A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps

[Faith92208]

Introduction, pp. 1-3 of A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps, by Stephanie Covington, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

Hazelden

As a woman in a Twelve Step recovery program, or as who is beginning to think about recovery from addiction, you may be thrilled to find a book that focuses on your issues as a woman in recovery. Or you may be wondering what this book offers that you have not found in other books or in Twelve Step literature and meetings.

Through my own recovery from alcoholism and my professional and personal relationships with women in recovery from a variety of addictions, I have found that a number of issues unique to women are overlooked in most Twelve Step programs. Some of these issues include the effects on women of the language of the Twelve Steps, the psychological development of women as it relates to addiction and recovery, and the social and cultural factors that affect us as women - both in general as females in a male-dominated society and specifically as women living through addiction and recovery.

As a result of these omissions, many of us have struggled to stay with a recovery program that does not completely meet our needs or match our values. Others may have experienced relapse and felt that something was missing from their recovery program without being able to identify what that something was.

My hope is that this book will offer you a new, more accessible perspective on recovery from addiction, one that acknowledges your needs and concerns as a woman. This new perspective is based on a more open exploration and a more flexible interpretation of the Twelve Steps as they related to women in recovery. My hope is that this perspective will empower you to take ownership of your recovery process as well as your growth as a woman.

The Twelve Steps were first developed in 1939 by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In the past fifty-five years, the Steps have been adopted by a variety of self-help groups and have provided an invaluable resource and guide for people on the recovery journey. Millions have taken this journey, using the spiritual, emotional, and practical resources of the Twelve Steps in their recovery from alcoholism, drug dependency, eating disorders, sexual compulsions, gambling, and more.

The history and tradition of the Twelve Steps provide a sense of security and certainty about their effectiveness. At the same time, it is important to recognize that the Steps were written by men for men's needs in recovery at a time when women had few resources and little social, political, or economic power. At the time the Steps were written, the possibility of a woman becoming addicted was barely considered and women with addictions faced shunning and secrecy.

As more and more women have entered recovery programs over the last twenty years, we have found that recovery may mean something different for us as women. Even more, we are finding that the journey of recovery is unique for each of us as individuals: there is no right or wrong way to proceed in "working" the Steps. As you read this book and explore the meaning and practice of the Twelve Steps, you will find many different perspectives on each Step to help you create your own path in your journey to recovery.

Using the Steps as guides, you will rediscover what you think, feel, and believe, and then begin to connect this with your actions with other people in the world around you. This experience of connecting your feelings and beliefs with your actions is what I call wholeness, or integrity.

[mags]

"A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps" is the book our local AA women's group is based on. This book is one of the tools I've found to be most helpful, along with the Big Book. The workbook that goes along with this, is a very useful tool in working the steps as well; especially for newcomers. With 237 twenty-four hour periods of recovery, I found answers and explanations that relates a bit more in Ms. Covington's book/workbook. I've had trouble understanding the concepts and this made sense and shed light on questions. I am on the fourth step for however long this process takes. For the first time in this life, the healing process has finally begun; to continue for as long as I live.

Thankya much Faith, for your post.

[francie21805]

Thanks mags! I'm always looking for any extra help I can get. Since I've been in the program, I've always checked out any and all non-conference approved books my 12th stepping woman friends suggested to me. When I see a woman in the program walking the walk, one of the questions I ask them is "Other than what the program suggest, what other books have helped you?" First two years they told me I needed to stick with the basic texts, in other words "Keep it Simple", and if they shared what books they did read, to check with my sponsor before I bought the books.

Depending on where sponsee are and what needs they may have, I have suggested certain books too. All the books I have keep me in the 12 steps, another proof the solution is in the steps.

Thanks again and I will check out the "A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps" as soon as I can.

Glad you're here

[Faith92208]

I have to say that I *love* this book, and I'm only on step 2. Trying to take it in slowly. Instead of reading the whole book all at once, I'm focusing on just the chapters that pertain to my particular step. I underlined everything in the first chapter about step 1 that I could truly identify with. The chapter talked about the concept of powerlessness over alcohol leading to our empowerment. We actually GAIN power because when we admit our powerlessness over our addiction to alcohol, we become free of the energy that our addiction took from us. This of how much the disease drained us of all the good that we have the ability to do. Now, we have the energy to channel into positive endeavors instead of keeping up with our endless cycle of addiction.

Isn't that great? We are powerless over alcohol, but we now have the power to grow along spiritual lines and channel that energy into worthwhile pursuits!