Step 9 of Alcoholics Anonymous: Making Amends

Step 9: Make direct amends to people you harmed, except where doing so might cause more harm.

Making amends is a challenging but essential part of recovery from addiction. It involves taking responsibility for the harm you have caused others and making an effort to repair the damage. This can be done in person, over the phone, or even through a letter.

Making amends is not about punishing yourself or making others feel sorry for you. It is about taking ownership of your actions and making a commitment to change. It is also about forgiveness, both for yourself and for the people you have harmed.

There are many ways to make amends. Sometimes, it is as simple as saying you are sorry. Other times, it may involve making financial restitution or changing your behavior. The important thing is to do whatever is necessary to make things right.

Making amends can be difficult, but it is worth it. It allows you to let go of the past and move forward with your life. It also helps to build relationships and restore trust.

Understanding Step 9:

• Step 9 begins with the directive: "Make direct amends to people you harmed, except where doing so might cause more harm."
• After completing Step 8—making a list of all people we have harmed and becoming willing to make amends to them all—the next logical step is to make those amends if possible. The suggestion is to do so directly to those who have been harmed. By making direct amends to the person harmed, the temptation to avoid the issue due to embarrassment or pain is eliminated.

Facing the Challenge:

• Often, individuals making amends find that the person they have harmed is more than willing to accept those amends happily—a healing process begins not only in the relationship but in each individual.
• Instances may arise where the injured party is unwilling to forgive or forget. However, spiritual progress for those in recovery depends on doing their part right and making direct amends.

Addressing Exceptions:

• Step 9 does carry a condition—except where doing so might cause more harm. The benefit of making amends to the recovering person does not outweigh the need to avoid causing further harm.
• If the act of making amends opens old wounds or creates new harm, making direct amends should be avoided.

Significance of Amends in Sobriety:

• Remaining sober is the goal, and taking this step to make amends when possible is crucial because failing to do so could lead to future problems. If there are outstanding instances of harm caused during drinking days, or debts, not addressing them could trigger a relapse.
• However, dealing with past situations reduces the possibility of them res