Empowerment or powerlessness! A 12 step Disaster

Well, first let's take a look at what I like to call the addiction equation. In my opinion, the catalyst of addiction is the emotional trauma caused by family dysfunction. The reason one chooses to partake in habitual behavior is relative to masking that emotional pain. Finally, the type of addiction that is chosen is based on social structure and exposure to various substances or compulsions. The constant which completes the addiction process is the level of coping skills possessed. Therefore, it would only stand to reason that the key to abstinence would be a higher level of coping skills. But, what exactly does it mean to possess a higher level of coping skills? Well, to increase your level of coping skills requires increasing self-esteem. Holding ones self in high regard renders addictive behavior repulsive. But, how do you increase your self-esteem?

First and foremost, you must learn to forgive yourself. Most people suffering from addiction find it very difficult to forgive themselves since they bare a burden of shame and guilt, not only for their behavior, but also for the pain they have caused others. However, you can forgive yourself, and you can learn to love yourself by curing "wounditis." You have a choice! You can either continue to feel victimized and wallow in your own misfortune, or you can take a stand and refuse to self-incriminate yourself. You see, you have the same power as everyone else! You are no different! We are all but a grain of sand in the desert of humanity. We are all the same and we are all connected.

The majority of all treatment programs offer a group recovery approach as the primary or as a secondary component of their treatment modality. Unfortunately, these groups are counterproductive and leave the individual at risk for continued relapse.

Recovery groups place a great deal of emphasis on spirituality, powerlessness, and the emergence of a person's sense of soul. They claim many of the steps of the twelve-step program to be paradoxical. Concluding that you are powerless over addiction, but like magic, you some how become more powerful! The goal of the program is a spiritual awakening although most people find it difficult to make this connection because they feel victimized by someone else's behavior. My experience teaches me to conclude that admitting you are powerless does not promote empowerment and nor does it restore self-esteem! In my opinion, many of the twelve steps are unnecessary, and they are actually counterproductive to making a spiritual connection, increasing self-esteem, and achieving addiction recovery.

My 5 Steps to Addiction Freedom program streamlines the recovery process by achieving it in five steps. Unlike the twelve-step philosophy, it defines the core issue, and it shows how to overcome it. It eliminates the counterproductive and self-incriminating steps of the failed twelve-step philosophy and replaces them with steps that restore self-esteem, a vital and necessary component to abstinence since addiction is plainly a self-esteem issue!

In conclusion, you do have the power to increase your self-esteem! But, self-esteem is not a commodity that you purchase, or a fruit that is plucked from a tree. Possessing self-esteem and merit for ones self is a product of self-love. To love your self you must first forgive yourself, and second, you must embark on an inward journey to awaken your true authentic self and your own personal power. This is not only the key to abstinence, but it's also a bullet proof self-esteem shield that renders the guns of addiction harmless!

Best wishes,

The Addiction Freedom Coach

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