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

Powerlessness is a feeling that comes from not having control over something important in our lives. We can feel powerless over our addiction, our mental health, our relationships, or our finances. Powerlessness is a normal and human response to stress, but it can also be a sign of depression or anxiety. AA is a recovery program for multiracial men and women who are suffering from an alcohol use disorder.

powerless over alcohol examples

Dr. Alam is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has won several awards and has been featured extensively on radio and television. If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at

What Does it Mean to Say You’re Powerless Over Drugs and Alcohol?

While admitting powerlessness over a substance may seem at odds with efforts to hold addicts responsible for their behaviors, the opposite is true. By accepting that you’re powerless over alcohol, drugs or addictive behavior, https://g-markets.net/sober-living/20-natural-alcohol-detox-supplements-and-vitamins/ you’ve come to terms with your personal limitations. Step One in the 12 step program of AA (which is also used, in modified form, for almost all other 12-step fellowships and programs) is actually a two-part step.

  • Whether or not you have a problem with alcohol, how often have you heard the phrase “honesty is the best policy”?
  • The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Big Book states that “we were powerless over our drug problem” as its first tenet.
  • It’s your responsibility to be open and willing to treatment and growth.
  • 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.

Powerlessness means that you are not confused in any way that for you, alcohol is poison. If you justify your use of your addiction, you may be powerless over it. The problem is alcohol can kill you quickly in the event of an overdose or slowly in the form of liver disease. Medications are closely monitored to make MASH Certified Sober House Transitional Living sure they’re not causing potentially lethal problems. I used to argue–especially when hospitalized–that taking a drink to calm down was no different than taking pills to calm down, much to the staff’s annoyance (Alcoholism and Mental Illness). “Alcohol has been around since before the time of Christ,” I’d argue.

responses to “Signs That Your Life Has Become Unmanageable Due To Alcoholism and Addiction”

If you must have the addiction to feel normal, beware, you may be powerless over your addiction. Step 1 is the first important step in recovery for many people because when you acknowledge that your alcohol use is no longer completely in your control, you can seek help. By taking this step, you acknowledge that your alcohol use has come to a point where you cannot control it. Letting go of the past, accepting your present and opening yourself up to a new way of living isn’t an easy thing to do, especially in the beginning. The 12-step road to recovery can appear pretty intimidating to someone who is just starting out, but solutions exist.

Through companionship, mutual respect, and shared experiences, AA members come together to maintain abstinence from alcohol and build sober lives. If you’re passionate about putting a halt to your alcohol consumption, AA membership is available to you. AA support groups are accessible and free, without any age or education requirements. Some people believe AA is intricately tied to religion by seeking a “higher power.” Rather, AA members are encouraged to understand they’re powerless in changing their addictive behavior.

Subscribe to TGIF, Our Recovery Newsletter

Step One AA is fundamentally about honesty, while active addiction is characterized by lies you tell yourself and everyone around you. Until you reach the point where you choose to get real, stop lying and accept that you need help, any efforts you make to deal with your addiction simply won’t be genuine or effective. Powerlessness means that you are thoroughly convinced that if you put alcohol in your body, disaster will follow.

powerless over alcohol examples

Hopefully, you recognize if you are powerless over your addiction before it hits this point–but in my case, it took this, and even then my recognizing powerlessness over alcohol came and went. If your substance use has ever put you in the hospital, you have a problem. Step 1 of Alcoholics Anonymous is often one of the most difficult for people. Whether you are attempting to get sober for the first time or you are returning to sobriety after a relapse, it can be hard to admit that you are unable to stop drinking on your own. So if you tell your sponsor or other safe person that you drank as soon as you can after sobering up, it can be a way of admitting you are powerless over alcohol.

Addiction Treatment Programs

Remember, you are not alone in this battle – there are people who want to help you succeed. There are many ways to overcome powerlessness over addiction. 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.

Main Menu