STEP 8 HARMS

A Catalogue of Harms Done to Others 
sources: BB=the Big Book of A.A., Alcoholics Anonymous
12&12=Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

HARMS, IN GENERAL

1. harm—the result of instincts in collision in which we cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people. [12&12, page 83, line 1]

2. {The alcoholic illness) ..brings misunderstanding, fierce resentment, financial insecurity, disgusted friends and employers, warped lives of blameless children, sad wives and parents-anyone can increase the list. [BB, page 18, line 7]

3. hurt [BB, page 76, line 30]

4. smarts from our injustice [BB, page 77, line 6]

5. where we have been at fault, [12&12, page 79, line 6]

6. people [we have] hurt [12&12, page 79, line 23]

7. wretched conduct [12&12, page 81, line 3]

8. damaged others who were still happily unaware of being hurt [12&12, page 81, line 10]

9. injure others [12&12, page 84, line 3]

10. disturb others [12&12, page 84, line 3]

11. He does absurd, incredible things while drinking. [BB, page 21, line 14]

PHYSICAL OR MATERIAL HARMS

1. owe money [BB, page 78, line 14]

2. criminal offense [BB, page 78, line 26]

3. short in our accounts [BB, page 78, line 28]

4. padding the expense account [BB, page 78, line 32]

5. unpaid alimony [BB, page 79, line 2]

6. cheat [12&12, page 83, line 5]

7. miserly [12&12, page 83, line 13]

ANTI-SOCIAL HARMS

1. discrediting [another person] [BB, page 80, line 10]

2. destroying the reputation of another [BB, page 80 line 12]

3. disgrace...family [BB, page 80, line 17]

4. ruinous slander [BB, page 80, line 23]

5. given offense [12&12, page 84, line 4]

6. becomes disgustingly and even dangerously anti-social. [BB, page 21, line 20]

EMOTIONAL HARMS

1. [extramarital]...affair [BB, page 81, line 10]

2. [putting others]...through hell [BB, page 80, line 15]

3. broken hearts [BB, page 82, line 25]

4. dead relationships [BB, page 82, line 26]

5. affections uprooted [BB, page 82, line 26]

6. selfish sex conduct [12&12, page 83, line 8]

7. callous [12&12, page 83, line 14]

8. cold [12&12, page 83, line 14]

9. irritable [12&12, page 83, line 14]

10. critical [12&12, page 83, line 15]

11. impatient [12&12, page 83, line 15]

12. humorless [12&12, page 83, line 15]

DISRUPTIVE HARMS

1. selfish habits [BB, page 82, line 27]

2. inconsiderate habits [BB, page 82, line 27]

3. a home in turmoil [BB, page 82, line 27]

4. human wreckage left in [our] wake [12&12, page 79, line 19]

5. our behavior... has aggravated the defects of others [12&12, page 80, line 20]

6. strain...[their] patience [12&12, page 80, line 21]

7. [bring] out the very worst in [others] [12&12, page 80 line 22]

8. tempers are consistently bad [12&12, page 83, line 3]

9. lie [12&12, page 83, line 4]

10. irresponsible [12&12, page 83, line 14]

11. show favoritism [12&12, page 83, line 15]

12. dominate others [12&12, page 83, line 16]

13. wallow in depression [12&12, page 83, line 20]

14. wallow in self-pity [12&12, page 83, line 21]

15. make living with us difficult and often unbearable [12&12, page 83, line 22]

16. incredibly dishonest and selfish [BB, page 21, line 26]