Consumer Issues—Self Help

Twelve Step Programs have been the base and catalyst for change in people with the diseases of alcoholism and addiction, often, in combination with co-occurring mental illness. There are many different types of self-help groups that can offer people help and hope regardless of the number and type of issues that they may face. Millions have achieved a new freedom and a new happiness as promised in the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The principles of twelve-step support are purposely simple. People align together for the express purpose of wanting change in their lives. In the simple design of this format, myriad events happen. For some, it is the intimacy and positive community of shared stories and narratives that is transforming. One learns that he or she is not alone, nor have they been the only people to experience what they are feeling. Many are able to gain acceptance of their diseases and have that translate into the process of change—change that will heal. As we heal, our families heal, and, as our families heal, our community heals. Serenity and a life graced by healing is achievable often through the gift of self help.

May you enjoy the life-affirming joy and fellowship that self-help can offer.

Why Self-help Works: Five Good Reasons by Howie Vogel

Self-help aids the process of recovery in five ways:

1. Self-help provides a social network based on commonly shared experience.
2. Self-help facilitates people's move from help-recipient to helper.
3. In self-help groups people share specific ways of coping based on experience.
4. Those who cope successfully serve as role models for individuals with less successful coping strategies.
5. Self-help provides people some meaningful structure, which is not imposed by the outside but rather self-generated from the members themselves.

Useful Self-Help Sites

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