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The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Big Book says “powerless over alcohol” as its first principle. AA members believe they cannot control their drinking without the help of a higher power. This belief is what gives them hope and helps them stay sober.

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. A crucial part of completing AA Step one revolves around admitting powerlessness.

Stories to Help You Live Better

Mary goes above and beyond to exceed expectations and is dedicated to outstanding service. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, and family time. Being a person in long term recovery, Erin wanted to give back and help those struggling with the disease of addiction. Erin decided to switch careers and went back to school to obtain her Addiction Counseling certification. In addition, to being a certified Addictions Counselor, Erin is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), and a Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS).

• Throughout that process, he learned the importance of helping others and living by spiritual principles.
• To do the next few steps and place your trust in a Higher Power, you must admit that your life is unmanageable because of you.
• That means that we suffer from a perception problem.
• You can no more overcome your addiction all by sheer force of will than others can treat their cancer or diabetes without the help of medical professionals.
• The main criterion for a successful First Step is a person’s acceptance that they do, indeed, have the disease of addiction.

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. How many times have we had these kinds of thoughts and believed them? Because we are unable to produce these desired effects. Let’s face it when we control it, we’re not enjoying it, and when we’re enjoying it, we’re not controlling it.

Recovery Coaching

Himself, an alumni of The Freedom Center, Michael brings a personal experience of the program to his role. A resident of Gaithersburg, Michael has planted roots and established a network in the local recovery community. Michael’s goal is to connect current client and alumni with resources to strengthen their life in recovery. After graduating high school, he attended college at the University of Coastal Carolina & Salisbury University.

She has been clinical director and CEO of a 200 plus bed facility, PHP, and IOP, with experience managing a team of counselors, individual/group/and family therapy, and coordinating continuum of care. Cristal is trained in EMDR and certified in non-violent intervention. She is a member of American Counseling Association and American Association of Christian Counselors. The impact of drugs and alcohol on your body over time renders your natural brain functions and mechanisms powerless. To acknowledge the way these substances have impacted your life is to admit that alcohol and drugs have made your life unmanageable and you can’t fix it on your own. Addiction is not a character flaw, but a disease that alters brain chemicals.

Why is admitting powerlessness the first of the Twelve Steps?

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. Admitting our powerlessness may be very difficult for us.

Once you understand these important concepts, you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do to complete this vital step. According to Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1981), “Few indeed were those who, so assailed, had ever won through in singlehanded combat. It was a statistical fact that alcoholics rarely recovered on their own resources” (p. 22). 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.

Most recovering addicts, especially those who attend the 12-step program, are pretty familiar with the concept of powerlessness. After all, helplessness isn’t a concept that solely applies to addiction, although it might be the first step to recovery and sobriety. Addiction treatment centers discuss the https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/you-are-not-powerless-over-alcohol-and-heres-why/ concept of powerlessness in therapy to help people recover. Alexandra oversees all operations with The Freedom Center to ensure clients are given the best chance at success. She works with The Freedom Center team to develop and implement policies, procedures and oversees Intakes and Transportation.

After the event, four women approached me with stories of their own; each with varying degrees of struggle, recovery, and hope. Take a look at our state of the art treatment center. Step one is fundamentally about honesty, while active addiction is characterized by lies you tell to 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. After all, the early days of sobriety can be very difficult. Having something greater than you to rely on can make it easier.

It’s the foundation on which the entire program is built, and it marks the beginning of your journey on the road to a better life. When we feel powerless, we may feel hopeless, helpless, and stuck. We may lose motivation and interest in things we once enjoyed.

But I am powerless over drugs and alcohol when I put them in my body. Erin has a master’s degree in management from University of Maryland, University College, and a bachelor’s degree in special education from Townson University. Prior to entering the substance abuse and mental health field, Erin was a Special Education Teacher for 10 years. As a part of treatment at MARR, our clients complete a First Step Inventory, which includes examples of powerlessness and unmanageability from various areas of life. This assignment starts to create awareness of how this disease damages one’s life.