The 12 Steps Explained

The Important Role the 12 Steps Play in AA and NA in Tampa

The 12 steps are used in organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) to provide guidelines to those dedicated to recovery. Working these steps is typically done in order. However, many people go through and revisit the 12 steps throughout their recovery process.

The 12 Steps of AA Explained

The 12 steps of AA empower members and encourage them to grow spiritually while working toward recovery. AA members are taught to use these steps to strengthen multiple areas of life while battling the addiction to alcohol. The 12 steps of AA bring the people of the organization together and allow members to form support groups based on common understandings and goals. Here are the 12 steps of AA explained:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

   Understanding your addiction and recognizing that you have the capability of losing yourself to your addiction is the first step. Remaining humble and aware of this will bring you to the realization of your problems and allow you to open your mind to fix them.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 

   Although AA is not a religious organization, the 12 steps state that it is vital to accept the presence of some higher Power in order to restore your soul.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.

   Surrendering to God, or a higher Power will provide comfort and support during your journey to recovery. Turning to God will provide necessary guidance and remind you of your purpose in life.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

   Reflecting on your moral shortcomings will allow you to heal and learn what changes need to be made to live a moral and positive life.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

   Admitting to yourself, God, and others the extent of our wrong choices and how they have negatively affected you and others shows your remorse and willingness to change.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

   Trusting God to help you work on flaws can build you mentally and spiritually, and promote moral behavior.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

   Asking God to relieve you of your faults and shortcomings removes the darkness from your life.

8. Made a list of all the person we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

   Recognizing those you’ve wronged in the past will build empathy.

9. Made a direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

   Owning the fact that you’ve wronged others and making attempts to apologize heals not only you but those involved as well.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

    Continuously self-reflecting and assessing progress is vital in the recovery process.

11. 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.

    Strengthening your communication with God or your Higher Power will bring build your spirituality and improve all aspects of life.

12. 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.

    Once these steps have been completed, it’s important to revisit them and promote them to others to spread the hope of a stable recovery.

The only difference between the 12 steps of AA and the 12 steps of NA is that the word “alcohol” is replaced with “addiction” in the NA steps. Since NA promotes healing among multiple substance abuse addictions, “addiction” refers to the disease as a whole.

If you or a loved one suffers from addiction to drugs or alcohol, contact White Sands Tampa today for more information on our rehabilitation programs.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.