I heard from another family member that my sister, who has been sober for fifteen years, had to "start going through the steps all over again". Does this mean that she had a drink? Or are there other reasons why someone in AA might need to go through the steps again?
hotrod said
Jun 10, 2017
Hi and welcome The Steps are a tool that we use in order to look inward to see what we might be doing to hurt ourselves or others. It does not mean she has slipped and drank. It might simply mean she needs to look inward and refresh her spiritual program. I have reworked the steps many times in program in order to see myself more clearly and grow.
Keep coming back.
DavidG said
Jun 10, 2017
Yep... I agree with Betty. If a person starts drinking it is usually called "a slip".
Working the steps is more like a 'catch me up'... ...
Iamhere said
Jun 10, 2017
5TNTsZ - I too send a warm welcome to you - glad you found us and glad that you asked. I am a double winner - meaning sober in AA and serene in Al-Anon.....we suggest in recovery that we 'never graduate' and work on continuing to improve ourselves - as Betty suggest - recovery is spiritual based. So - many work the steps over and over again to just keep aligning with a power greater than self and for further clarification on what makes us 'tick'.
I view this almost like a renewal of wedding vows - it's a renewed commitment to recovery. HTH!
Jerry F said
Jun 12, 2017
You have received very exp0erienced and knowledgeable responses from the MIP fellowship and I'm sure more can be on the way...you are not alone. The steps are a "to do" process as while the program works perfectly against this disease of the mind, body, spirit and emotions we still have to "DO" the program...we have to behave it. Behave the steps and get it deeply into my thinking and feelings also. Go for it....In support. (((hugs)))
Bo said
Jun 13, 2017
5TNTsZ wrote:
I heard from another family member that my sister, who has been sober for fifteen years, had to "start going through the steps all over again". Does this mean that she had a drink? Or are there other reasons why someone in AA might need to go through the steps again?
It does not mean she had a drink. Someone in AA can "start going through the steps all over again" for many reasons. As far as "had to" -- I can't speak to that, but, the same applies -- it could be for many reasons. There are many reasons a person might feel the "need" or "want" so to speak.
Kmt said
Jun 13, 2017
Good morning. Great topic. Recovery is a continual process. It is never mastered and not to be revisited. Once you have completed the 12 steps it is healthy to start them all over again for many people. Your perspective is now different and you may look at the steps differently the second time around. Recovery should never stagnate. If you stop growing and moving forward you are in danger of a relapse. For me I am recognizing this fact. It was easy for me to get complacent and stop working on me. I noticed only after my life was back to chaos. My responses to my AH have been out of control because I stopped working on me. Now I have to get back on track through reworking the steps. Have a great Tuesday.
I heard from another family member that my sister, who has been sober for fifteen years, had to "start going through the steps all over again". Does this mean that she had a drink? Or are there other reasons why someone in AA might need to go through the steps again?
Keep coming back.
Yep... I agree with Betty. If a person starts drinking it is usually called "a slip".
Working the steps is more like a 'catch me up'...
...
I view this almost like a renewal of wedding vows - it's a renewed commitment to recovery. HTH!
You have received very exp0erienced and knowledgeable responses from the MIP fellowship and I'm sure more can be on the way...you are not alone. The steps are a "to do" process as while the program works perfectly against this disease of the mind, body, spirit and emotions we still have to "DO" the program...we have to behave it. Behave the steps and get it deeply into my thinking and feelings also. Go for it....In support. (((hugs)))
It does not mean she had a drink. Someone in AA can "start going through the steps all over again" for many reasons. As far as "had to" -- I can't speak to that, but, the same applies -- it could be for many reasons. There are many reasons a person might feel the "need" or "want" so to speak.