Step 9 of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step program is all about making amends to the people you’ve hurt through your substance use. For many, this can be the most difficult and visceral step of the program. Which makes it all the more important in the recovery process. Not only is this step useful in helping you rebuild your relationships but it forces you to face the very real damage your substance use has caused. Let’s discuss some tips on reaching out and composing apologies to the people in your life you wish to make amends with.
Tag: 12 steps
Tips for Making Living Amends
To make amends, you must do more than just make apologies for your past behavior. Instead, making amends means you apologize for what you’ve done and make it right. Similarly, making living amends means you completely change the way you live and remain committed to that lifestyle.
12-Step Program vs. Sober Living Program: What’s the Difference?
The 12-Step Program is popular among people in recovery, as are sober living programs. But what’s the difference between the two types of recovery support programs and which is best for you? In this blog, we’ll compare a 12-Step Programs vs. sober living program to help you find an answer.
How to Work Step 11 [Of the 12 Steps]
Are you working Step 11 of the 12-Step Program? This step focuses on deepening your connection with your Higher Power as you cultivate your spirituality through the practice of prayer, meditation, or some other type of spiritual practice.
How to Work Step 10 [Of the 12-Steps]
Step 10 of the 12-Step Program serves as a reminder that people in recovery are still human. They’re not perfect, and they’re going to make mistakes. Step 10 is a maintenance step. It asks that you watch for emotions that have the potential to trigger drug or alcohol abuse and make things right when you make a mistake.
How to Work Step 9 [Of the 12 Steps]
After you make a list of the people you have wronged in Step 9, you’ll move on to Step 9 of the 12-Step Program, which is making direct or indirect amends. For many people, Step 9 is one of the most difficult of the 12 Steps because it’s hard to set things right, especially with those you’ve hurt in the past. However, as difficult as it is, this step is a vital part of the healing process.
How to Work Step 8 [Of the 12 Steps]
While working Step 8 of the 12-Step Program, you’re going to make a list of the people you have wronged and the specific ways you have harmed each one. Doing this can be difficult and facing the wreckage of your past is never easy. But with the right support, you can make it through this step and onto the next.
Why Self-Help Groups Alone Are Not Enough to Treat Addiction
We’ve all heard the stories about a person who decided to get sober, started attending 12-Step groups, and is still sober to this day. While stories like this can really happen, they are few and far between. For most people, addiction self-help groups are not enough to adequately treat addiction on their own. More often […]
10 Types of Therapy Used in Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Updated on July 17th, 2020 Addiction recovery is as much about physical abstinence as it is about making positive mental and behavioral changes. The way we think impacts the way we behave, so naturally, therapy and counseling are an important aspect of addiction treatment in rehab and the recovery process.
Sober Living vs. Group Therapy: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between a sober living home and group therapy? A sober living home provides safe and sober group housing to help people reintegrate back into society after completing addiction treatment or following a relapse. On the other hand, group therapy consists of group sessions facilitated by a therapist or counselor. The discussions address […]
What Are the 12 Steps?
Many people have found success in recovery with the 12 steps and continue to live a life of sobriety that is guided by the spiritual principles found in these steps. The 12-Step Program, founded by Bill Wilson in the 1930s, was later developed into the Big Book, which contains each step and outlines the core […]
What is the AA Success Rate?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been around since 1935 but despite its long-standing presence around the world, many people wonder if it’s actually an effective way to get sober and stay sober. Although the success rate for AA has long been debated, there studies that show it can be a very effective recovery tool for many […]
What to Expect in Your First Year of Sobriety
Transitioning from a life of addiction to a life of sobriety can be difficult whether you’re enrolled in a sober living program or not. While transitional housing and the support that comes with it is all very helpful and effective, your first year of sobriety will still come with its share of challenges and you’ll […]
Are Sober Living Homes Effective?
People who enroll in sober living programs come from all walks of life. Whether they’ve just finished rehab or they recently relapsed after several months of sobriety, sober living homes are extremely advantageous and beneficial for people of all ages and in all stages of addiction recovery.