Decoding the 12 Steps & Overview of Step 1

How the 12 Steps Can Help You Overcome Maladaptive Behaviours and the Importance of Honesty in Step 1

12-step programs are available for anyone suffering from a maladaptive behavior that progresses over time. There are several different maladaptive behaviors, varying from typical passive aggression to full-blown addictions. The range of the Maladaptive Behavior Severity Scale is large, with a stark difference at each end. More drastic maladaptive behaviors such as addiction can have severe consequences, such as homelessness, termination of employment, jail, and even death. 

The overall goal of any 12-step program is to relieve those suffering from maladaptive behavior(s). The term suffering is subjective to each individual, although the term typically coincides with a “consistent amount of pain and discomfort that eventually becomes unbearable.” This sense of suffering tends to be the ultimate motivator for change, or, more simply stated throughout 12-step fellowships, “when the pain gets great enough…”

Overview of Step 1

“We admitted we were powerless over [addiction] - that our lives had become unmanageable.”

This is the first of the 12-step process, and is often regarded as the most crucial throughout all 12-step fellowships. Identifying that an issue exists is necessary for any and all situations requiring a solution. However, stating that there is a problem and understanding how it is a problem are two very different concepts. This first step not only prompts individuals to admit such an issue, but also helps to provide factual evidence from one’s own lived experience. This ultimately leads each person to the disclosure of the how, by the end of step 1. 

The first part of step one requires admittance of the issue, declaring that all control has been lost. The second half asks for clarification of the first part, asking individuals to identify the following aspects:

1. When/if they had control (provide example)

2. When/if they feel control was lost (provide example)

3. What incidents took place resulting and/or contributing to losing control? (provide example(s))

There are several different ways to identify the answers to these questions. As long as each person can provide honest answers, then they can meet the objective behind step 1.

Each of the 12 steps has an associated virtue or principle. They act as a foundation for each step, ultimately defining what positive behavior(s) coincides with its successful completion. Honesty is the overall virtue or principal of the 1st step. Without honesty, the remaining 11 steps and the overall program will not work. It is often said in Alcoholics Anonymous, “you only have to do one step perfectly- the 1st step,” and, the only way to accomplish that is with complete honesty. This virtue is utilized throughout the entire program.