A question about AA and other programs

[Critters2]

I'm Critters, and I'm powerless over my emotions.

I've been doing Step One work with my Emotions Anonymous sponsor. It's made me curious about whether all 12 step programs do this the same way. We have a booklet, entitled "Step by Step", with questions that you answer in writing for each of the twelve steps. For instance, the first question of Step One work is "Describe your home life during childhood. How would you describe your relationship with the important people in your life? Be thorough, describing each relationship." Another oe asks "When did you first see your emotional problems as serious? What happened? How did you feel?"

We're asked to write answers to these and share them with our sponsor, who may press us to give some answers more thought, or otherwise respond, preparing us to work the next step. There's also an "EA Workbook" that some sponsors use. Until I started this, I didn't realize how much discipline and thought it takes to work the program. And now I find I'm curious about other programs. No real reason, just curious.

Do your other programs have the same kinds of written components? Do you have a workbook, something like "Step by Step", or other literature that walks you through the steps? I think what I'm wondering is whether you understand what I mean when I say I'm doing "step one work". How does this process go in your program?

Thanks for letting me be a part of this group. I'm grateful!!

[Kajsa]

1. Hi critters!

We work the 12 steps in chronological order, with the exception of the 12th step
( I know it says "Having taken these steps,-") where a person with one or two days of sobriety
can help someone just walking in the door.
The fifth step is written down as is ANYTHING relating to working the steps where writing it down
makes it easier to see and understand it. The space between my two ears was very messed up when
I first got here. At times, it was a minefield.

It's still a bit foggy in there.
:rofl:

I always had a sponsor to help me, because I was VERY sick and confused at the beginning.
She's still my sponsor although she lives in Oregon, now.

It's work, sometimes hard work, but it sure is worth it!

I hope this helps.
It's great to have you here.

:pals: :hug:

[NMDemDist2]

2. i wrote a bit on each step

there are pamphlets that you can get to walk you through the steps, but I just used the big book

I averaged a step a month for the first year I'd say, some went faster than others, but had done the 5th step by 6 months sober and had finished the 9th step work on people I could contact by 10 months sober

you're doing fine, but just remember if it gets too painful, you can move forward on the things that you can cope with and come back to the really tough stuff later

the writing is to help you learn the process which eventually just becomes a regular way of life.

[Justpat]

3. I never had a workbook.

I'm not sure I've ever seen one in AA. Good thing for me because if there had been homework
I wouldn't have done it or probably kept coming to meetings.

I think the steps of AA can lead anyone to health, sobriety, emotional wellness, etc, but
for this alcoholic an trip down the family memory lane early in sobriety would have landed
me in a drunk tank.