Twelve Step Recovery Workshop

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Twelve Step Recovery  Workshop                  P.O. Box  26145 Baltimore, MD 21210                       410-880-2439         

Why do we use the "Big Book"?

Upon entering the workshop one might be struck by the focus placed on the book Alcoholics Anonymous, or the "Big Book" as it is also called. The founders of A.A. experienced phenomenal results from working the Twelve Step spiritual program first outlined in this book. Their stories of suffering and triumph are a testament to the effectiveness of the Twelve Step program in overcoming life-threatening addiction.

Recovery truly began for us only when we put our focus on the spiritual program detailed in the Big Book. We had to gain access to a Higher Power in order to truly recover. This "by the book" approach protects us from the temptation to water down the program. Time and time again we have found it crucial to stick to the original program in order to receive the freedoms promised.

The Twelve Steps*

1. We admitted we were powerless over one or more addictive substances and/or compulsive behaviors**—-that our lives had become unmanageable.

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

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

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

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

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

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

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

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

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

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.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others suffering from addictions and compulsive behaviors, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

*The Twelve Steps are published and adapted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.). Permission to adapt the Twelve Steps does not mean that A.A.W.S. has reviewed or approved the contents of this website, or that A.A.W.S. necessarily agrees with the views expressed herein. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism only—use of the Twelve Steps in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, or in any other non-A.A. context, does not imply otherwise.

**Such behaviors as alcoholism, anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating, co-dependency, compulsive anxiety, guilt or anger, workaholism, gambling or spending.