12 Step Program

A 12 step program is the universally known standard for addiction recovery. These proven methods called the 12 steps have worked for generations of Americans and others worldwide. In fact, nearly every community has access to one or more 12 step support groups. Learning these methods in rehab opens a world of support up to you for when you return home and must maintain your own recovery.

Why Do People Turn to a 12 Step Program?

NFA Behavioral Health’s 12 step program focuses on the beliefs of Alcoholics Anonymous, a group established to help people overcome alcohol dependence. But today, the 12 steps meet the needs of people with a wide variety of addictions. You also no longer must join Alcoholics Anonymous to benefit from these methods. Many rehab programs integrate a 12 step program into an individualized treatment plan to approach recovery from multiple directions.

Many people struggle to come to terms with relying on the 12 steps, as they believe these programs focus on a particular God or religion. But this is far from the truth. When using the steps yourself, you interpret your own spirituality as you see fit. You do not face any religious requirements or forced connections.

What Are the 12 Steps?

You can approach a 12 step program from a variety of directions. You simply learn the methods and then adapt them to your own needs. The goal is for the steps to guide you on your own path, one leading to maintainable recovery.

This custom approach means you may need to repeat some steps over and over. Or maybe your group combined multiple steps together to address them all at once.

A 12 step program in New Hampshire typically forms around core needs. Some of these needs include:

• Admitting you are not in control of your substance abuse
• Looking to a power beyond yourself for strength
• Turning your life over to your higher power
• Taking a thorough inventory of yourself
• Making amends with others you hurt or harmed
• Awakening your spirituality during your steps

Of course, actual 12 step recovery includes more needs and dives deeper into each one. But as you can see, each step is one of self-focus, assessment, and improvement.

12 Steps vs. 12 Traditions

Your 12 step program in New Hampshire forms your road map to a better life, one in a sustainable recovery. So what are the 12 traditions of these programs?

If you engage in Alcoholics Anonymous or some other 12 step program support, you learn about the 12 traditions. These are like the steps but focus on group needs as opposed to individual needs.

You can see the difference in the 12 steps vs. the 12 traditions in examples of these, such as:

• Personal recovery requires group unity
• Everyone in the group must want to stop drinking
• Each group governs itself
• Each group’s goal is to spread the message to people still living in addiction
• The group cannot operate as a moneymaking or charity enterprise
• Therapy groups should not employ anyone to lead or operate the group

You can see that these rules form a moral code for the group that keeps ill intentions out and all activities focused on what matters most. Together, the 12 steps and 12 traditions make up a 12 step recovery program.

Do I Need Rehab or Just the 12 Steps?

Modern medical science has proven that addiction is a disease. This means you need an array of treatment methods and approaches to help you build lasting recovery. One type of treatment does not work for all people.

That said, the 12 steps certainly help millions of people achieve sobriety and live within it for their lifetimes. This is why you find 12 drug rehab center treatment as an option for your own recovery. The combined approach of 12 drug rehab center treatment helps you get into recovery now, maintain it for the future and find the support you need in your home community to prevent relapse.

Other types of treatment you need include:

• Residential rehab programs
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Individual and group therapies
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Trauma therapy
• Sober living and aftercare

NFA Behavioral Health in Canterbury, NH, provides all of these treatment methods in combination with a 12 step program. Call NFA Behavioral Health now at 866.913.7957 to learn how to fulfill your own hopes and dreams through the proven methods bringing millions of people recovery success every day.