12 Step Information adapted for Trichotillomania and Skin Picking

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

The Twelve Steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over trichotillomania - that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God, as we understand God.

4. Made a searching and fearless personal inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of what we learned in our inventory.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these negative beliefs and behaviors.

7. Humbly asked God to remove our negative beliefs and behaviors.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed -- including ourselves -- and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends wherever possible, except when to do so would injure anyone.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and promptly acted on what we discovered.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other hair pullers, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The Twelve Traditions

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon group unity.

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving higher power as expressed to our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3. The only requirement for membership is a desire for recovery from trichotillomania.

4. Each group should remain autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or 12 Step Pickers/Pullers as a whole.

5. Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to other hair pullers who still suffer.

6. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers ought never endorse, finance, or lend the group name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual aim.

7. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers should remain forever non--professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers has no opinion on outside issues; hence the group name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions: ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

The Twelve Promises

I can expect a miraculous change in my life by working the program of 12 Step Pickers/Pullers. As I make an honest effort to use all of the tools of the program...

1. I know a new sense of belonging. The feeling of isolation and loneliness will disappear.

2. I am no longer controlled by my compulsion. I act with courage, integrity and dignity.

3. I know a new freedom.

4. I release myself from shame, worry, and regret about pulling.

5. I know a new love and acceptance of myself. My self-esteem comes from within.

6. I enjoy stable periods of freedom from pulling.

7. I am capable of enjoying life without feeling that I have to hide from others.

8. I learn that it is possible to mend - to heal from the shame and pain of the past, and to learn new behaviors and attitudes that will help prevent my pulling.

9. I acknowledge that I am a unique and precious creation. I treat myself with gentleness, patience and dignity.

10. I trust a guidance I receive from my higher power and come to believe in my own capabilities.

11. I learn to see myself as beautiful, worthy and capable. Whether I am abstinent or not, I enjoy a healthy sense of self-esteem and the love and support of others.

12. I gradually experience serenity, strength, and spiritual growth in my daily life.

Tools of the Program:

• Meetings
• E-Mail
• Buddies
• Abstinence
• Literature
• Slogans

Slogans:

• Easy Does It
• First Things First
• Be Gentle With Yourself
• Let it Grow
• Progress, Not Perfection
• One Day at a Time
• You Are Not Alone
• Let Go and Let God
• Together We Can Make It
• Keep It Simple
• Love, Learn and Grow
• Just For Today
• Let It Begin With Me

The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have been borrowed and adapted for use for people with TTM. For more Information on the twelve steps and how they developed, please contact Alcoholics Anonymous.

12 Step Information adapted for Trichotillomania and Skin Picking taking from TLC.