is of course critical is the spiritual awakening part. By working the first 11 steps, our spirits have usually woken up. A spiritual awakening is unique to each individual. It can be an awakening to ourselves, a penny dropping about the 12 Step programme and how to live our lives in recovery, just a feeling that things are different and we are different. We have changed in some subtle way. It may be subtle but it is usually noticeable to the people who love us. We are alive! Most of us by this stage have usually also found a Higher Power that works for ourselves as individuals. If you have not, just keep trying and keep open to the possibility that you will find one. One day you will find one, that is a promise if you are willing.
The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol and drug rehab clinic which offers detox and counselling for people with addictions. It follows the Twelve Step Programme of recovery.
Call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advice.
