However, most 12-step programs, including those for people addicted to drugs, encourage new members to commit to those 90 meetings in 90 days. You need that personal commitment and focus as you fight for sobriety during the most difficult time of your recovery, when you are most vulnerable to relapse. It’s impossible to identify a perfect answer to this question. Some people complete all the steps in a month or two. For many, the time frame to complete the 12 steps can range from a few months to an extended period, depending on personal circumstances and the need to work at their own pace.
Others spend several years going through the process. In addition, some choose to repeat the steps over and over again at different points and with several sponsors. Multiple relapses are common, and individuals may need to revisit previous steps as part of relapse prevention and long term success. With the Twelve Steps, there is no hard and fast timeline. The steps are intended to be addressed in sequential order, but there is no right way to approach them.
Sometimes people need a break between steps, sometimes they need to spend more time in one step than another, some people never stop working on the 12 steps because they become part of life. The process through recovery is very enlightening and also very specific to the individual. So, even though there are steps and expectations set throughout the recovery process, it’s all largely up to you. There is no set requirement for how long it should take to complete the 12 steps of the 12-step program. There is no time limit, and the process is a lifelong process for many, with ongoing personal commitment and active engagement being key to recovery.
However, the initial 30 days of recovery are a prime period for the focus and vision created by the 12 steps. The average time it takes someone to work through the 12 steps once can vary. Many 12-step sponsors encourage sponsors and newcomers to AA and other 12-step programs to attend 90 meetings in 90 days, or at least one meeting a day for three months. Support groups, group meetings, and active engagement in the AA program, as well as other options like Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery, are important for building a foundation for recovery. In general, the approach of working through the 12 steps in any 12-step program should not focus on the amount of time it takes to complete the steps once, but rather on how thoroughly you are doing your work in steps and how you use them to make a positive impact on your daily life.
Grapevine, April 196 That’s really the end of the story as far as the three types of original programs are concerned. Undoubtedly, many realized the ideas during Bill’s years of severe depression afterwards: Clarence, Sister Ignatia, Richmond Walker, Father Ralph Pfau, Ed Webster, the Akron AA brochures that Dr. Bob commissioned, and then so-called beginner meeting ideas from the 1940s. And how can all of this fit together? I think that first we need to learn, know and practice what the Big Book and the 12 Steps of the Fourth Edition prescribe today. The fourth step, which involves a searching and fearless moral inventory, is crucial for identifying character defects and being willing to have God remove all these defects.
To do the opposite is to try a new movement that is not Christian, neither secular nor universal. It’s just a self-made religion and a personal opinion. On the other hand, today’s recovering Christians need to know that A, A. Knowing that it is not a Christian community like it was before.
Today he proclaimed that you can believe what you like or not believe in anything. Know that this doctrine is neither Christian Fellowship A, A. Or a lot, but a palliative for those who prefer to meet and chat rather than study and recover. In any case, that’s just the opinion of one guy, someone who has done 23 years of uninterrupted sobriety in A, A.
In my opinion, all newcomers should follow the steps as quickly as possible. By doing this, their life will evolve rapidly, giving them rewards quickly, making relapse less attractive. Whenever I work with a newcomer, I always spend 4-5 hours describing our program of action and designing the spiritual toolkit for inspection. In doing so, we took the 12 steps together. The process includes making amends, including direct amends to such people harmed during active addiction, and the need to promptly admit when we are wrong.
I have witnessed on many occasions that the newcomer finds that spark of hope and spirit that dwells deep within them. My experience has shown me that this approach gives newcomers some ice cream and they always want more. If that’s the case, the newcomer and I are usually inseparable for the next 60 to 90 days working together on the first 7 chapters of the Big Book, studying the text, taking steps and having vital spiritual experiences together. I want to be there with them when they find God.
When they receive the visit, I also receive the visit. Cleveland) would take newcomers across the steps on a weekend. He called the process of fixing rummies. He said, come to me Friday night in Step One and by the time you leave Sunday morning you will have taken the Twelve Steps.
Then, to stay “fixed”, you’ll need to practice Steps Ten, Eleven, and Twelve daily. This includes maintaining conscious contact with God, practicing spiritual principles in all our affairs, and seeking spiritual awakening.
Page 15 Who do you look like? I have been criticized for handing out the “12 steps in 4 hours” folders to newcomers. I only did this after no one showed up to sponsor them (especially women). I told the men to come and see me when they read it and accept their alcoholism.
The person who started this review once told me, after I asked her if she or someone she could recommend sponsoring a particular woman, that the woman was too sick and had too much trouble for her to sponsor him. This is very useful to have a lot more information about my sobriety is March 17th.
Working the steps is a process that involves admitting the exact nature of our wrongs in the fifth step, the significance of the third step in surrendering to a higher power, and the ongoing effort to stay sober.
When working with newcomers and sponsors, it’s important to recognize the role of treatment programs, addiction treatment, and residential rehab in supporting individuals with substance use disorder, substance abuse, or drug addiction.
Designing the spiritual toolkit and working through the steps also supports mental health, as support groups and the 12-step process can help restore us to sanity.
American Addiction Centers utilize the 12-step model, the role of support groups, and the importance of long-term support for addiction recovery.
Using the Big Book as a Resource
The Big Book, officially titled "Alcoholics Anonymous," revolutionizes recovery through its evidence-based framework—serving as the cornerstone of the transformative 12-step program and a proven companion for countless individuals navigating their journey to lasting sobriety. Since its groundbreaking publication in 1939, this authoritative resource has streamlined the path through AA's 12 steps, delivering both cutting-edge guidance and hope through authentic testimonials from those who have achieved freedom from alcohol addiction and substance use disorders.
For individuals embarking on the 12 steps, the Big Book provides sophisticated explanations of each transformative step, including comprehensive methodologies for conducting a searching and fearless personal inventory and establishing conscious contact with a higher power. These evidence-based concepts serve as the foundation for spiritual advancement and are strategically designed to help individuals not only address their substance use challenges but also revolutionize their everyday life through proven frameworks.
What distinguishes the Big Book as the exclusive resource in recovery literature is its unwavering emphasis on sustainable, long-term sobriety solutions. This innovative approach doesn't simply focus on eliminating alcohol or drug use; it drives ongoing spiritual development and strategic personal reflection. The compelling narratives within its pages demonstrate that recovery is achievable at any stage and that the proven principles of the 12 steps can be seamlessly integrated across all areas of life, supporting both immediate recovery goals and long-term transformation outcomes.
Whether you're actively participating in meetings, collaborating with a sponsor, or navigating the complex challenges of early sobriety, the Big Book remains an indispensable, evidence-based resource. Its authoritative guidance empowers individuals to stay grounded in the proven principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, maintain conscious contact with their higher power, and continue advancing toward lasting sobriety and comprehensive spiritual fulfillment through this revolutionary framework.