Are the 12-Steps enough?

I am a friend of Bill W. If that doesn't mean anything to you, then you might want to skip this article - or not. Around the world there are many self-help organizations that have formed to help various forms of addiction. Many of them - maybe most of them - are based on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

 

The program within those pages have helped countless people get their addictions handled and have helped them get their lives more together. I am one of those people. Almost 34 years ago I began steadfastly using what I learned there and the results are phenomenal. I consider the spiritual program the basis of my life.

But I felt led to find additional ways to grow to support what I learned there. Many do that. And I believe for most of us it is necessary if we truly want to grow into the fullest person that we have the ability to be. I don't believe "The Program" really addresses our emotional selves fully. It does in many ways but I know I need tools to process my emotions fully so that I can relieve myself of any emotional backlog accumulated over my life time and which, to some degree, continues to run my life.

The Big Book was written in 1935. There has been and evolution of consciousness and information that has blossomed since that time having to do with our emotional selves. Many people are trying to deal with it with prescription medication offered by the medical world to deal with feelings. Personally, I don't believe that really solves it. (I am neither doctor or psychologist. This is strictly my opinion based on observation of myself, clients, friends, family and my natural inclinations. So any 12-Steppers out there who feel it necessary to add additional sources of help the their program of recovery, my blessings go with you and I am one of you.

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