Why take the Steps?
I got fed up of the consequences of my drinking. Cutting down wasn't an option: I rarely wanted to keep a lid on it, and on the few occasions I did want to, I found I couldn't. Cutting it out altogether seemed daunting to impossible. However firmly I concluded 'never again', I'd be drunk within weeks, days, or hours.Then I found AA, in January or so 1993. Going to some meetings improved matters and kept me sober for periods, but not permanently.
Some people in AA had been transformed through the process of the Twelve Steps. When I started taking the Steps, seriously and swiftly, with concerted daily action, I found it possible to stay away from alcohol. What is more, I started to want to stay sober for its own sake and for the alternative life that was on offer.
Go to some AA meetings. Google Alcoholics Anonymous to find meetings in your country. Google AA speakers to find AA talks. Go to a lot of meetings and listen to a lot of speakers. There's lots of variation. If you like what you hear, do what we have done and continue to do: take the Twelve Steps and use them as a design for living.
If your problem is other than alcohol, there's probably a Twelve-Step fellowship for you. Google the problem plus Twelve Steps and you'll find a range of fellowships for drugs, sex, food, and other problem areas. Some of these fellowships use the Big Book of AA and its Twelve Steps pretty much like we do in AA. Others adapt the Twelve Steps heavily. Either way, this site may still help a lot.
If you're a friend or family member of an alcoholic or addict, try Al-Anon or other similar fellowships.
Specific information on how to use AA's twelve Steps in Al-Anon and similar can be found here.
Specific information on how to use AA's twelve Steps in Al-Anon and similar can be found here.
If you're using these materials for a problem other than alcohol, simply substitute the problem wherever alcohol is concerned.
If you're using these materials as an anon (someone affected by someone else's addiction), the adaptation in Step One is a little tricker, so check out the link above.
If you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it, you're ready to take certain steps. Let's start at the very beginning.
If you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it, you're ready to take certain steps. Let's start at the very beginning.
What are we letting ourselves in for?
Read the Big Book up to the end of Dr Bob's Nightmare (page 181). Ask yourself broadly:
- Do I drink like these people?
- Do I want the solution that's on offer?
- Am I willing to do what they did?
Make very brief, general notes. Discuss with step buddies and a sponsor.
If you're not ready to proceed, don't worry. Keep going to meetings if you like. If you change your mind, you can always return to this process. It's not going anywhere.
Preface and Forewords
If you're ready to proceed, start with the Preface and the Forewords. These give you a history of AA and a general overview of how it and its programme function.
Make detailed notes (see The stepworking method). Discuss with step buddies and a sponsor.
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