Do the 12 steps work for non-religious people?
When you’re caught in addiction, it can feel like you’re living the same day on repeat. You promise yourself it’ll be the last drink, the
When you’re caught in addiction, it can feel like you’re living the same day on repeat. You promise yourself it’ll be the last drink, the
How the 12 Steps should be worked The 12 Steps of AA need to be worked through in order as each step follows on seamlessly
The wording of the 12 Steps has not been changed, altered or updated in nearly 90 years. This is important in terms of understanding and
Anyone can get well from alcohol addiction if they wish to Alcohol addiction, alcoholism, alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder, as it is now termed,
What is a 12 Step Programme? In its simplest form, a 12 Step programme is a Recovery programme to help to overcome addiction, avoid Relapse
Experiences of the 12 Step Programme differ I know a few people who attended their first 12 step fellowship meeting and from that day on
Resistance to the 12 Step Programme There is now more of a general understanding and awareness that a 12 Step Programme plays an important part
We need people and not isolation For almost everyone, it is important that we can engage with others and not feel isolated and lonely. If
Most addiction treatment centres in the UK are 12 Step If you are looking for addiction rehab treatment for yourself or someone you love, you
Religion and the 12 Step Programme At The Haynes Clinic we often find that many people who are admitted for residential rehab treatment already have
Completing the 12 Step Programme is not a race. However it is important that the full programme is completed and that we get a full
The 12 Step Programme is not Religious The biggest misconception about the 12 Step Programme, and something that we are constantly asked about at the
A simple addiction treatment programme About 99% of all UK residential rehab centres and addiction clinics will offer their treatment based on the model of
Origin of the Twelve Step Programme At The Haynes Clinic we hear many excuses as to why going into a residential rehab centre is not
Origins of the Programme The 12 Step programme is approximately 90 years old and its origin stemmed from the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous in America.
The 12 Days of Christmas is a well known phenomenon. But for a recovering alcoholic or an addict this number can mean something entirely different.
What are the key factors of the treatment model used at The Haynes Clinic?
An action step to make direct amends to people wherever possible.
We made a list of all the people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
‘Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character’.
Step 4 – looking at ourselves and our character and personality and what we like about ourselves and what is good in our lives – and what is not
Lots of rehabs to choose from There are a number of rehabs located across the country. They will vary in how they operate and the
Why do people go to private alcohol rehabilitation centres? The most straightforward answer to why people go to private rehabilitation centres is because there is
‘Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him’. This step is about making
Step Two – “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity” Many people struggle with Step Two, thinking that
Co-dependency is generally when your mood, happiness and identity is defined by how another person is feeling. Co-dependency is a very painful condition which is stressful.
‘We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable’ Step One in the 12 Step Programme is about admitting
Honestly I did not want to go to a alcohol rehab. I don’t suppose many people do. After trying so many ways to address my
What is the Twelve Step Programme? The Twelve Step programme of recovery was created by Dr Robert Smith and Bill Wilson, the two men responsible
AA and residential treatment for alcoholism can both get you onto the path of recovery. Regardless of if you have been to residential treatment or
What are the Twelve Steps? Many rehabilitation clinics are also known as ‘twelve step clinics’ which means they follow the twelve step programme of recovery.
I never considered myself a drug addict although I had used alcohol and drugs for nearly 30 years continuously. I did believe, especially in my
I woke up with the police in my living room and my two year old son running around – not knowing how I got there
What is a 12 Step Programme? At The Haynes Clinic we follow the 12 Step Programme which was originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a method
Meditation and prayer which is talked about within the twelve step community is part of recovery. It is not uncommon for recovering addicts to feel
The phrase “one day at a time” is frequently used in the 12 steps rehabilitation programme. It may seem confusing at first as most addicts
People have been benefiting from the 12 step program, by helping them to recover from alcohol and drugs, and other forms of compulsions and addictions
I have learned I don’t have to be perfect – something I really tried hard to be. And because of this I don’t expect others
To start with, embarking on a journey of recovery, like many other new things in life, is exciting. It is even more so as we
In order to do identify your character defects, write a list of all your resentments and fears plus all people you have harmed. Then look
Resentment is like drinking a cup of poison and expecting the other person to die. This is a really good way of describing resentment. I
Lots of people are put off attending Alcoholics Anonymous or other recovery support groups which follow the Twelve Step Programme. This is because they think
The Twelve Step Programme is a proven good way of living for addicts and non addicts alike. The programme promotes honesty and integrity. Living a
I do not know who devised the following parody of the twelve steps programme but I think it is witty and funny (but also sadly
If you want a fulfilled and happy addiction recovery, you need to take a programme of action. There are two distinct parts to recovery –
Everyone working a Twelve Step Programme and attending Alcoholics anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous (or any other recovery meetings) should have a sponsor. A sponsor is
‘Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here’ – confidentiality statement. So we hear said at many
The 12 Step Program is arguably the best way for addicts and alcoholics to get well, maintain sobriety and pursue a enriched life. There are
The original 12 step program was published by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in 1939 and thanks to their undeniable success, the overwhelming majority of community recovery
The model is so called because it originated in Pioneer House, in Minnesota over 60 years ago. There is nothing unique and original about the
In 1935, two men met in Akron, Ohio. One was Bill Wilson, who had been a financial hotshot on Wall Street in his successful days;
In recovery programme, so called normal life goes on and we will face the ups and downs of life like everyone else. If you attend
You will never see an advert for Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous on television or in the printed media, nor will you ever
Many people who drink, gamble or use drugs come into recovery full of anger and resentments. If they work through the 12 Step Programme, they
Some of us believe in fate and that much of our lives are pre-ordained. Others of us believe we have to make our own luck
“We can control how we react” Being in the wrong is not just about the obvious things – such as cheating or lying. Being in
The vast majority of people are afraid of change. The familiar is cosy and comfortable. Change can be threatening and can affect our perceived security.
Step 12 of Alcoholics Anonymous – ‘Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics,
Step 11 – ‘Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand him. Praying only for knowledge of His
‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’. This quote is attributed to Thomas Jefferson and is very apt for Step 10. We would all like
Continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. All of the twelve steps are very important but this is (another)
Step 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous – Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This step is
A prayer familiar to almost everyone is The Lord’s Prayer and I can relate the central part of this to the 12 Step programme and
The Haynes Clinic is a twelve step treatment centre. Many rehab clinics in the UK follow the 12 Step model of recovery and this is
The 12 Step Programme and the principles of living in recovery are excellent foundations for living a fulfilled and happy life. Everyone – not just
Step 9 of the Twelve Step Programme is about making amends to the people whom we have wronged in the past in order for us
One of the things we learn when in addiction recovery is to write a gratitude list and to look on the positive side of life.
When we stop drinking or using, if we begin to understand and work the 12 Step Programme, we begin to understand ourselves so much better.
Every negative or bad experience we go through can be used as a chance to help us grow. If you are reading this as someone