Is there a salvation from alcoholism? Of course, yes, but this way often seems too complicated. Defeating addiction means opening the path to true self, stop lying to yourself and compensate for problems with alcoholic forgetfulness. The task is not simple, but quite feasible. On the other hand, the dependent person has two ways: to go lower and lower or to find strength in himself and break the vicious circle by looking into the face of life and starting his journey anew. The “12 steps of anonymous alcoholics” system works very well for these purposes.
History of Alcoholics Anonymous
This system did not appear today. Since ancient times, man has sought to find in society those who suffer the same illness with him. Together, it’s easier to bear all the hardships of treatment, and to realize yourself as part of a mini-society is also much easier than alone and abandoned by everyone. If we talk about the program "12 steps of anonymous alcoholics", then it has been working for 63 years and during this time it has been recognized as one of the most effective systems for combating addiction, and this trend is visible not only in Russia but throughout the world.
Program Basics
Not only specialists of drug treatment centers, but also people themselves, previously suffering from addiction, confirm that the program “12 steps of anonymous alcoholics” is the most effective in the fight against addictions. It is difficult to count the number of people who went through these groups because their presence is anonymous. However, the main value is that a person does not just take a course to remove physical dependence, but lives through deep personal psychotherapy, during which his world view should radically change. This is what makes it possible to gain a completely new quality of life. It is very important to understand and, most importantly, accept.
Theoretical platform
Like all other programs for the treatment of addiction, "12 steps of anonymous alcoholics" has a certain base. This is a harmonious theory, which is based on a complex, biopsychosocial spiritual model of the disease. All these approaches are extremely important, and each of them carries its own load. Without sobering up a person, it is impossible to move on, only then psychologists enter the struggle for a healthy lifestyle. They can find precisely those stress points, those pain moments, which are the trigger mechanisms leading to addiction. Gestalt therapy is the basic tool for such work. It is based on its principles that anonymous alcoholics share their feelings and feelings. The 12 Steps program carries core values, love and goodness, as well as faith. It was these strongholds that helped people survive in any life situations long before the first AA group was organized. They did not come up with anything new, but simply took as a basis what helps people to stay and stay sober.
Faith and religion: are these concepts the same?
In fact, no, perhaps that is why there are no disagreements between people of the whole world, different views and religions. All of them are anonymous alcoholics. 12 Steps is a book that reveals all the intricacies of this approach. The understanding of spirituality is much broader here than in any particular religion. That is why it is easily accepted by Catholics, Muslims, and also atheists. Despite the fact that it is called spiritually oriented, it does not carry any specific religious content. If this were the case, the program would not have gained worldwide significance. That is, God in the 12 Steps program is a certain higher power, which in the understanding of each person will be his own. This is the source of resources that the patient refers to. And as he calls him, Jesus, Buddha, the spirit of the ancestors or the collective consciousness, this is not the essence, the main thing is that a person feels support in him.
freedom of choice
This is the main difference between the program “Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 Steps”. Testimonials from patients indicate that they decided to join the ranks of members of this organization precisely because no one was forcing them to anything. They are free to attend meetings or not. The program is truly universal, it leaves everyone with the ultimate right to choose. Just insert the name of your problem instead of the words “alcohol” and “drug” - and you will get a ready-made solution.
Patient Active Position
This is an absolutely necessary condition. Only by letting each of its steps go deep through itself can a good result be achieved. Any problem can be solved through such exercises, which is why the group of alcoholics anonymous “12 steps” is the best assistant for each of you. This is a clear and well-structured model that describes a program of actions that involve activity both within and without. That is, the work is carried out simultaneously both within itself and in society. This very well helps to reorient a person, to get away from sterile philosophizing. It is necessary not only to think, but also to begin to do. Theory is very useful, but you will never learn to swim by reading a book on the technique of swimming with brass. It is also impossible to help yourself simply by studying the contents of the “12 steps”.
A brief algorithm, or what you have to do
In fact, everything is intuitively simple and understandable, precisely due to this the universal program “12 steps of anonymous alcoholics” becomes universal. Reviews say that even a person without secondary education can quickly navigate and start working on himself no less successfully than, for example, a psychologist with a higher education. You can consider the program as a valid algorithm that contributes to the correction of personality and change its quality.
The first and probably the most difficult is to recognize the problem. This is a huge and most difficult step. Not just for one day, but forever have to admit their impotence to alcoholism. This step causes resistance among many beginners, and only when time passes does they begin to understand its value.
Next, there is a search for an exit. This is the second step, which is to come to the conclusion that only a more powerful force can restore your sanity.
The third step is again a test, a decision. And it is realized in a simple and complex thesis: I entrust my life to God as I understand it. And at this stage prayers help a lot. In the morning, the patient asks God to remain sober, and in the evening thanks for the day. It is at the same time a recognition of the existence of a higher power, greater and mightier than yourself, and the recognition that you are not indifferent to it.
Then the practical exercises begin, this is introspection. The fourth step is to evaluate your life from a moral point of view. Group lessons help an alcoholic who sees only the bad in himself to find good traits in his personality. So the restoration of the soul takes place, as if a person returned to his abandoned house and gradually begins to make major repairs.
The fifth step is confession, that is, recognition of the true nature of one’s delusions before God and people. This is purification. It is necessary to part with the past. Studying your own shortcomings and establishing healthy social ties.
The sixth step is to prepare yourself to get rid of all the shortcomings. This is a way of growing up, recognition that the whole path of alcoholism is a compensation for your low self-esteem. The patient in the group understands that you just need to love yourself and that he owes nothing to anyone. Moreover, each patient must admit that he has acted so far as an impulsive child.
The seventh step is humility. The patient asks for a higher power to correct his flaws. You must learn to humbly talk about the most difficult and unpleasant moments of your life with other people. This is another brick that is not so easy to lay.
The eighth step - now the patient is ready to return to society, to his old connections, which are important for him. At the same time, the task is again difficult - to make a list of people to whom you have done evil. At this stage, the members of the group are full of desire to make amends.
The ninth step is the continuation of work on returning to the familiar society. An alcoholic personally indemnifies all those people whose list you made in the previous step.
At the tenth step, the members of the group continue their introspection and immediately acknowledge their mistakes if they make them.
The eleventh step is to strive closer to God through prayer and meditation.
Finally, the final step, which can last forever, is the transfer of experience, helping other alcoholics.
Work with drug addicts in St. Petersburg
This organization has been operating for many years in a row, the first center was established 14 years ago. Today, there are branches in all major cities of Russia. The program "12 steps of anonymous alcoholics" is used as the main methodology. In St. Petersburg, many people know this organization and trust the authority of its specialists, since the results are really stunning. Moreover, meetings of alcoholics themselves are only part of a lot of work.
The specialists of the centers take into account the individual characteristics of each client, and in addition, carry out another important mission, help relatives cope with co-dependence. Various events, family education, legal lectures, medical hygiene lectures are held for the patients of the center and their relatives. The specialists of the center give a full guarantee of getting rid of all types of addiction when fulfilling all the recommendations that experts give.
What happens in class?
The Society of Alcoholics Anonymous “12 Steps” is a kind of commune, which is united by one single goal - to stop degrading and destroy itself and begin a normal life. It is very important that the classes nearby are not attended by doctors, professors and psychologists with sometimes obscure lectures, but by the same people as the newly converted alcoholic himself. You can often hear the phrase that only one who has survived a craving for alcohol or a drug can understand a dependent person. This is what happens in the group. All people with the same story gather here. The reasons for all are different, the fall is always the same. No one will scold or try to remake, everything is completely voluntary. It is very remarkable that there are no leaders and organizers, founders. Each lesson can be conducted by different people.
From this, the system gains even more flexibility. Yes, there are those who want to leave in the first lesson. But this decision of everyone, forced hospitalization and the course of treatment will also not yield results if the person does not set out to change his life. Surprisingly, in the classroom, each, in essence, repeats the story of the previous and next speakers. Moreover, it is very valuable that people who are already sobriety, for several years, recognize: "I am an alcoholic." This helps beginners to remove the barrier and acknowledge their problem. From here, further treatment begins to unfold.
To summarize
The 12 Steps program is one of the best methods for the rehabilitation of addicted people. There are activists who gather a group and travel far out of town, to a farm or just to the mountains, where you can live in tents. Fresh air, physical labor and separation from the former environment, along with regular meetings, give good results. All that remains is the task of returning to the usual rhythm to avoid the temptation to return to old habits.