The program of the 12 steps is to gain access to that power which I call God. The first step down this path is to fully concede that I am an alcoholic. The Big Book suggests both morning and evening practices for Step 11. In the morning, we can begin the day with quiet reflection, asking for guidance and strength to stay on the path of recovery. In the evening, a review of the day with gratitude and accountability helps us stay spiritually fit.
- Powerlessness doesn’t mean we are incapable in every area of life; it means we cannot control our alcohol use disorder or addictive behaviors on our own.
- It allows individuals to set their own goals, such as cutting back gradually, drinking more mindfully, or quitting altogether.
- We don’t have the power over the obsession to drink, nor do we have the power to control how much we drink once we start.
- When individuals struggling with addiction admit they are powerless, they also start to recognize the areas in their lives where surrender can bring peace.
- To recover we have to learn to keep the focus on ourselves.
Defining Powerlessness in Alcoholics Anonymous
Some may see changes within a few weeks, while others might take several months. The important part is focusing on progress, not perfection. For some people, this approach can also help reduce cravings even if they don’t want to reduce their drinking right away. The flexibility of this method allows each person to set their own goals—whether that means drinking less, quitting entirely, or simply gaining more control over their drinking habits.
Speak With Someone Who Understands
Not understanding that alcoholism is a disease, many of us have tried to take things into our own hands. We may have poured out liquor, made excuses, nagged, pleaded, protected or punished the drinkers in our lives. We may have hidden our feelings, isolated and avoided contact with the alcoholic, thinking our problems would go away. We may have taken over the alcoholic’s unfinished projects, answered phone calls or covered his or her mistakes. amphetamine addiction treatment No matter what we did, our lives did not improve and the alcoholic did not change. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains that we suffer from a mental obsession that drives us to take the first drink or drug, despite the pain it brings.
What AA Means By “Powerless”
This is the pivotal moment where we stop fighting, stop trying to manage everything on our own, and trust that a power greater than us can guide our recovery. It’s a decision to let go of self-will and begin living by spiritual principles that lead to freedom. Today, I’m the founder of Thrive Alcohol Recovery, where we help others transform their relationship with alcohol using the same approach that helped me. My journey has shown me that there are many paths to freedom from alcohol, and not all of them involve traditional recovery programs. TSM is part of a broader harm reduction approach to alcohol use. It involved taking naltrexone before drinking, which blocks the ‘feel-good’ chemicals released when consuming alcohol.
Getting Started
However, she’d previously told me that she had a heart attack in her twenties as a direct result of using drugs. When I pointed that out, she had an aha moment, and instantly saw the unmanageability of using. When we admit we are powerless over addiction, we can get help, get well, and take our power back. The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Big Book states that “we were powerless over our drug problem” as its first tenet.
Whether we admitted it or not, everybody and everything else assumed secondary importance. The structured approach outlined in the Big Book takes us through a series of spiritual actions that have helped millions recover. The process of taking a personal inventory, making amends, and continuing daily self-reflection allows such people who once felt hopeless to experience freedom and purpose. Step 11 invites us to deepen our spiritual connection through regular prayer and meditation. This step isn’t about rigid rituals but about intentionally seeking guidance and clarity from God as we understand Him. It helps us stay grounded in recovery by keeping our focus on spiritual growth and staying connected to the principles that have freed us from addiction.
Admitting powerlessness is not about weakness—it’s about recognizing the truth so we can finally stop fighting and start healing. We’ve had good reasons to quit for good, and we continued drinking or using drugs anyway. This understanding of the word obsession explains why we keep going back to pick up the first drink or drug. It makes https://ecosoberhouse.com/ so much sense when we look back at our behaviors—the threat of relationships ending, poor health, work-life, bad decisions, legal trouble, etc. We’re powerless when our mind is obsessing, so it’s nearly impossible to make the right decision.
In Al-Anon, we come to understand that our lives may be unmanageable because we are trying to control the people and situations in our lives. It can be hard to conceive that our well-meaning efforts have been part of the problem, but by the time we reach Al-Anon, we are finally ready to try something – anything – new. We have to admit that examples of powerlessness over alcohol nothing we do or don’t do can control another person’s drinking.
Why Logic Fails in Substance Abuse Recovery
So, it’s possible to be a high-functioning addict or alcoholic. If we black out and vow never to drink again and then drink the next night, that’s a sign of unmanageability. If we are controlling how and when we drink or use drugs, that, too, is a sign of unmanageability. Step one also talks about the unmanageability of our lives. Drugs and alcohol make our lives unmanageable in many ways.
How to Stay Honest About Substance Abuse
It is true that while one is actively high, or drunk, if addicted, one cannot refrain from having another drink, or dose. One’s brain is malfunctioning in the same way that one’s other systems do when infused with arsenic. No one has control over this, once the body has become dependent. Step 12 – 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. You’re not alone—almost everyone has a hard time with Step 1 when they first get sober.