Are you Powerless Over Alcohol?

If you have examined your history and discovered the “can’t use, can’t quit” pattern. Alcoholics Anonymous, or more casually known as A.A., is built upon a simple set of 12 steps in order to achieve daily sobriety. If you justify your use of your addiction, you may be powerless over it. 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.

• Whether or not you have a problem with alcohol, how often have you heard the phrase “honesty is the best policy”?
• This can lead to a cycle of lies, both for you and for the family members who attempt to understand or excuse your behavior.
• Ask yourself whether you can control your use of addictive substances.
• Going to the hospital was what finally got my attention–I ended up in the dual diagnosis unit of a state hospital in Richmond, Indiana.

It also made me realize that I’m not a bad person or a weak person. I finally understood what an alcoholic and addict really is. I saw that I was worse than I knew, but understanding powerless over alcohol the problem helped me accept the solution. Today with the understanding of powerless, our number one priority is our relationship with our creator and how we can best serve.

Are you Powerless Over Alcohol?

“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol” is, of course, Step One of Alcoholics Anonymous. 12-step programs have been statistically shown to have a 5-10% success rate. Step One isn’t the only reason for this, but it is clearly a part of the problem. If you are living with a loved one’s drinking, it can be difficult to admit you are powerless and unable to keep cleaning up the mess and being the responsible one. You may continue to make things work and, therefore, be part of the sickness.

• You might not be ready the first time you decide to attend a meeting.
• These concepts are excerpts taken from my book, 10th Anniversary Edition If You Loved Me, You’d Stop!.
• In fact, Step One AA is an essential part of your recovery.
• Some AA meetings give all participants a chance to speak.

Thus, as long as the alcoholic drinks ANY amount of alcohol, their brains have no other choice than to continue those brain maps and thus the insanity in their lives. They are powerless to control what their brains do if they drink. HOWEVER, if the alcoholic STOPS drinking alcohol, they can do what they need to do to remap their brains. This is the process known as recovery and involves getting and following treatment for their disease of addiction. Most 12-step programs start with admitting powerlessness.

What Does It Mean to Be Powerless?

Remember, recovery is not being weak or less of a person. Recovery is about accepting that alcohol does not add to your life. If you struggle with a substance use disorder, please contact Celebrate Hope to learn more about our faith-based addiction treatment program. Our team helps men and women break the cycle of addiction and begin anew. We rely on the teachings of Jesus Christ, along with evidence-based therapies to get individuals on the path of recovery.

I don’t think you have to be terrified of using again to be able to admit that you’re powerless or that your life is unmanageable. Once you’ve truly grasped this information, you will change. Remember, it starts with accepting that alcohol doesn’t add to your life anymore, it just takes everything away. It means that every time you start drinking you ultimately lose control and disaster follows.

Christian Drug Treatment and Rehab Blog

Having faced addiction in his own life, and having worked through recovery, James truly understands what it takes to get sober and stay sober. James now has the opportunity to do what he loves and help others achieve long-term recovery. James works alongside the clinical director and administrative team to help ensure that every client benefits from a customized treatment plan and holistic approach that offers freedom from the grips of addiction. The first step of AA says, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable.” Admitting powerlessness over alcohol is the foundation of your recovery. If you still believe that you have some sort of control over your drinking, you will drink again. Once you relinquish control, you are well on your way to mastering step one.

Prior to step one, your life is not compatible with sobriety. No longer can you try harder using the wrong method to get the right result. Admitting powerlessness is simply the acknowledgment that a method change is demanded.

So What Is the First Step Asking For?

Call (844) 234-LIVE today for information on our partial care programs. 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. Ambrosia was founded in 2007 with a mission to provide truly individualized substance abuse treatment to every person who enters one of our programs. Our mission is to provide the most cost-effective, accessible treatment for substance use disorder to as many patients as possible. We are committed to an integrated quality of care that is comprehensive, person-centered, and recovery-focused.

If they cannot stop, how are they able to tell themselves they are in control? Even with the greatest amount of willpower and the sincerest desire to stop using, being powerless means they have no choice, they cannot stop using on their own, without appropriate help. I think we should take this at face value—they have a problem with step 2.

This step is not saying you are powerless over your actions, decisions, or relationships with others; only over your addiction to alcohol or drugs. It is not an excuse to continue in a destructive cycle because there’s nothing you can do about it. Step One AA acknowledges that not only are you powerless over alcohol, but your life has also become unmanageable as a result. This unmanageability often manifests in various ways, such as deteriorating relationships, declining physical and mental health and a growing sense of despair. Recognizing this unmanageability is crucial because it propels individuals toward seeking help and making lasting changes. Recognizing your powerlessness over alcohol isn’t a sign of weakness but rather an acknowledgment of the addiction’s strength.