Understanding Why Alcoholics Must Accept Their Powerlessness in AA

My name is Ashlyn Jacob and I’m a licensed master’s social worker. 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 https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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 .

• When a person realizes they are powerless over alcohol, they have taken the first step to live a healthy, sober life.
• Even if someone realizes or admits they have a problem they might still be unwilling to make the necessary changes.
• Despite your best intentions, you’ve lost the ability to limit your intake of alcohol or drugs or stop the behavior.

If you can grasp this knowledge, you will become a recovering, strong person. Recovery is about accepting that alcohol does not add to your life. 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.

Family Nurse Practioner

The good news is that my admission of powerlessness was the springboard to my recovery. Yes, Step 1 was tough for me at first because I did not want to think that my addiction, attitude, and actions caused my life to become unmanageable. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

• As addiction begins to overtake your life, you lie to yourself about what is happening.
• Deirdre has extensive experience in mental health and treating substance use disorder related issues.
• Your sobriety will remain unpredictable, and you won’t find any enduring strength until you can admit defeat.
• For that reason, addressing your misguided thoughts is crucial.

Through her relentless pursuit of excellence, Sydney empowers individuals on their journey towards recovery, offering hope and healing to those in need. 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. He tailors treatment plans to meet individual needs, fostering healing and growth. Outside of work, he finds solace in outdoor activities like hiking and woodworking. With his expertise, experience, and passion for helping others, David is an asset to the Freedom Center, empowering individuals on his recovery journey.

Myths and Misunderstandings About AA Step 1

Dealing with a loved one struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can be a complex and emotional journey. Boundaries are the personal limits and guidelines you establish to protect yourself emotionally, physically, and mentally in these challenging situations. Suboxone is a valuable medication in the field of addiction treatment, providing hope to those suffering from opioid… I’ll just have one or maybe two; I can drink just one more day then stop, I’ll just smoke marijuana that’s not that bad, or I’ll only drink on the weekends, etc.

It can only be accessed by a button in our secure log that auto generates a password and dumps that password after the staff member has logged in. We have taken extreme measures to ensure that our own user is not going to be misused to harm any of our clients sites. Even if you don’t believe in God, you can still undergo the AA first step. In fact, Step One AA is an essential part of your recovery. The original version of the Twelve Steps and The Big Book makes numerous references to God, and this is largely because AA’s founders were Christians. The original references to God were quickly challenged in the early days of AA, and Bill W.

The paradox of powerlessness

When a person admits that alcohol is affecting his or her life, they can start recovery. The first step is about powerlessness over behavior that makes the individual’s life unmanageable. Whether you are attempting to get sober for the first time or you are returning to sobriety after a relapse, it can be scary or embarrassing to admit that you are unable to stop drinking on your own. Before speaking, the participant is required to state his or her first name and say that he or she is an alcoholic.

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.

At that point, you may discover it’s easy to move on to Step 2 of AA—and all the ones that follow. In addition to the title of Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Kevin is also licensed by the state of Maryland as a Clinical Drug and Alcohol Counselor. He holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and has over 26 years of experience as a substance use/mental health counselor powerless over alcohol with the Montgomery County Government. Whether he’s leading groups or providing individual and family therapy, Kevin’s passion for serving those suffering from substance use disorders is always on display. When he’s not busy treating The Freedom Center’s clientele, you might find Kevin engaged in his other passion as an actor/director in the local theater community.

After all, when one family member struggles with alcohol abuse, family relations become characterized by dishonesty. Your inability to assert power over alcohol forces you to lie about your use of alcohol and even your whereabouts. This can lead to a cycle of lies, both for you and for the family members who attempt to understand or excuse your behavior.

The Power in the First Step: Accepting Powerlessness

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.