How a 12 Step Program Will Change your Life
12 step programs are a staple in the treatment center community. They have been around since their inception in the late 1930s, when two men needed a way to get out from under alcohol addiction. 12 step programs have been changing lives ever since. Here is how they do it.
12 Step Treatment can Help you Develop a Moral Compass
Many of the 12 step ideologies are about moral and spiritual development. When you are using drugs or alcohol, you lose a part of yourself. To many this part allows them to judge right from wrong when the drug or alcohol is concerned.
When you are trying to obtain the drug, you may do things that ordinarily you would view as wrong. This indicates a moral and ethical problem. Part of 12 step treatment is to get that moral compass back. To find a treatment center that offers 12 step counseling, call 800-781-0748 (Who Answers?) .
Your Sponsor Acts as a Mentor to Guide you
The 12 step treatment model involves having a sponsor to help you when you need it. According to the National Library of Medicine, doctors and other treatment professionals call this a “therapeutic alliance” and this alliance allows for better substance abuse treatment outcomes.
When exposed to your triggers and other problems such as stress, if you feel that you are alone, you might relapse. With a sponsor, you are never left alone to deal with all of the negative issues that arise after you stop using drugs or alcohol. This changes your life by giving you someone that you can count on when recovery becomes too much.
12 Step Treatment Gives you a Clear Path to Follow
When you decide to end your addiction, you might feel as if you have no direction in life. Without direction, your life becomes meaningless and you might be tempted to go back to using. 12 step treatment gives you a clear path to walk.
The 12 steps are a guide to both recovery and living your life. The 12th step is never ending and can last a lifetime. It changes your life by giving you direction and a purpose.
12 Step Programs are Continuing Treatment
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 12 step programs allow for continued community level support even after treatment ends. This continued support helps you remain successful in your recovery. Since it is there whenever you need it, you can prevent relapse by seeking a 12 step group to help you get through a bad period.
The community level support changes your life by giving you a place to go when recovery is particularly difficult. There are meetings in almost every community and at almost every time of day.
As a Part of a Treatment Plan, 12 Step Programs are Highly Effective
12 step programs are life changing, particularly when they are a part of a comprehensive treatment plan. They are highly effective when combined with:
- Counseling
- Medication
- Support services
- Life skill training
To find out how a complete treatment program involving the 12 steps can help you, you need to find a comprehensive treatment center. For assistance in finding the right treatment center for you, call 800-781-0748 (Who Answers?) .