Step12.com was one of the first and original websites on the Internet catering to help alcoholics to achieve and maintain sobriety.  The founder of the website had the idea of using the Internet to generate 12 Step Calls — where he could be of service to other alcoholics — which in turn, would help him to stay sober.

Since the founding and now rapid growth of Step12.com — the website has grown into a Social Media website that is operated by alcoholics and addicts that are in recovery — to help other alcoholics and addicts who are seeking recovery.  Many of the  regularly contributing members have two and three decades of sobriety and recovery experience in the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous Fellowships that they share with newcomers in recovery.

One of the new features to their site is free videos on recovery from addiction. And, the first free sobriety and recovery video is by AA long-time member (now deceased) Chuck C., who was known worldwide for the recovery message he shared in Alcoholics Anonymous.  They have many new videos that are currently in production and below we’ve included a preview of the video:

Below is a listing of some of the news and sharing topics in their Social Media Discussion Forum, for Alcoholic and Addicts in Recovery:

The 12 Steps is a FORMULA to produce a SPECIFIC result. 

By the time you get to Step 12 — you can go back through the 12 Step Formula — and discover 12 Results INSIDE each Step.  That means, within the 12 Steps — you’ll have a tool-kit that can create  at least 145 SPECIFIC Results!  And, much, much more!!! 

How many problems do you have — that you need a result for the problem?

If you PROPERLY use the 12 Steps on your Primary (most important) Problem, it will produce a RESULT to solve that problem.

Then, what about your other problems?

Simple:  Because by the time you have reached Step 12, to solve your Primary Problem, you have gained the experience and “know-how” that has laid the foundation of knowledge — to solve your other problems, too!

Just think of it!   Formulas — within The Formula.

That will provide you a tool-kit that you can use — to produce at least 145 SPECIFIC RESULTS — for at least 145 SPECIFIC PROBLEMS — and many, many more!

That’s why we refer to the 12 Steps as — “A Design For Living That Works!”

YES!  There is a Solution!

Dallas B.

I’m over 25 years sober now… and it’s been many years since I reached the place in sobriety that “I don’t even think of drinking!” (That happened early in my sobriety).

So, why do I still NEED a 12 Step Program? Here’s why: A 12 Step Program is NOT for people that are thinking about drinking… (or drugging, or eating too much or too little, etcetera) A 12 Step Program is for SOBER ALCOHOLICS, and others with addictions –that NO LONGER even think of drinking! (Or, using).

Sounds weird, doesn’t it? You’d think that AA is for people that are struggling to NOT take that next sip! Well. It IS here for them too… but, it is here MOSTLY FOR alcoholics that are sober and NO LONGER DRINK and NO LONGER THINK OF DRINKING!

Why is that? It’s because AA is (and other 12 Step Programs) are NOT about “stopping” it’s about “STAYING stopped.” It’s about maintaining a LIFETIME of sobriety… instead of just getting bits & pieces of sobriety time on the installment plan!

So, why do I need to keep active in AA after being sober for a longtime and I no longer even want or think about drinking? It’s because I’ve been sober LONG ENOUGH to fall in love with my sobriety!

I love my sobriety. It’s so good to me that I want to keep it. My sobriety is my most important relationship in life — without it, I’ll lose every other relationship that there is!

If you had a spouse, a lover, a soul-mate, or whatever… and you loved them and loved your relationship w/ them… would you want to stop doing what you were doing — that got you into that relationship AND keeps you in that relationship?

Sobriety gave me the opportunity to experience and have The Good Life. Today, in sobriety — I HAVE everything I was “looking for” in the bottle (but never did find!)

Being sober & not even thinking of drinking — is the most dangerous ledge in my life. It’s on that ledge — that I’m subject to fall.

No. I don’t do it out of FEAR. I do it because of my LOVE… for my SOBER LIFE.

Dallas B.

If you need help now for an alcohol problem, drinking, or alcoholic addiction — please go to www.step12.com

Most often, when you ask a sober, recovered alcoholic: “How are you doing?” — they will proudly say “I’m doing great! I’m staying sober and I no longer even think of drinking!  It’s the LAST thing on my mind!” (Almost as if — “Yes! I’m due for a good pat on the back!”

It’s always intrigued me, how recovering alcoholics, and addicts, want recognition and attention for — doing what they should be doing anyway!  I mean, what would you think of a Normal non-alcoholic, non-addicted, healthy  person that said something like “I’ve continued breathing! I don’t even want to hold my breath for long periods of time!  I’ve had no desire to turn blue and pass out lately from not breathing!” (And, they feel they should get some credit for it!)  LOL.

For a recovering person — the NORMAL thing to do is to NOT drink and to NOT use any mood and mind altering substances!  I don’t think it’s normal that we should obsess over getting some recognition from staying sober!  It’s what we’re supposed to be doing — regardless of what’s happening in our lives, good or bad.

So, what’s the deal with it?  I think it comes from our problem of being Self-Obsessed.  We spend a great deal of time “thinking about ourselves!” We talk to ourselves.  We tell ourselves stories — most often, about ourselves.  We tell ourselves how good we are and how bad we are.  Often, in our gut, we don’t really feel that we deserve our self accolades — but in our heads, we spend an unusual amount of time trying to convince ourselves that we are right and our feelings are wrong.  And, while we try to focus on thinking about other things and function according to what we believe is normal — at the core of our being, we are we are constantly having that never-ending conversation with ourselves about ourselves.

What is the solution?  The solution is: we must experience an entire, radical, transformation of our thoughts and attitudes. In the Doctor’s Opinion of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, Dr.  William D. Silkworth, refers to this as “an entire psychic change.”

The Doctor’s Opinion, section in the Big Book, is the foundation of the entire book Alcoholics Anonymous.  Without the Doctor’s Opinion, the rest of the book doesn’t make sense.  The Doctor explains what’s wrong with us — the problem centers in our mind AND our body.  Physically, our body has an abnormal (not normal) reaction to the substance alcohol.  Our body does not metabolize alcohol the same way that a non-alcoholics body metabolizes alcohol.

So, the solution would seem to be: total abstinence from alcohol, in ANY FORM AT ALL!  Once we understand this — we can understand why it is not safe for the alcoholic to drink. Most alcoholics, myself included, vowed over and over and over and over again — “I’ll never touch the stuff again!”

Then, in a few hours, or days, or months — and sometimes after MANY years of being totally abstenant from alcohol — and with NO INTENTION OF DRINKING AGAIN, seemingly mysterious — the alcoholic discovers that he/she is holding a drink and has already returned to drinking.

The problem that prevents the alcoholic from continued sobriety is: the problem that centers in the alcoholic’s mind.  The problem that exists in the mind is a conscious and unconsciou (not aware of) thoughts and attitudes about alcohol, about life, and about ourselves.  And, the only known solution, that has worked over and over and over again — for long-term sobriety is: an entire psychic change. (Transformation of thoughts and attitudes, both on a conscious and unconscious level).  And, this is the purpose of the 12 Steps.  The actions required in “taking the Steps” produces the psychic change. This is what the rest of the Big Book is all about.  To describe in detail, and to give precise instructions, for taking the actions (the 12 Steps) to produce the psychic change, referred to in The Doctor’s Opinion.

Dallas B.

If you need help now for an alcohol problem, drinking, or alcoholic addiction — please go to www.step12.com

 

Early AA Akron group posed for press photo in 1942

AA Founder’s Day Celebration:
June 10, 11 & 12, 2011 Akron, Ohio

On-site registration will begin Friday, June 10th at 8:00 a.m. in the Student Union. PLEASE NOTE – ALL ONSITE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CASH ONLY! This year marks the 76th anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous here in Akron and one that promises to bring exciting changes both in the conference and the registration process.  Here is a link to the Founder’s Day website:
http://foundersdayregistration.akronaa.org/

If you need help now for an alcohol problem, drinking, or alcoholic addiction — please go to www.step12.com

Emotional Sobriety: Emotions produce euphoric and intoxicating effects. They can produce a sense of ease and comfort and contentment. When we are operating under the influence of our emotions verses the influence of our intelligence — we are Emotionally Inebriate.

The euphoric and intoxicating effects of Emotional Inebriation can produce a dependency and even an addiction to the emotional states. Withdrawal of Emotional Inebriation often results with the toxic feelings of guilt, remorse, depression, resentment, feelings of personal inadequacy, loneliness, restlessness, irritability, discontentment, and the similar physical symptoms in our body that are often associated with a “hang over” or withdrawal from being under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.

So, it isn’t any wonder why — a pattern develops of a return to “chasing the euphoria of the emotional state” that requires certain behavioral and psychological dependencies, scenarios, individuals, experiences and conditions — to produce the desired emotional state.

Emotional Sobriety: By learning how to discipline, control & create our desired emotional states — and eliminate our undesired emotional states — we can turn Polar Bears into Polar Puppies without Pills, Pot or Alcohol.

The detailed instructions for Step Ten, in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, indicate that we have moved into a different phase of our recovery — and that one of the main objectives is to grow in understanding and effectiveness.  The book indicates that by this time our sanity, in regards to alcohol will have been restored. That we begin to act sane and normal.

To grow in understanding: Here, we begin to practice living our lives based upon sound thinking — rather than emotional reactions.  We begin to make decisions and choices using our Intellect rather than being controlled or dependant upon our Emotions.

~Dallas B.

If you have an alcohol dependancy or an addiction and you want help now, be sure to visit www.Step12.com

Are the 12 Steps Only Suggestions?

Can you imagine the reaction in a meeting, if  Bill W.,  the Co-Founder of AA, said the following in a meeting today — as he wrote in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions:

“Unless each A.A. member follows to the best of his ability our suggested Twelve Steps to recovery, he almost certainly signs his own death warrant. His drunkenness and dissolution are not penalties inflicted by people in authority; they result from his personal disobedience to spiritual principles.”
~Bill W. pg 174, 12&12

Oh what an order!

When I read the above quote from Bill W. in the 12 &12 this morning — I wondered what the Fellowships of today would have said to him if he said that in one of their meetings. OMG! Bill! Love & Tolerance! Progress rather than Perfection! You’ll drive the newcomers out Bill! — those are only suggestions!!! Easy Does it! Bill! You sound like one of those Big Book Thumpers!

Bill W. is a C0-Founder of AA. He wrote the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous — for the original Pioneer’s in the Fellowship of A.A.

If you need help now and you are searching for help with an alcohol problem, addiction, or alcoholism — please go to www.step12.com

It is suggested we use the 12 Steps in the same way that a parachute instructor suggests that we use a parachute when we jump out of an airplane, we don’t have to take the suggestions, but there are definite consequences if we don’t.

TWELVE SIGNS OF A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

2. Frequent attacks of smiling.

3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.

4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience.

6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

7. A loss of ability to worry.

8. A loss of interest in conflict.

9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

10. A loss of interest in judging others.

11. A loss of interest in judging self.

12. Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.

~Author unknown

If you need help now for an alcohol problem, drinking, addiction, or alcoholism — please go to www.step12.com

April 21, 2011 — Charlie P., (of Charlie and Joe Big Book Study) passed away last night. I doubt that I would have been able to stay sober and find the good life that I enjoy today had it not been for the work and efforts of you Charlie! You saved my life and helped me to find a new one! I am, and will be forever grateful, to and for you!

Charlie P. and Joe McQ, RIP, from Arkansas, USA, carried the message of Alcoholics Anonymous — the Big Book, to literally hundreds of thousands of members in our Fellowship in dozens of countries all around the globe. Many in our Fellowship have been helped and had their lives transformed as a result of following along with Charlie and Joe, in their Big Book Studies, that were often performed at Conventions, Round-ups, Retreats, Conferences and onboard Sober Cruises.

I believe that Charlie and Joe — were the spark and the flame, that generated a much needed fire in the belly of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous — to get back to the basics of recovery by Taking the 12 Steps — using the Big Book, as the guide and source for the precise instructions on “Having Had A Spiritual Awakening as THE result of THESE Steps. Their efforts and work was reproduced on millions of CD’s, cassette tapes, and MP3 files that have been downloaded to continue to carry the message of transformation, change, recovery and hope.

I’ll continue to follow up with funeral and memorial service information as it becomes available.

~Dallas B.

If you need help now for an alcohol problem, drinking, addiction, or alcoholism — please go to www.step12.com

It takes — taking actions to recover from alcoholism, addiction, or any other mental or physical disorder!

YES!  You can recover — IF you “could & would” take the actions!

BEFORE you tell me that you you CAN’T do something — please watch this video!