Like AA members, NA members believe they cannot control drugs without the help of a higher power. Once more, as you progress through the remainder of the steps you will cultivate a lifestyle that is not compatible with the drink. It’s more accurately recognizing that you can handle some things and others you can not. Mary is an experienced Client Care Manager with 20+ years in customer service. She excels at problem-solving and takes pride Sober living house in delivering tailored solutions.

Practical Tools for Practicing the 1st Step

To admit powerlessness over alcohol (or drugs) means accepting the fact that you’ve lost control over your substance use. You accept that your life, either internally, externally or both, has been impacted by maintaining the use of a substance and this addiction powerless over alcohol has negatively influenced your thoughts and actions. Recognizing your powerlessness over alcohol isn’t a sign of weakness but rather an acknowledgment of the addiction’s strength. Many who struggle with alcoholism have tried to control or moderate their drinking, only to find themselves repeatedly falling into the same destructive patterns.

• Step One marks the beginning of a lifelong commitment to connection, support, and personal growth.
• By relinquishing control over your addiction, you are now free to get help and support from others.
• Marginalized communities often experience systemic inequities due to discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
• Its significance extends far beyond its role as the initial acknowledgment of powerlessness over addiction and the unmanageability it brings to one’s life.

Step One: What Powerlessness Means to Me

• It involves acknowledging that alcohol has made your life unmanageable and that you cannot control your drinking.
• It empowers individuals to reach out for support and focus their energy on aspects within their control.
• Many people who drink on an even somewhat regular basis may at some point ask themselves, “Am I am alcoholic?
• This is particularly important because research has found that those who have the support of family members are more successful in treatment.11 This therapy can help you find “power” in the people who love you most.

This newfound freedom and inner peace create a solid foundation for our recovery journey, enabling us to navigate life’s challenges with a sense of calm and clarity. Admitting powerlessness over alcohol is a crucial step in the recovery process. It involves acknowledging that alcohol has made your life unmanageable and that you cannot control your drinking. This realisation can be challenging and humiliating, as it seems to contradict the goal of being strong and in charge of oneself.

Why Does AA Use the Idea of Powerlessness?

Quite the contrary, being able to admit that you can’t drink makes you self-aware and honest. Our mission is to provide the most cost-effective, accessible treatment for substance use disorder to as many patients as possible. We are committed to an integrated quality of care that is comprehensive, person-centered, and recovery-focused. We strive to exceed patient and community expectations in every life we touch. When reading this sentence, you may think to yourself, what does “unmanageable” mean?

Manageability: The Line Between Alcohol Use & Addiction

Instead, it reflects the intense cravings and chemical reactions that occur in the body of an alcoholic, making resistance extremely difficult. It is important to understand that powerlessness is not an excuse to continue down a destructive path but rather a recognition of the problem, which is the first step toward positive change. The journey to sobriety is often filled with twists and turns, and relapses may occur. Returning to the realization of powerlessness can be a powerful tool for individuals struggling with alcoholism. It helps them to develop self-awareness, accept their circumstances, and make a conscious choice to strive for improvement. “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”

It allows individuals to let go of old patterns, accept their limitations, and begin the process of healing. Through this acceptance, individuals can find the support and resources they need to build a foundation for lasting sobriety. Treatment centers often encourage individuals to accept their powerlessness as a gateway to freedom and progress. This acceptance enables them to shift their focus to aspects of their lives that they can control and make positive changes. It also helps them develop self-awareness and gain a deeper understanding of how their addiction has impacted their lives, fostering a desire for a better future.

The realisation of powerlessness opens the door to a lifelong journey of recovery, where individuals can gradually regain a sense of power and agency in their lives. I have over four years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges, including mental health issues, addiction, trauma, grief, and other issues individuals may experience. I have experience working in psychiatric hospitals, inpatient, outpatient, detox, and partial hospitalization programs providing clinical social work services. My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, empathy, and a deep understanding of the unique experiences and perspectives of each of my clients . I utilize a person-centered approach to my clients to help empower change within themselves. Sandy is an alcohol and drug counselor (ADT) with over three years of professional experience supporting individuals on their recovery journeys.

List of Examples of Powerlessness in Sobriety

I now enjoy working with others and helping them get through the hard times of early recovery. I still engage in a daily program of recovery myself and also enjoy fitness and health, nature, sports, horror movies, video games, cooking and spending time with family and friends. I have been on both sides of the fence, active addiction and recovery, and continue to choose recovery every day. Currently enrolled in a master’s program for Social Work, he is committed to expanding his knowledge and providing comprehensive care. Inspired by his upbringing in Bolivia, marked by poverty, unaddressed mental health, and substance use, he brings a unique perspective to his role as a Primary Therapist at the Freedom Center.

• Step One of the program invites individuals to admit their powerlessness over alcohol, setting the foundation for the subsequent steps toward healing.
• Everything that brought grief or loss to my life was directly related to my alcohol and drug use.
• Admitting you have a problem is always said to be the first step of recovery.
• We have to realize the truth that we can never use alcohol or drugs in any form again.

It’s a moment of profound self-realization and humility, opening the door to hope, healing and transformation. Remember, the 1st step AA is not the end but the beginning of a brighter future. If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug addiction, please contact us now at FHE Health for compassionate help and support. For many addicted to alcohol and drugs, it’s difficult to admit the way addiction has made their lives unmanageable. The self-awareness that comes with realizing how bad things are and how damaging the substance abuse has been is how you can start to desire a better future for yourself.

Dove Recovery

So I did, and while I was mentally compiling that list I thought, “Damn, could all of this hurt and pain have been avoided if I had not been drinking or high? However, even though I had all these terrible things going on, I continued to drink thinking it’s not that bad or it would get better. This is the powerless aspect of the disease – I was powerless over whether I drank or used. Most addicts are filled with guilt, shame, remorse, and self-loathing when they come into the rooms of AA. They’ve also gotten very used to keeping secrets from pretty much everyone, so opening up about the nature and extent of your alcoholic behavior is going against the grain. It may even feel completely unnatural and you probably don’t want to do it.

A person shouldn’t consider themselves weak-willed or incapable when they admit to their powerlessness, and they don’t have to do anything about their addiction yet. Step One is just asking a person to acknowledge that they have the disease of addiction, and life is harder because of it. When individuals struggling with addiction admit they are powerless, they also start to recognize the areas in their lives where surrender can bring peace. This mindset allows us to navigate challenges with clarity and purpose. The First Step does not say that you are powerless over your actions, your decisions, or your relationships; it says that you are powerless over alcohol/drugs.