I was in an endless cycle of drinking and using drugs for nearly a decade until I finally gave in to the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Growing up with an alcoholic mother, I never thought that I’d even touch drugs or alcohol, but it eventually happened. I always thought that once it became a problem, I would be able to control it, but I found I couldn’t. Once I embraced the 12 steps of AA, I was able to get sober, stay sober and live an incredible life.
My First Attempt at the 12 Steps of AA
Like most people with an addiction, I had multiple relapses, and it was because I didn’t understand addiction. One of my first relapses came after I tried AA, but I never really gave the 12 steps of AA a try. The first meeting I went to was in a church, and I immediately thought that it was a super religious program. This misconception is something many people struggle with, and it’s what made me not keep an open mind.
After a few months of sitting in meetings and just zoning out, I wanted sober recovery but I didn’t think the steps would help me. I thought that I could drink normally again. For a few weeks, everything was fine, but eventually, my old patterns started coming up again. Being unable to stop drinking when I wanted to or not drinking during work hours was impossible. This led to my son’s mother leaving me and the loss of jobs and money, as well as dignity and self-respect.
Giving the 12 Steps of AA an Honest Try
I finally experienced what they call “the gift of desperation” after a few more relapses and hitting my rock bottom. I went back to AA and heard that all I needed was three simple things in order to have a chance at sobriety:
- Honesty
- Open-mindedness
- Willingness
Willingness was the biggest one, and with my willingness came the ability to keep an open mind and be honest. The first thing that really sunk in was the fact that my best thinking wasn’t all that great. I needed suggestions and was willing to follow them. As I began taking suggestions from what I heard in meetings, about how to live without alcohol and drugs, I started to have a better life. They told me that alcohol and drugs were only a symptom of my problem, and it started to make sense.
Getting a Sponsor
I finally decided to try something new. That was to actually get a sponsor and work the 12 steps of AA. I heard too many times that people relapsed because they never worked the program. I was tired of hearing that. Once I found a sponsor, I began to learn what it really meant to have an alcohol addiction. Along with this education came relapse prevention tips. Also came the hope that I never had to live that way again, and I haven’t for five years.
If you’re struggling with addiction and are in need of help, Serenity House Detox & Recovery is a great first step to addiction recovery. The 12 steps of AA could be the second step for you. Call today at 866-294-5306.
