Many of us have come across in some way with the problem of drug addiction and alcoholism, which not only cripple people's lives, but kill many millions of people every year. This is especially true for Russia, which is the only country in the world where there is no longer a concept of natural population growth, as in other countries. Russia is the only country in which there is a natural decline of about 500,000 people per year. And almost all of them died precisely because of alcoholism and drug addiction.

This does not mean that they all used drugs, which include alcohol. World Organization Healthcare has recognized alcohol as drug number 1 due to its general availability. Tobacco is in 6th place.

Many people die at the hands of drug addicts and alcoholics as a result of quarrels and scandals, robberies, road accidents, etc. Use by parents drugs has a negative impact on the health of children and their life expectancy.

The problem of alcoholism and drug addiction is very acute. In order to solve it, Society of Alcoholics and Drug Addicts Anonymous. This is a group of men and women who share their experiences, strengths and hopes with each other in order to help themselves and others get rid of alcoholism. These include both those who directly used or are still using drugs, and their relatives, friends, or simply those who are not indifferent to this problem.

This community is not commercial organization, is not affiliated with politics or religion and is funded by donations from its members. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

In their work, these groups use the "12 steps" program, aimed at spiritual reorientation of addicts. They acknowledge their addiction to drugs and turn to God to heal, to make up for the damage they have done to others, and to allow and help bring healing knowledge to other addicts. Acceptance of a "higher power" or God is a prerequisite for the program, as they begin to realize themselves, their close connection with God, as a result of which their worldview and way of life change.

This program appeared in the 30s of the 20th century in the United States and soon quickly spread throughout the world. It has existed in Russia for over 20 years.

12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous:

  1. We have recognized that we are powerless over alcohol, that our lives have become unmanageable.
  2. We came to the conviction that only a Force more powerful than our own can bring us back 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 thorough and fearless moral inventory.
  5. We have recognized before God, ourselves and any other person the true nature of our delusions.
  6. Fully prepared ourselves for God to deliver us from all these defects of character.
  7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
  8. We made a list of all those people whom we have harmed, and were filled with the desire to compensate them all for the damage.
  9. Directly compensated for the damage caused to these people, where possible, except in cases where it could harm them or someone else.
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and, when they were wrong, immediately admitted it.
  11. Sought through prayer and meditation to deepen our conscious connection with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and for the power to do this.
  12. Having experienced a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we strived to carry this message to alcoholics and apply these principles in all our affairs.

Admitting Your Powerlessness In The 12 Step Before narcotic substances, addicts come thereby not only to the realization of their dependence, but also to the understanding of what they need outside help to get rid of it.

In the following paragraphs, they not only acknowledge the existence of God, but also entrust their lives to Him, realizing that it is only by His grace that they can ultimately overcome this evil.

but this organization is not a sect, since there is no sermon in it, which take place in temples. There is an understanding here that an alcoholic is a mentally ill person who needs love and support, lost in the labyrinths of fate. The program does not mention the name of God, thereby showing respect for different religious traditions and bringing people of different faiths together to help return to normal life.

Alcoholics Anonymous has its own prayer: "God give me reason and peace of mind to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other."

The development of these groups is also based on 12 traditions, which support these groups and form a benevolent relationship between its members:

  1. Our common welfare must come first; personal recovery depends on the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous.
  2. There is only one supreme authority in the affairs of our group - loving god, perceived by us in the form in which He can appear in our group consciousness. Our leaders are just trusted executors; they do not give orders.
  3. The only requirement for becoming a member of Alcoholics Anonymous is a desire to stop drinking.
  4. Each group should be completely independent, except in cases involving other groups or Alcoholics Anonymous in general.
  5. Each group has only one main goal - to convey our message to those alcoholics who are still suffering.
  6. The Alcoholics Anonymous group should never endorse, fund, or lend the name of Alcoholics Anonymous for the use of any affiliated organization or outside company lest money, property and prestige concerns distract us from our primary purpose.
  7. Each group of Alcoholics Anonymous should be fully self-reliant, refusing outside help.
  8. Alcoholics Anonymous should always remain a nonprofessional organization, but our services may employ qualified workers.
  9. Alcoholics Anonymous should never have a rigid system of governance; however, we may create services or committees that report directly to those they serve.
  10. Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous does not hold any opinion on matters not related to its activities; therefore, the name of Alcoholic Anonymous should not be drawn into any public controversy.
  11. Our public relations policy is based on the attractiveness of our ideas, not on propaganda; we must always remain anonymous in all our contacts with the press, radio and film.
  12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, constantly reminding us that principles, not individuals, are the main thing.

Currently, the 12-step program exists in more than 150 countries around the world and has proven its effectiveness, thanks to a spiritually oriented approach. It formed the basis for other similar programs that focus on a particular religion. The secret of this program lies in the fact that it affects not only the biological side of a person, but also his spiritual nature, which he has forgotten, helps to restore the lost connection with God, and also helps in solving psychological and social problems. It is based on universal human values, such as faith, goodness, love, unity. Therefore, the program is universal for use in any country and for people with different religions.

In 1937, in New York, Bill Wilson, inpast abused alcoholic beverages, together with his like-minded people, organized the work of the first official "Group of Alcoholics Anonymous". The group at that time consisted of 40 people. In December 1938, the text of the program "12 steps" was developed, which became the basis for the mechanism of the work of the group itself. Every year the number of members of the group only grew. The very activity of the AA group acquired all great popularity among the population. In 1939, groups of Alcoholics Anonymous began to appear in psychiatric hospitals in the United States, and soon the movement acquired international character... And already in 1995, according to statistics, the community of Alcoholics Anonymous had more than 2 million members and worked in 141 countries.

The history of creating a community in the city of Baltimore began in 1840. It was here that the so-called Washington Society was organized, in which the first experience of alcoholics who wanted to help others suffering from the same ailment began. Society, as was the case at the time of many of the temperance movements that emerged in different countries, immediately took an active political and social position... This explains why the society even included people who had nothing to do with the problem of alcoholism. And thus, having missed its main goal, society has ceased to be considered a group of mutual help for people with alcoholism.

Another community that foreshadowed the AA group was the so-called Oxford Group, which began with the early Christian community founded by Pastor Frank Bachman. Which influenced the goals and objectives of the group. The Oxford Group considered its main goal to be the revival of Christian commandments and traditions. The group's activities were based on 4 Christian absolutes: absolute honesty in relation to oneself and others, absolute readiness to help others, absolute purity of spirit and aspirations, absolute love to God and your neighbor.

In 1932, a famous psychoanalyst Carl Jung was undergoing treatment for a certain Roland H. After completing part of the course, Roland felt that he had studied himself and the methods of resisting alcoholism well enough, and left his doctor. However, he soon broke down and was forced to return to therapy again with Dr. Jung, who managed to instill in his patient the idea that the confrontation with his illness could be won only in the case of a spiritual renewal of the personality. It was then that Roland joined the ranks of the Oxford Group. In keeping with the group's traditions, Roland began to help other people suffering from alcoholism. In the process, he meets Edwin T., with whom he shares his thoughts on the nature of alcoholism. So, since 1932, the history of the emergence of the society of Alcoholics Anonymous begins.

An even more fateful meeting for the founding of A.A. took place later in 1935. When Edwin T., having been "in the eyeballs" for some time, stopped by to visit his high school friend Bill Wilson, who had been in a binge since November 1934. Remembering what a hopeless drunken Edwin was, Bill could not believe his eyes. Later, continuing his activities, Edwin repeatedly visited his old friend, with whom he used to drink together. Sharing his thoughts in conversations with Bill, Edwin laid his hope for recovery and gave impetus to the decision to be treated.

Already in December of the same year, Bill Wilson turned to Dr. Silkworth for help, who put him on inpatient treatment for alcoholism to undergo another, already 4th course for him, over the past 3 years. Continuing to visit Bill in the hospital, Edwin conveyed to him the idea that it is necessary to admit his powerlessness over alcohol before starting to recover, that it is necessary to find faith in that Higher Power that will help him begin to recover. Inspired by Edwin's ideas and stepping out of it, Bill and his long-suffering wife Louis joined the Oxford Group. Before long, Bill, a former stockbroker, found himself suitable job... The life of a person suffering from alcoholism was getting better.

One day, while on a business trip, Bill nearly broke down again and started drinking. He felt that he needed to communicate with someone who could understand him and whom he could help. With the help of Henrietta Seiberling, a member of the local Oxford Group, Bill met with a certain Bob who was suffering from alcoholism. Although this Bob was intoxicated when they met, he agreed to give Bill 15 minutes. This meeting became the basis of Bill Wilson's decision to systematize and streamline an exemplary recovery program from alcohol addiction... Lasting until 7 o'clock, this conversation gave impetus to Bill Wilson's writing of the 12 Steps Program.

Program addiction treatment 12 steps was created in 1935 by an American physician and his friend. Today it enjoys immense popularity all over the world, being the "reference book" for members of the communities of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

About what 12 step program

Its primary task is for people suffering from chemical addiction to find the strength and honesty to admit their addicted state, and then realize the impossibility of self-healing without outside help.

As the program progresses in an effort to heal, a person turns to “something more powerful than he himself” (c) - some higher power. It is she who becomes the catalyst for all the changes that will occur in him in the future.

The addict works on himself, analyzes his past, recognizes his responsibility for own life and everything that happens in it.

He admits to being wrong about the people he has ever harmed and seeks to remedy the situation by doing good deeds.

As one ascends from one level to another, spiritual growth occurs, a person accepts new system moral values, gains control over their desires and actions. In progress addiction treatment 12 steps reorients the addicted person. Having changed internally, the addict begins to help newcomers, conveying to them his knowledge of the effectiveness of participation in the program.

12-step program: who can participate

Currently 12 steps in different variations it is used to help addicted to alcohol, drugs and toxic substances.

Exists separate program"12 steps" for relatives of people suffering from chemical addiction. Participation in it helps them to cope with the state of so-called "codependency", when acute feelings for a loved one, suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction, leads to the fact that the codependent plunges into the problems of the addict, experiences a hypertrophied sense of responsibility for him, experiences hard every relapse of the disease, and in the end, he lives not his own, but someone else's life, plunging into depression deeper and deeper.

Steps

Let's briefly describe all 12 stepsaddiction treatment and alcoholism.

Step 1. Recognition of the dependent state and the inability to control the craving for psychoactive substances by an effort of will.

Step 2. Turning to a higher power for help. The highest power can be God, forces of nature, astral essence, etc.

Step 3. Man personifies (represents) this higher power and entrusts himself to it.

Step 4. The addict examines himself and his behavior from the standpoint of morality.

Step 5. The addict finds and admits the real reason what happened to him in the past.

Step 6. The addict prepares for the changes that must occur to him.

Step 7. Serious work begins on yourself, on your shortcomings and mistakes of the past.

Step 8. The participant makes a list of the people he has ever harmed and prepares internally to atone for his guilt towards them.

Step 9. The addict accomplishes his plan and does good deeds in relation to other people.

Step 10. The addict again and again examines himself, identifying his mistakes and correcting them along the path already passed.

Step 11. The addict continues to improve himself, trying to make his behavior and thoughts better.

Step 12. The person shares knowledge about the program and its possibilities with other drug addicts and helps them to get on the path of correction.

Clinic "Health": how drug addiction treatment is carried out according to the 12-step program

Participation in the community of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous is an integral part of getting rid of chemical addiction, used in the drug addiction clinic "Health".

Leading consultants are chemical addiction- employees of the drug treatment center who in the past actively used drugs or alcohol themselves, but were able to gain control over the addicted state, and today adhere to healthy way life.


"We admitted our powerlessness over alcohol, admitted that we have lost control over ourselves."
Who will agree to admit complete defeat? Admitting your powerlessness is the first step to liberation. The connection between humility and sobriety. Psychic obsession plus physical allergies. Why should every member of A.A. finally descend?

"We came to the conviction that only a Force more powerful than we can restore us to sanity."
What can we believe in? A.A. does not require you to be a believer; The Twelve Steps are just suggestions. The importance of non-bias. A variety of paths leading to faith. AA as a substitute for a Higher Power. The fate of the disillusioned. Indifference and prejudice are obstacles in the way. Lost Faith Found in A.A. Problems of intelligence and independence. Negative and positive thinking... Complacency. Disobedience - characteristic behavior of alcoholics. Second Step - the starting point on the way to sanity. Correct attitude towards God.

“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to God as we understood Him.”
Step Three can be compared to opening a locked door. How to make God come into our lives? Our willingness is the key. Submission as a means of gaining independence. Submission of your will Higher Power... Abuse of willpower. Continuous personal effort is required to submit to God's will.

"We deeply and fearlessly assessed ourselves and our lives from a moral point of view."
How instincts are able to exceed their intended purpose. The Fourth Step is trying to discover our obligations to others. The main problem with instinctive urges is going to extremes. Taking the wrong approach to moral judgment can lead to feelings of guilt, pretentiousness, and blaming others. Along with the disadvantages, you should note your merits. Self-justification is dangerous. A willingness to make a moral assessment brings light and confidence to life. The Fourth Step is the beginning of a line of conduct that will last a lifetime. Common symptoms of emotional imbalance are anxiety, anger, self-pity, and depression. Moral judgment applies to relationships with other people. The importance of conducting it carefully.

"Have acknowledged before God, ourselves and any other person the true nature of our delusions."
The Twelve Steps reduce the dimensions of our "I" to the original. The Fifth Step is difficult, but necessary to achieve sobriety and peace of mind. The tradition of repentance goes back to antiquity. Without a strong admission of their shortcomings, few will be able to lead a sober life. What does the Fifth Step give us? The beginning of true unity with people and God. Lose the feeling of being disconnected from people; receive forgiveness and grant it to others yourself; learn humility, strengthen yourself in honesty and a realistic attitude towards yourself. Danger logical reasoning... How do you choose someone you can trust? As a result, you gain balance and God-realization. Unity with God and people prepares us for the next Steps.

"Fully prepared ourselves for God to deliver us from all our shortcomings."
The Sixth Step is essential for spiritual development. This is the beginning of the work that needs to be done all your life. Recognizing the difference between pursuit of a goal and excellence. Why you need to try multiple times. Personal readiness is paramount. The need to take action. Delay is dangerous. Disobedience can be fatal. The point where we give up limited goals and move towards God's will.

"We humbly asked Him to correct our defects."
What is humility? What does it mean to us? Wide road to the true freedom of the human spirit. A necessary tool for survival. The value of curbing your own self. Failures and sorrows transformed by humility. Strength that comes from weakness. Pain is the cost of entering new life... Self-centered fear as a major source of flaws. The Seventh Step is a new attitude towards life that allows us to move towards God.

"We made a list of all those people to whom we have harmed, and were filled with the desire to make amends to them."
This and the next two Steps are about personal relationships. Learning to live in peace with other people - interesting task... Obstacles to this: unwillingness to forgive, refusal to admit guilt to others, deliberate forgetfulness. The need for a thorough analysis of the past. A deeper understanding of things as a consequence of this thoroughness. Different types damage that we cause to others. The need to avoid extreme judgments. Adopting an objective point of view. Eighth Step - Getting Out of Isolation.

"We personally compensated for the damage caused to these people, where possible, except in cases where it could harm them or someone else."
Peace of mind is the first requirement for sound judgment. Timing is important when making amends. What is courage? Prudence means weighing the odds. Compensation begins when we join A.A.. Peace of mind cannot be bought at the expense of other people. The need for caution. A willingness to accept the consequences of our past and be responsible for the well-being of others is at the heart of Step Nine.

"Continued to introspect and when they made mistakes, immediately admit it."
Can we stay sober and keep peace of mind under any circumstances? Introspection becomes a vital necessity. Acknowledging, accepting, and patiently correcting your shortcomings. "Emotional hangover." Once you've settled accounts with the past, you can tackle the current difficulties. Varieties of moral judgment. Anger, discontent, jealousy, envy, self-pity, offended pride - all this caused the need for alcohol. The first goal is to curb yourself. Guarantees against self-aggrandizement. Let's look at “income” and “expenses”. Study of the motives of actions.

“Sought through prayer and meditation to deepen our contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will, which we must fulfill, and for the gift of strength for this”.
Meditation and prayer are the main ways of establishing contact with a Higher Power. The connection between introspection, meditation and prayer. An unshakable foundation of life. How to do meditation? Meditation knows no limits. An individual adventure. The first result is peace of mind. What about prayer? Daily requests to understand God's will and to give us the strength to do it. The effectiveness of prayer is beyond doubt. The reward received for prayer and meditation.

“Having achieved the spiritual awakening that these steps led to, we tried to convey the meaning of our ideas to other alcoholics and to apply these principles in all our affairs.”
Joy of life is the theme of the Twelfth Step. Action is his keyword... Giving without asking for anything in return. Love free from price considerations. What is Spiritual Awakening? A new state of consciousness and a renewed being are accepted as a gift. The willingness to accept gifts is part of the Twelfth Step behavior. Great reality. A reward for helping other alcoholics. Types of work under the Twelfth Step program. Can these principles be followed in all matters? Monotony, pain, and unhappiness are turned into good by following the instructions of the Steps. Difficulties in implementation. "Two steps and no more." Proceed to all Twelve Steps and Demonstrate Faith. Spiritual growth is the answer to emerging problems. Spiritual growth is above all. Submission and over-dependence on other people. The transition to a new life basis is to give to others and take from others. Dependence on God is essential for healing from alcoholism. “Following These Principles in All Our Doings”: Internal Relationships in A.A. Attitude to material goods is changing. Ideas about the importance of one's own person are also changing. Restored the role of instincts in the implementation of their true purpose... Understanding is the key to a correct outlook on life, correct actions- the key to a happy life.

TWELVE TRADITIONS


“Our common welfare must come first; personal recovery depends on AA unity. ”
Without unity, A.A. will cease to exist. Individual freedom, but high degree unity. Key to the paradox: Every A.A. life depends on following spiritual principles. The group must survive, otherwise no one individually will survive. First of all, general well-being. What is the best way to live and work together in a group.

“In the affairs of our group there is only one supreme authority - a loving God, perceived by us in the form in which He can appear in our group consciousness. Our leaders are just trusted executors; they do not give orders. ”
Who is in charge of A.A.? Our only authority in A.A. is God, who loves us, as we perceive Him as He can appear in our group consciousness. Group formation. Growing pains. The committees, in which all are occupied in turn, are the service personnel of the group. Leaders do not rule; they serve the interests of all. Is there real leadership in A.A.? "Honored Worker" and "Compassionate Preacher." The collective consciousness of the group speaks.

"The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking."
Intolerance based on fear in the early stages of activity. Taking away an alcoholic's chance to become A.A. is sometimes a death sentence. Waiver of Membership Rules. Two examples from A.A. experience. Every alcoholic is a member of A.A. if he considers himself to be one.

"Each group should be completely independent, except in cases involving other groups or A.A. as a whole."
Each A.A. group conducts its own affairs as it sees fit, except in cases where it may threaten the organization as a whole. Is such freedom dangerous? The group, like each individual member, must act in accordance with the principles that guarantee its survival. Two warnings about danger: The group should not do anything that would harm the entire A.A. organization, and must have no side interests outside A.A.'s direct mandate. Example: An AA Center that is incapacitated.

"Each group has only one main goal - to bring our ideas to those alcoholics who still suffer."
It is better to do one thing, but good, than several things, bad. The life of our Commonwealth depends on this principle. The ability of each AA member to understand the newcomer and work for his healing is a gift from God ... passing it on to others is our only goal. One cannot maintain sobriety if one does not endow others with it.

"The AA Group should never endorse, fund, or lend the AA name for the use of any related organization or outside company, lest problems of money, property, and prestige distract us from our primary purpose."
Experience has shown that we cannot support any related businesses, no matter how good they are. We cannot be everything to all people. We realized that we should not allow any other activity to be carried out under our name.

"Every AA group should be fully self-reliant, refusing outside help."
No A.A. tradition was born in such agony as this. Generalized poverty at the start of business as necessary condition... Fear of exploitation. The need to separate the spiritual and the material. The decision to live on voluntary contributions from A.A. members alone. Assigning direct responsibility for maintaining its headquarters to A.A. members. It is the policy of headquarters to have funds in the account only for operating expenses plus a reasonable cash reserve.

"Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous should always remain a nonprofessional organization, but our services may employ skilled workers."
The Twelfth Step cannot be confused with cash payment. The dividing line between voluntary Twelfth Step work and paid services. A.A. cannot function without a hired service personnel. Professional staff are not professional A.A. members. A.A.'s attitude towards industry, education, etc. Twelfth Step work is never paid, but those who serve us are worth being paid.

“The AA community should never have a rigid system of government; however, we can create services or committees that report directly to those they serve. ”
Special councils and committees. The Service Center Conference, Board of Trustees, and group committees may not direct directives to AA members or groups. No person or group of persons can lead A.A.. The absence of coercion works because an A.A. member who does not follow the Program of the Twelve Steps is thereby signing his own death warrant. The same is true for the group. Suffering and love replace discipline in A.A. The difference between a spirit of authoritarianism and a spirit of service. The purpose of our ministry is to make a sober life possible for all those who strive for it.

“Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous does not hold any opinion on matters not related to its activities; therefore the AA name should not be drawn into any public controversy. "
A.A. does not take any position in public controversy. Not wanting to fight is not a special virtue. Our main goal is to survive and spread A.A. ideas. Lessons from the Washington Movement.

“Our public relations policy is based on the attractiveness of our ideas, not on propaganda; we must always remain anonymous in all our contacts with the press, radio and film. ”
Social relations are important to A.A. A good relationship with the public serve to save lives. We need publicity for A.A. principles, not advertisements for individual members. Press collaboration. Personal anonymity in public contacts is the cornerstone of our public policy... The Eleventh Tradition is a constant reminder that personal ambition has no place in A.A.. Each A.A. member over time begins to actively care for the preservation of our Fellowship.

"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, constantly reminding us that principles, not individuals, are central."
The spiritual essence of anonymity is self-sacrifice. The subordination of personal goals to the common good is the essence of all Twelve Traditions. Why AA Couldn't Remain a Secret Organization. Principles are the main thing, not individuals. One hundred percent anonymity in public contacts. Anonymity is true humility.

Write when you were thinking about how to use, instead of thinking about more important things.

  1. Excitement from anticipation of use.

Impatient anticipation of the end of work, the desire to start drinking earlier than others, indifference to what will happen at the table, indifference to what you will use, with whom you will use, lack of interest in drinking, indifference to the opinion of loved ones about your use, meeting with friends as an excuse for drinking.

  1. Dangerous situations caused by drunkenness are a threat to yourself and others.

Falls, injuries, fires, fights, drunk driving, conflicts with the police, blackouts, communication with dangerous people, crimes, hooligan behavior, despite the desire to behave well and deliberately.

  1. Consuming higher doses of chemicals than originally anticipated (could not have predicted the result).

Desire to sit with friends after work with unforeseen consequences, continue drinking despite other plans.

  1. Failed attempts to stop using chemicals.

How did you try to cope with your illness in ways other than complete abstinence from chemicals; the decision not to drink for a week but started earlier, the decision to use lighter chemicals, the decision not to drink while driving, not to drink at work, the decision not to drink at home.

  1. Change in lifestyle so that you can continue to use chemicals.

Loss of family, change of place of residence, work, breakdown of relations with relatives, establishing relations with those who also use a lot, leaving home, vagrancy.

Uncontrollability.

  1. Lack of control in family life.

Keeping promises to a wife or husband, children, parents. Insults to loved ones, destruction family relations... Loss of intimacy, trust, and a sense of security and safety.

  1. Lack of control in the social sphere.

Incidents with employees at work, quarrels with friends and acquaintances, unusual and unexpected behavior, getting into the police and medical institutions. Aggressive and obsessive type of communication, abuse and scandals. Replacing a sober social circle with a drunk one.

  1. Uncontrollability in business sphere, and education.

This is a deterioration in the quality of work, non-fulfillment of duties, postponing of cases, making wrong decisions, being late, absenteeism, a hangover at work. From this comes the lack of promotion or loss of work in the specialty and sliding down the career ladder. Lack of education.

  1. Financial unmanageability.

Unjustified extravagance or painful stinginess. The presence of "cash" from the wife, planning part of the cost of consumption, cost overruns, demanding money for use from the family, selling their things in order to use. Use of any available ways to raise money for chemicals.

  1. Spiritual uncontrollability.

Lack of understanding of God, destiny. Committing misconduct that is not in line with your own morality. Formation negative thinking, not the ability to treat oneself with humor, not the ability to patiently endure grief and troubles, not accepting others as they are, dishonesty before oneself and others, not being able to forgive another.

  1. Physical uncontrollability or loss of control over the body.

Inability to relax, rest, insomnia, depression, memory impairment, inability to think logically, illness, injury. Not the possibility of sexual intercourse, limiting the need for sex, lack of satisfaction, fear of intercourse while sober, impotence or early ejaculation.

  1. Emotional uncontrollability.

Under influence chemical anger, resentment, self-pity and similar feelings are released and intensify (examples of how they affect you, and how you tried to change or get rid of them with alcohol and drugs).

Detailed study of the first step

The first step is the foundation of your recovery. The following answers to questions will help you prove to yourself and accept for yourself entry level Your individual powerlessness and uncontrollability.

  1. How did alcohol (drug) endanger your life or the lives of others?
  2. How did you lose your self-esteem due to the use of alcohol (drugs)?
  3. What in your behavior does not please your spouse, family, friends the most?
  4. How have you tried to control your alcohol (drug) use?
  5. What are 5 examples of how powerlessness (loss of control) has manifested itself in your personal experience?
  6. What type of action abuse have you done to or suffered from others as a result of your alcohol (drug) use?
  7. What is your current physical condition (heart, liver ..)?
  8. What is the difference between acceptance and acceptance? Explain with examples of your behavior how you acknowledge or accept the first step?
  9. What convinces you that YOU can no longer drink alcohol safely ()?
  10. Are you an alcoholic or a chemically addicted person?

INABILITY.

  1. What does uncontrollability mean to you?
  2. What can you define as your "social" uncontrollability?
  3. Give 6 examples of your sobriety and individual uncontrollability?
  4. What are your goals in life?
  5. How did you try to achieve these goals prior to treatment?
  6. Give three examples of feelings you tried to change with alcohol.
  7. How did you try to change your “image” before the treatment?
  8. What crises, besides the one that led you to treatment now, could happen to you over time?
  9. What makes you different from other people?
  10. What are 15 reasons why you should continue your treatment according to the program?

Powerlessness and irregularity

We can be powerless not only over alcohol. If you can say: “Enough, that's enough, I'm tired of this,” then you can already take Step 1. Here you need to accept the disease (learn and accept). You probably already understood that it is a progressive, incurable, fatal disease.

Remember how it all began. With white tablecloths, restaurants, alcoholism may have helped for a while. But then things got worse.

It is a progressive disease. I haven't been drinking for a year now. If I start, then from the moment where I finished. If I finish with the thought of suicide and start drinking, then sooner or later, I will return to this thought (progression).

UNCUALABLE .. In 28 days, you can get only the initial experience of sobriety. But there is no cure. Like a pickled cucumber, it never gets fresh. This must be admitted as a fact.

DEADLY ..: the end is madness and death.

“Tell me, is this disease related to willpower? - Not. And we were often told that pull yourself together, do not be licentious. And we are used to it. But this is a disease and it cannot be overcome by willpower. " I want to say about one more symptom besides loss of control (this can be traced by oneself) - this is DENIAL. “To be honest, I'm not sick. I am fine. I drink because life is like that. " This denial is a lie to yourself.

This symptom progresses. Because of the wall of lies, we do not understand what is happening to us. The breakthrough for this denial is to say to yourself, "I drink because I am sick."

PROTECTION MECHANISMS

1. An understatement .. (Yes, my God, I drank a couple of glasses. Everyone drinks. I - only on holidays, from time to time).

2. Blaming other people (if not for my wife, I would not drink. I drink because I had a difficult childhood, my father is an alcoholic).

When we take the first step, the answer to the question "Why?" not important.

It is important to acknowledge that I am sick:

  • WHAT is my alcoholism
  • Who am I.

3. Rationalization - finding explanations, excuses, alibis. (I had a hard day. I will be fine tomorrow. I will stop when it should be).

4. Intellectualization.

5. Hostility (Anger, anger). When they come to us with a question, we release needles so as not to hurt what is inside us.

6. Moralization (Yes, I am so bad that I can not resist).

The purpose of uncovering this denial is to admit that I am sick and ask for help. What does it take to recognize the 1st step? To get well? You need to work on. Not to drink. Go to meetings.

There are 3 settings:

  1. Honesty. With yourself and in any business. The 12-Step Program is an integrity program. If you notice that you are trying to lie, this is one step towards a breakdown.
  2. Wish. An honest desire for sobriety. If you want to be sober, try to keep everything in order at work, so that your wife and parents calm down - this is not your desire for sobriety. It is important - if you yourself want sobriety for yourself.
  3. Humility. I know that many of us don't like this word. This must be understood as humility with oneself and recognition that I need help (there will be a separate topic). It is to see yourself as the same as other people.

We're going to talk about acceptance and rejection. Recognition is knowing that you have a disease that cannot be changed. Acceptance is the understanding that we will not be able to drink like the others, but we can live soberly and happily only by observing these conditions.

Now let's talk about powerlessness.

It must be very difficult to accept our impotence. But even armies surrender to win. We cannot change our alcoholism, but we can change ourselves and our lives. That is, by accepting complete surrender, we can accept the disease in order to win.

IMPOTENCE

1. Progression of the disease. Three examples of disease progression. This includes:

  • an increase in tolerance (the number that you use),
  • what you see is the result,
  • decreased tolerance.

2. Attempts to control:

  • were going to drink less
  • quit,
  • set boundaries (I drink until Monday),
  • changed drinks (beer, vodka, pills).

3. Thoughts on drinking:

  • - planning a day with alcohol,
  • - during the day you dream of drinking,
  • - you yourself create situations where you will drink,
  • - you finish the work sooner, anticipating the use,

4. Anger:

  • - anger at people who interfere with drinking.
  1. Protection from others:
  • - hide bottles,
  • - drink quietly, avoiding moments when someone interferes with alcohol intake,
  • - use products to remove odor from the mouth,
  • - underestimating the amount of alcohol consumed,
  • - fear of approaching other people.
  1. Loss of control.
  • - inability to stop when you start drinking. Trying but unsuccessfully
  • - you drink more than you intended,
  • - inability to fulfill social, family, business obligations due to alcohol.
  • - you find yourself in unpleasant dangerous situations (sobering-up station, etc.).
  1. Destroyer.
  • — dangerous behavior.
  • - you swear, verbally and physically insult others, driving with children in a state of intoxication, inability to provide children with something because you are drunk, suicide attempts,
  • - threats (with knives, etc.),
  • - mixing of various drugs and substances.
  1. Justification.
  • - you point to people and situations when you explain why you drink,
  • - you make allowances for the emotional state.
  1. Differences in the upbringing of the real world.
  • - it seemed to us that you were attractive, interesting at the evening, but not so,
  • - it seemed to you that you were sober, but they told you - no.

INABILITY

A) Social, public life: how alcohol influenced my social life.

  1. Do I communicate mainly with people who drink and use drugs?
  2. Do I avoid friends, situations where they don't drink or use drugs?
  3. Do friends or family members try to shield me from drinking situations?
  4. Do I notice that I am becoming more socially isolated, prefer to drink alone or in close company so that they don't bother me?

B) Physical condition.

  1. Stomach
  2. General condition (no strength, energy)
  3. Appearance
  4. Weight fluctuations
  5. Headache, etc.

C) Economic condition (sphere)

  1. Debts
  2. Can't support my family
  3. There are no savings (for retirement, etc.)
  4. Alcohol costs exceed household costs, leading to job loss

D) Business life (work)

  1. Productivity decreases
  2. The quality of the work performed decreases
  3. Absence from work, although the person is physically present
  4. Conflicts
  5. Discipline
  6. Feelings about quality and quantity (although no special remarks).
  7. Tell you directly about the poor quality of work

E) Household chores

  1. Sometimes you don't do household chores
  2. Are you responsible for the household
  3. Quickly doing household chores with the thought that you can then drink,
  4. Unable to provide for his children emotionally, financially,
  5. Conflicts with children and other family members,
  6. Conflicts over division of household duties,
  7. Hiding bottles
  8. Cessation of use by the arrival of children and wife,
  9. Loss of interest in sports and hobbies,
  10. Irritation to family members and friends
  11. Difficulty keeping promises.

E) At school.

G) Retired.

H) Problems of spiritual life.

  1. Unclear spiritual desires, no spiritual orientation,
  2. No purpose, no meaning in life
  3. Feeling empty
  4. Who believed in God could lose faith,
  5. Changes in attitudes towards theater, books,
  6. Guilt.

I) Emotional problems.

  1. Depression,
  2. Feeling like I'm going crazy
  3. Feeling that others are against me
  4. Low self-esteem, self-esteem,
  5. Fear of social situations
  6. Fear of people
  7. Fear of expressing your feelings
  8. Fear of intimate relationships
  9. Intolerance towards others
  10. Rage and anger
  11. Feeling of panic
  12. Inexplicable fears
  13. Feelings of loneliness
  14. Guilt,
  15. Nightmares,
  16. Suicide attempts
  17. Fast mood swings from euphoria to depression.

J) Sexual problems

  1. Erection problems
  2. Interest in the opposite sex disappears,
  3. Problems with intercourse
  4. Loss of interest in sex in general
  5. Sexual relationships outside the family
  6. Homosexuality, lesbianism.

L) Life goals.

  1. The goal was to get an education,
  2. No promotion
  3. Failure to maintain family relationships
  4. Inability to exercise life plans and ideas,

M) Family problems.

  1. Verbal abuse of the spouse,
  2. Emotional and physical abuse
  3. Loss of a loved one
  4. Insulting friends, wife (husband),
  5. Feeling that relatives have lost respect for me,
  6. Feeling like I'm not part of the family
  7. Using family members emotionally as well as financially,
  8. Depression, anger, anger,
  9. Guilt or regret
  10. Loneliness (nobody understands)
  11. Leaving family affairs,
  12. All this leads to divorce,
  13. Problems with a child, mother, father, brother, sister.

The first step is simply admitting the illness. No guilt. You are, as it were, sitting in a movie and watching from the outside what happens as a result of the disease. This is a painful process. But the whole recovery depends on you.

There are drawbacks (yours), but you deal with them while working on the 4th step. The more you remember examples, taking the first step, the more you work, the more you will get yourself.

The first step is required to be done 100% honestly. The main thing, when taking the first step, remember that you are not bad people who want to be good, and sick who want to get well.