Author: Gary Jackson

Step 1 A A. Why the 12-step Journey Begins with Powerlessness

In order to progress to steps two through twelve, you must embrace step one. You will be unable to go further in your recovery if you cannot recognize that you and alcohol do not mix. When alcoholism or alcohol use disorder begins to take control of a family, usually one of the first things to go is honesty. The person with the problem often lies about how much they drink and those around them may begin to cover for them as the problem progresses.

Step 1 of AA acknowledges the need for members to hit rock bottom to understand alcohol addiction’s destructive nature. According to Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1981), “Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built” (p. 21). The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Big Book states that “we were powerless over our drug problem” as its first tenet. Like AA members, NA members believe they cannot control drugs without the help of a higher power. With addiction, there are a lot of emotions that come with the territory. From feelings of guilt and embarrassment to powerlessness and helplessness, it can be hard to determine which one is actually the most accurate representation of how we feel.

Examples of Powerlessness In Sobriety List

Powerlessness means that you are thoroughly convinced that if you put alcohol in your body, disaster will follow. Powerlessness means that you are not confused in any way that for you, alcohol is poison. You might be avoiding taking the first step toward recovery due to myths and misunderstandings surrounding AA and its steps. Here are some of the most common myths debunked or explained. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

• Once you realize that addiction is a disease, you can start to see yourself as someone who is sick, rather than someone who is weak or morally flawed.
• While admitting powerlessness over a substance may seem at odds with efforts to hold addicts responsible for their behaviors, the opposite is true.

If you’re struggling with alcohol use—whether or not you’re in AA—it is up to you to choose how you describe your situation. Ultimately, the important thing is that you are working toward self-improvement and recovery. In this article, we’ll explain the language in greater detail and in simpler terms. And with the help of well-known recovery author Jeff Jay, we’ll also figure out how to actually work the Step and what it’s trying to teach us.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

The concept behind the references to God or a higher power in the 12-step program is to support addicts in the understanding that they need to find a source of strength that’s greater than themselves alone. This could mean God, a general belief system or the recovery community itself. The founders of AA understood that for alcoholics to truly take ownership of their recovery, they needed to accept that their life had become unmanageable due to their addiction. Excessive alcohol use not only leads to more than 140,000 deaths nationally each year but can also cause lives to spin out of control.

• In this article, we’ll explain the language in greater detail and in simpler terms.
• A crucial part of completing AA Step one revolves around admitting powerlessness.
• It’s not easy to admit our inability resist alcohol or internal humiliation, but you’re not alone.
• The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Big Book states that “we were powerless over our drug problem” as its first tenet.
• You must first admit powerless over alcohol and be honest with yourself about the situation.

The most effective way to stay sober is by using the tools of recovery. This includes attending meetings regularly, getting counseling, practicing mindfulness, and staying connected with others who share similar struggles. You’re not alone—almost everyone has a hard time with Step 1 when they first get sober. The phrasing can be confusing or dated, and when people first encounter Step 1, they’re likely to pause at the idea of being powerless while others scratch their heads at “life has become unmanageable.” Cravings can become very strong for a person who has an addiction to alcohol.

Step 1 of AA: Admitting You’re Powerless Over Alcohol

You may view alcoholism as a weakness of your character or will, but this view may hinder your ability to accept you have an alcohol use disorder. Your alcohol addiction is a physical compulsion beyond your control—a progressive illness that defies common sense. There’s not a simple pill you can take to cure this disease. Instead, the treatment available focuses on helping you manage your condition, so you can achieve sobriety and resist relapse to alcohol abuse. Addiction treatment centers often talk about “powerless” as a way to describe the feeling of being unable to control one’s life. This is different from the inability to manage one’s life, which is what most people think of when they hear the word unmanageable.

When you admit that you are powerless to addiction, you are empowered to reach out for support. By admitting that your life has become unmanageable, you open yourself up to letting go of control and gain acceptance of yourself. If you are struggling with addiction, reach out to a friend, family member, therapist, treatment center, or other support system. These people and professionals can offer you the hope and encouragement you need to keep going. They can also provide practical assistance, such as helping you find resources or providing transportation to treatment. Remember, you are not alone in this battle – there are people who want to help you succeed.

When we feel powerless, we may feel hopeless, helpless, and stuck. We may lose motivation and interest in things we once enjoyed. Our hope is merely to capture the spirit of the fellowships, and to approach people with the language they commonly use to describe the disease of addiction. At The Kimberly Center, we know that acknowledging powerlessness isn’t easy, but we want to help simplify the recovery process.