Humans Anonymous

Policy Document : Humans Anonymous and other twelve step fellowships

Humans Anonymous has its roots very firmly in the traditions and principles of the Twelve Step Fellowships. What we have done is to incorporate developments that have taken place in the half century that has passed since Alcoholics Anonymous was founded, drawing upon our individual experiences as well as the collective wisdom of the Twelve Step movement.

Whilst specific fellowships exist for many forms of addictions and compulsions, Humans Anonymous seeks to compliment their excellent work as well as provide a forum for those not currently addressed. Humans Anonymous deals holistically with the full spectrum of addictions and compulsions, looking at the underlying patterns of thought and behaviour which may underpin the compulsion or addiction.

The Steps are broadly similar to those in other fellowships except in one case where experience indicated there was a need to emphasise the issue of perfectionism, (raised already in 12 Step recovery literature) - hence the change in Step 6. The original Step 6 has been incorporated into Step 7. Using the developments in the understanding and treatment of addiction to refashion the language of the Steps appropriately, we have used "negative patterns of thought and behaviour" rather than "defects of character". We have also sought to make the fellowship as accessible as possible by using a very broad and unspecific term to describe the Higher Power i.e. "the Loving Spirit".

We have introduced a daily programme as part of the recovery process to help us develop a new and positive direction in our lives including the use of affirmation, prayer and meditation, tailored to the needs of the individual.

We seek to operate in harmony with all other 12 Step organisations sharing as we do a common goal of recovery from various addictions and compulsions.

The Twelve Steps of Humans Anonymous

  1. We Accept we are powerless over our addictive and compulsive patterns of thought and behaviour - that our lives have become unmanageable.
  2. We come to realise that a Power greater than ourselves can love and nurture us through our recovery.
  3. We make a decision to surrender to the Loving Spirit as we understand it.
  4. We make a loving and fearless inventory of our behaviour and seek to find a new and positive direction for our lives.
  5. We share our inventory with the Loving Spirit and another human being without the need for self-recrimination.
  6. We become ready to change by giving up the need to be perfect.
  7. We ask the Loving Spirit to help us let go of all our negative patterns of though and behaviour.
  8. We make a list of all persons we have harmed and become willing to make amends, forgiving them and ourselves.
  9. We make direct amends to those we have harmed except when to do so would injure them or others.
  10. We continue our personal growth, lovingly accepting responsibility for our mistakes..
  11. We grow through prayer and meditation ever closer to the Loving Spirit.
  12. As a result of these steps we reach a greater understanding of our true selves and are able to carry the message of recovery in our daily lives.

The Twelve Traditions of Humans Anonymous

  1. Our Common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon mutual respect and understanding.
  2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a Loving Spirit as it may express itself in our group conscience. All members may speak at a group conscience but only regular attenders may vote. Group officers are but trusted servants - they do not givern.
  3. The only requirement for membership of Humans Anonymous is a desire to seek freedom from addictive and compulsive patterns of thought and behaviour.
  4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or Humans Anonymous as a whole.
  5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to those who seek recovery from addictive and compulsive patterns of though and behaviour.
  6. A Humans Anonymous group ought never to align itself with any outside institution, business or organisation.
  7. Every Humans Anonymous group ought to be self-funding by voluntary contribution, declining outside donations.
  8. We may not charge for any service we give within the Huymans Anonymous group, but we may employ professional workers to help us perform our organisational tasks.
  9. Humans Anonymous shall aim to keep administration to an absolute minimum. However, we may elect group officers to help us in carrying out our primary purpose. All group officers work in the spirit of service and are directly accountable to their membership.
  10. Humans Anonymous haas no opinion on outside issues, hence the name, Humans Anonymous, ought never be to be drawn into public controversy.
  11. We need always maintain personal anonymity in dealing with the media.
  12. Anonymity is the essential spiritual foundation in carrying the message of recovery, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.