My tax breaks in the deductions and credits section add up to more than the standard deduction of 12,000 but TT is recommending the standard deduction. Why is this?

Some Tax Breaks are credits (such as Child Tax Credit), not deductions. Only deductions are compared to the $12,000.

You only add up the total itemized deductions on the Schedule A to compare with the standard deduction.  You do not add all the deductions and credits.