Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people break free from alcohol and substance abuse. It can be a powerful tool to help you achieve and maintain long-term recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous has more than eight decades of success behind it. The 12-step program of AA has built a community and a structure that makes a recovery from addiction possible. While doing AA as a part of your recovery process is not a must, choosing to commit to AA puts you in touch with a community that will support you for the rest of your life.
How Has Alcoholics Anonymous Has Helped People
People who have committed to AA for several years have achieved greater success in maintaining sobriety. Studies show that the sooner a person begins AA, the better their outcomes in attaining and maintaining sobriety. For Alcoholics Anonymous to be beneficial, it has to be something you want to do. An idea you commonly hear in the AA community is that the program is not for those who need it but instead for those who want it. The point is that your success, both short-term and long-term, depends just as much on the recovery program you choose as it does on your motivation.
Motivation in the early stages of recovery plays a crucial role in making the life changes that lead to long-term recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings allow you to do some self-reflection. Often, you will see aspects of your situation reflected in the problems of others. Meetings allow you to express the challenges you face and share your struggles with others. The simple act of voluntarily fellowshipping with others and making yourself vulnerable to others gives you the chance to experience the support that you need from your peers. Other people benefit by seeing how you are coping with alcoholism, and it gives them the encouragement they need to cope with it as well.
Whether you choose Alcoholics Anonymous or attend some other rehab program, finding the proper support is key to success. The connections you make during rehabilitation can motivate you to continue working. You develop a sense of responsibility and obligation to the people with you in your recovery group. The principles that you will learn in a recovery framework, like AA, are principles that will benefit you in other aspects of your life. You choose to participate in AA. It is not something that you are forced to do. You could receive a court order requiring you to get treatment. But the decision to show up to the meetings, put your heart into the recovery process, and work toward sobriety is yours.
The 12 Steps of AA
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous give you a framework to grow and heal from alcohol addiction. You can revisit these steps whenever you need to, even once you have become sober. The purpose of the 12 steps is to help you accept that you have lost control or that you have been given authority over the substance you are addicted to. It guides you towards spiritual and mindful practices that give you the power to fight addiction. These steps are designed to help you look inward and allow your conscience to affect you. It enables you to take accountability for the damage you caused to yourself and others. The self-reflection offered by programs like AA can help prevent you from relapsing. They promote personal growth and encourage you to be committed to your well-being. If there is a relapse, the 12 steps can help you regain your focus and continue the process of healing from alcoholism.
Get the Help You Need Today
Whether you choose to use AA or opt for a different treatment program, the goal is to break free from alcohol abuse. Call us today at 833-497-3808 to learn how we can help you make your recovery successful.