The Power in the First Step: Accepting Powerlessness

Addiction is not a character flaw, but a disease that alters brain chemicals. No one makes the conscious choice to lose control and wreck their lives. Many factors go into addiction development, from genetics to untreated mental health symptoms, for which some people turn to alcohol or drugs as a way of self-medicating. Acknowledging powerlessness over alcohol and drugs can be liberating for many people.

Identifying a life that is “unmanageable” can be subjective, but there are a few clear ways in which one’s life could be labeled as such. If there are responsibilities at work, school, or in your personal life that are not being met, then this is a good sign of unmanageability. When drinking has become the priority and your career, relationships, finances, and other aspects of your life are suffering, these are signs that your life is unmanageable. Accepting that your life is unmanageable is often easier than admitting powerlessness over alcohol. Powerlessness is often mistaken for weakness, but this is actually a step of strength.

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Sinclair expected that after several weeks without booze, the rats would lose their desire for it. Instead, when he gave them alcohol again, they went on week-long benders, drinking far more than they ever had before—more, he says, than any rat had ever been shown to drink. If you are able to stop using substances for any reason, and you don’t address the causes as to why you used the substances, then the person will most likely be using drugs or alcohol again as soon as the pain of the losses wears off. Interventions can help raise the feelings of rock bottom for a substance user.

• What’s more, the act of using drugs or alcohol can itself create a sense of powerlessness, as people become addicted and their lives begin to revolve around their substance use.
• Admitting that you are powerlessness over alcohol means that you cannot and never will be able to drink alcohol in a safe manner again.
• He then attended New York Medical College for his residency training.
• Taking this first step and admitting you are struggling with alcohol misuse can be difficult, but it is the foundation of all positive change according to AA.
• When they realize there is more to gain from not using drugs or alcohol than they believed was to gain from using drugs or alcohol is when the substance user moves through the stages of change.

Many treatment centers and 12-step groups help addicts and alcoholics see the problem is in the behaviors, not the substance use. Just stopping substances doesn’t change your perception, nor does it resolve the issues as to why you self-medicated. After many years of denial, recovery can begin for alcoholics https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/total-alcohol-abstinence-vs-moderation/ and their families with one simple admission of being powerless over alcohol. This is the first step of the 12 step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon programs. When ordinary people think of the priorities of life, their thoughts naturally turn to family, home, career, and the like.

Don’t blame yourself.

AA support groups are accessible and free, without any age or education requirements. Step 1 of AA can be one of the most difficult on your journey to sobriety. You must first admit powerless over alcohol and be honest with yourself about the situation. It was developed with the goal of facilitating cocaine and methamphetamine abusers to powerless over alcohol attend and engage in 12-Step meetings and activities (Donovan & Wells, 2007). It consists of three individual and five group sessions. The first individual session incorporates the linkage of the stimulant user with an outside 12-Step volunteer to help explain the meetings and treatment philosophy as well as attend a meeting together.

Accepting our powerlessness opens us up to the willingness for a Higher Power’s help. We let this Power remove the problem by practicing the rest of the steps as a way of life. Until we can accept powerlessness, we will not fully seek Power. Accepting our powerlessness (complete defeat) is the bottom that an alcoholic and addict must hit. Once you accept step one, you do something about this feeling of powerlessness and gain back your power.

Tell Someone If You Feel Like Drinking

Although Alcoholics Anonymous was founded nearly a century ago, many of the teachings are still applicable in modern times. Although Step One of AA is something that has to happen within yourself, that doesn’t mean that outside influences can’t help you get there. Working one-on-one with a therapist or attending group meetings can provide the ability to hear how others have worked this step and allow you the opportunity to talk out your own through process. Although you can if you desire, there is no need to work any of the AA steps completely on your own. Contact us to learn more about how we support 12 step programs at The Freedom Center.