How long does it normally take to work throught the 12 steps. And yes I know that some of the steps are on going but to get to my 12th step what is the avg time frame?
Don't know that too many people keep track of this as an average.
I've heard people talk about running thru all the steps while in a treatment center and there is a book out Back to Basics that uses the sub-titles
The Alcoholics Anonyous Beginners' Meetings
"Here are the steps we took ..." in Four One-Hour Sessions
When I sat down with the 1st guy I asked to sponser me, I wanted him to explain everything to me over dinner so I could get cured real quick. He advised me that I was not running a race.
And it took me many months just to get up to step three.
But that wasn't the 1st time I came to A.A. The 1st time, I thought it was real easy to say I was alcoholic but went back to drinking after, I don't really know, a year and a half. Then drank for another three years. So from that point of view, it took me 4 1/2 years just to work STEP ONE.
What changed for me when I came back was being willing to give it an honest try.
-- Edited by rrib on Monday 9th of January 2012 11:51:39 PM
just like each person has a different personality, different ways of getting to the point of wanting sobriety, each person has their own pace. and when the steps have been done - one thru twelve - you start all over again because you are not the same person as you were when you did them the first time. it's a life long process, one day at a time. you have probably heard "it takes what it takes" ... and it does.
There may be some different opinions on this, but with most people I sponsor 8 to 15 months.
1,2,3 are pretty quick, I just like to see people put step 3 into action via a lot of meetings, homegroup service work, calling others, greeting others, getting out of self etc.
I know the early AA did them very fast, but a lot of people are too foggy to do a decent 4th step for a few months. Just need some time to really do a full honest inventory, but I think the honest evaluation starts for us as soon as we start to attend meetings.
Get a sponsor pluged into a good network of "winners", like Rib said, it's not a race.
Hope this can help.
Rob
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
The sooner the better ... how long do you want to stay sick?
Yes, while every person is different, it has been my experience to get new ppl working on and thru the steps as soon as possible. Not to rush, and always making sure they are comfortable and understand what is happening.
Get busy, get better and help someone else. AFter all, thats what its all about ... ppl helping ppl.
For me that depends upon how resistant my ego and pride were/are. I came in to recovery very oppositional and defiant so the steps took me a long time. I got the program in little bites which I chewed very throughly before I swallowed. I didn't like the taste of it and what it was demanding in changing me. It took me over 6 months or so to get step one...I got the unmanageable part okay...the powerless part I couldn't make sense of.
Powerlessness today now includes many other things besides alcohol and unmanagability has wider boundaries also and the program still works within the changes.
Im halfway through step 4 now in 3 months. I think to each is there own. I really like to do them with all my heart and soul.. PROGRESS not perfection..
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
I'm kind of like Jerry on the steps, it took me a long time just to get past step 1. Turning my will over took a couple years, and an honest 4th and 5th step was done in year 4. I know I function slower than most probably, but my sponsor at the time did exactly what needed to be done, I would have ran if he pushed it, I was young.
-- Edited by The Addiction Club on Wednesday 11th of January 2012 05:17:16 AM
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"Never make someone a priority who makes you an option"
