By Steve K In ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’, The Doctor’s Opinion describes the alcoholic as suffering from a physical sensitivity to alcohol combined with a mind that returns to drinking despite harmful consequences. Many people in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) understandably identify with this and conclude that they were, in some sense, “born alcoholic”. Yet suggested alongside this […]
By Steve K In the context of 12 Step recovery “relational sponsorship” is an ongoing recovery-based relationship that supports humility, accountability, and spiritual discernment through honest dialogue rather than authority or instruction. It’s a form a sponsorship that sometimes follows an initial introduction to the 12 Steps. It’s not written anywhere within the literature of […]
By Steve K. The ‘Doctor’s Opinion’ is the opening chapter of the book ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ (4th ed, pp xxv – xxxii). The main part of the chapter is written by Dr William D. Silkworth, M.D. Silkworth was considered an expert in the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction during the 1930’s and worked as the […]
By Steve K. “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.” The 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous serve as guiding principles to ensure the unity, stability, and effectiveness of the AA Fellowship. While the 12 Steps focus on individual recovery, the Traditions focus on the collective health and well-being of the […]
By Steve K. The AA phrase the ‘Language of the Heart’ is the title of the 1988 book which published Bill Wilson’s (co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) Grapevine writings from the mid 1940’s –1970. The phrase was originally used by Wilson for the title of his 1960 (July) Grapevine article which conveys the special type of […]
By Steve K. As a long-term member of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the current secretary of a local group, I’m ever mindful of the 12 Traditions and the principles they contain which help to guide each AA group and the Fellowship, as a whole. When new members enter the Fellowship of AA […]
By Steve K. To live a spiritual life requires honesty, an open-mind, and a willingness to be humble. This is true in my experience, but I would also suggest that these three qualities of character are deeply interrelated with three other fundamental virtues of living a spiritual life. These are love, courage, and faith – […]
By Steve K. A sense of social connection and belonging is an evolved human need. It’s vital to our health and well-being and promotes a sense of self-worth and acceptance. Social isolation and a sense of disconnection is a predictor of poor mental health and is often characteristic of the illness of addiction. “Belonging is, […]
By Steve K. An important part of the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) that offers hope to those seeking recovery from addiction is the passage in relation to Step Nine, commonly referred to as the ‘Promises’. (1) There are Twelve promises relating to Step Nine. Twelve being a favourite number in relation to AA principles […]
By Steve K. Upon attending my very first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), I left with a real sense of hope that I could stop drinking alcohol and develop a better, more meaningful life. I sat in a room full of people who shared their various experiences of addiction to alcohol and how they had […]
By Steve K. The medical view of addiction suggests it’s a chronic and progressive ‘brain disease’ which requires treatment. In using the term chronic, I mean long-term and incurable. “Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry.” American Society of Addiction Medicine. (1) This view is supported by Alcoholics Anonymous […]
By Steve K. I have recently read psychotherapist Dr Allen Berger’s latest book ‘12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety’, which offers a comprehensive interpretation of the various characteristics that comprise the concept of emotional sobriety. According to Dr Berger, the phrase emotional sobriety was first coined by Bill Wilson, one of the cofounders of Alcoholics […]
By Steve K. The ‘Just for Today’ card published by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and regularly reflected upon by many of its members is a set of positive daily affirmations that instil healthy behaviour, attitudes, and values within the reader. I’ve intermittently used the card throughout my recovery to ground myself and to set some positive […]
By Steve K. “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally […]
By Steve K. I have recently encountered a common criticism from the feminist perspective against Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its 12 Step program of recovery from addiction. The criticism suggests that AA’s emphasis upon ego-deflation and the practice of humility as a cure for a spiritual malady is damaging to those groups within society that […]
By Steve K. In today’s post-modern world the traditional values of duty and self-sacrifice are in danger of being lost to the humanistic value of being true to oneself and own wellbeing, in an increasingly individualistic and materialistic culture. There is an interesting debate to be had between these seemingly opposing traditional and modern values […]
By Steve K. I recently read a fascinating book about the renowned American psychologist and philosopher William James, by the author and philosophy professor John Kaag. (1) The book, the title of which I’ve used for this article, explains James’s philosophy of pragmatism and his life changing choice to believe in free will – a […]
By Steve K. Step 12 of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) suggests that “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” A vital aspect of our own recovery from addiction is the inspiration to […]
By Steve K. As a member of a 12-Step fellowship I’m aware of the ongoing debate in relation to using the terms “recovered” vs “recovering” alcoholic or addict. Ultimately, how someone describes themselves is a personal matter of preference and relates to their self-perception. I also think that how they interpret the above terms dictates […]
By Steve K. There is a common myth in recovery circles, often perpetuated by the literal interpretation of the literature, that long term sobriety equals a life of being “happy, joyous and free.” However, the reality of “life on life’s terms” often brings with it suffering and adversity and the related negative impact in terms […]
By Steve K. Step Six “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” And… Step Seven “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.” Steps Six and Seven of the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) involve willingness, humility and practice. Step Six requires a genuine willingness to be free of […]
By Steve K. Some members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) tend to focus upon the fellowship as a principle means of recovery, whilst dismissing the program as not really necessary and, in effect, divorcing the two. According to AA literature and the preamble, members have the right not to practice the suggested Twelve Step program of […]
By Steve K. The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group is a fundamental ‘mechanism of change’ in terms of recovery from addiction. The group provides its members with a supportive social network that promotes sobriety. Participation in the group offers several therapeutic benefits which facilitate and support change for the individual. These therapeutic gains are as follows: […]
12-STEP PHILOSOPHY 