Three Stages Of Rights Of Passage For Alcoholics

Three Stages of Rights of Passage for Alcoholics

Alcoholics, specifically those entering recovery, experience all three stages of the right of passage. Rights of Passage explain a complete change in an individual’s personality, lifestyle, and demeanor. Heroes in classical literature who undergo a shift in character to fulfill whatever heroic task or action they are attempting, commonly exemplify the three stages of the Rights of Passage. Likewise, within the past century the inception of Alcoholics Anonymous has provided a means for suffering alcoholics to undergo a similar shift in character. The alcoholic’s recovery process ensures that they experience each stage of the Rights of Passage from separation (from alcohol and the lifestyle),
This is the longest stage because it often takes months or years for the alcoholic to complete the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12 Steps are designed as a way for the alcoholic to transition from unhealthy alcoholic behaviors and thinking to healthier behaviors and thinking typical of non-alcoholics. This stage offers symbolism as it can be seen as the death of the alcoholic individual and rebirth of the recovered alcoholic. Many alcoholics who have completed the 12 Steps believe that recovery offers them the unique opportunity to experience 2 different lives because the alcoholic life is so vastly different from the life they have in recovery. The transition is also understood as a lifelong separation from alcohol consumption, which can be seen as an incredibly difficult test for many. Although difficult, the initiation stage of the 12 Steps includes a lot of help for the alcoholic to fulfill the aforementioned test. There is a connection with an individuals ‘higher power’ and a development of knowledge and skills for the individual to sustain their recovery. This incorporation of religion and new skills is typical of the initiation stage that heroes undergo in their Rights of