How a 12 Step Program Helped My Recovery

I suffer from what many people in recovery often refer to as “terminal uniqueness” and it was a difficult concept. In my addiction, I felt as though I was all alone and nobody could understand what I was going through. When I finally found a 12 step program, it felt like I was finally at home because people did understand. Not only did the men and women of these programs show me I wasn’t alone, but they showed me a new way of living.

The 12 Step Program Beginnings

It was extremely scary going to my first meeting, but luckily my sister came with me, and she’s in recovery. On top of my social anxiety, I was a very angry person when I first got sober and didn’t like many people. I was also an extremely stubborn person, set in my ways, but I also had the gift of desperation. As I began listening in the meetings, I heard that I didn’t need to do everything at once, but there were three essentials:

• Honesty
• Open-mindedness
• Willingness

If you’re like me and have failed at staying sober on your own, then buying into these three things wasn’t a big deal. This really helped me in early recovery because I didn’t want a sponsor, I didn’t want to work steps or work on spirituality. They told me that as long as I had these three things, I would at least have a chance of staying sober. This worked for a while, but eventually, I had to do more in order to stay sober.

Working the 12 Step Program

My willingness began with simply going to meetings regularly, but it had to begin to broaden if I wanted a better life. I eventually reached a point in my sobriety where I was willing to try working the steps. I came to this willingness because everyone who was working these steps was sober and happy. For most of us, if you take away our drugs or alcohol, we’re very restless, irritable, and discontent.

I finally found a sponsor. This man showed me more about what I learned in treatment where I did my first step. The first step gave me clarity that my alcohol addiction was only a symptom of my overall problem. My life was highly unmanageable without alcohol as well as with it. So, I needed to work on other pieces of my life. I was able to trust this man because he had what I wanted. This was how I am able to stay sober today.

Treatment Gave Me the 12 Step Program Basics

Beaches Recovery incorporates the 12 step program in their treatment plan. However, it is up to the individual whether they use that tool or not. There are also non-12 step program options available for individuals who find that it’s not an effective means of treatment. Beaches Recovery also teaches the basics of living life with coping skills for recovery that will prevent triggers and temptations from plunging you back into addiction. Our therapeutic services and programs are customized to help clients get the most out of treatment as possible. This greatly increases the likelihood of recovery and making sobriety a lifelong pursuit. Some of the treatment programs we offer include:

• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Men’s Rehab and Women’s Rehab for addiction
• Fresh Start DUI program

With or without the 12 steps, Beaches Recovery has a treatment plan that you can adhere to on your journey to a sober life. Even when treatment is complete, the 12 steps can keep you on the straight and narrow for life. If you’d like to learn more about Beaches Recovery or how to stay sober, please give us a call today at 866.605.0532, or contact us online.