Understanding Why Alcoholics Must Accept Their Powerlessness in AA

Internal factors include being unable to manage emotions, feelings, and thought. Internal factors often contribute to external factors such as relying on excuses, exhibiting inappropriate behaviors, and projecting emotions onto others. The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, or DMS, lists Alcohol Use Disorders in the manual and includes 11 criteria. Only 2 of the 11 criteria have to be met to be diagnosed with the disorder.

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

The main criterion for a successful First Step is a person’s acceptance that they do, indeed, have the disease of addiction. A person shouldn’t consider themselves weak-willed or incapable when they admit to their powerlessness, and they don’t have to do anything about their addiction yet. Step One is just asking a person to acknowledge that they have the disease of addiction, and life is harder because of it. The concept behind the references to God or a higher power in the 12-step program is to support addicts in the understanding that they need to find a source of strength that’s greater than themselves alone.

Manageability: The Line Between Alcohol Use & Addiction

Calls to the general helpline will be answered by a paid advertiser of one of our treatment partners. I take heart in William James’ words, “Faith is a bet you can’t lose.” If I choose to believe that things I’m powerless over can work out without me, then I have more peace. I worry less and cease searching for ways to not be powerless.

Understanding Why Alcoholics Must Accept Their Powerlessness in AA

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. Further, by accepting that there are things that we cannot control, including our drug use, we open ourselves up to receiving the help of others. Coming to this understanding will make you much more receptive to looking to sources outside yourself for recovery, such as your sponsor, your fellow group members, or your Higher Power.

Breaking Down Step One of AA Alcoholics Anonymous

She has over 25 years of experience, working in an inpatient setting, an outpatient setting, acute stabilization and nearly all other settings in the realm of addiction recovery. 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.

You may have noticed your life in chaos—maybe you’ve lost your home, your job, your family, your possessions, or your self-respect. You may have seen the inside of hospital rooms or jail cells. Regardless of how you got to this point, Step 1 of AA is merely realizing that your alcohol abuse disorder was interfering negatively with your life, and you need to change. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

• You may be powerless over addiction, but you aren’t powerless, period.
• Here are some of the most common myths debunked or explained.

All of which makes you more receptive to learning and healing, which in turn makes it much easier to follow through with the remaining twelve steps of AA. Lot’s of people find that once they do Step One, that all manner of help appears! Having a firm foundation in recovery through steps has also given me a welcoming fellowship to accompany me in my journey. AA meetings are helpful for many individuals in recovery from alcohol addiction. These meetings may even be part of the programming at inpatient rehab or outpatient programs you attend.

• Susan is no stranger to the fields of behavioral health and addiction.
• She holds certifications in addiction and co-occurring disorder counseling and a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies, having graduated summa cum laude.
• Then, you’re ready to believe you can manage your AUD with help from outside sources.
• Our fears of rejection and/or disappointment prevent us from asking friends, family, and folks in recovery.
• 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.

Understanding “Powerlessness” and Why Acceptance Liberates You

Consequently, admitting powerlessness is what provides you with strength. This may feel counterintuitive, but if you are absolutely convinced you cannot drink, then nothing can make you return to it. AA is a recovery program for multiracial men and women who are suffering from powerlessness in aa an alcohol use disorder. 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.

• The book may also be sold by Intergroup/Central Offices or recovery book stores at List Price  or slightly higher.
• Then, you’ll be ready to move through the remaining 10 steps, until you reach a point where your AUD is manageable.
• The philosophy behind this thinking is that your judgment was flawed enough to get yourself into this situation, it’s too flawed to get yourself out of it.
• When reading this sentence, you may think to yourself, what does “unmanageable” mean?

Yet, once you get sober you commit the most insane act from a state of mind called “sobriety” by picking up the drink again. Admitting powerlessness over alcohol is the cornerstone of your recovery. Are you ready to achieve liberation and strength over your destructive drinking habits? If so, you must admit defeat, become powerless, and embrace Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) guiding principles, starting with Step 1 of AA.

And when you start living a sober life, then you can gradually gain your power back as your power comes from sobriety. This is a common question asked by people who are new in their recovery journey. There is often confusion about whether being powerless is a positive or a negative thing. In this article, we will discuss what the term “powerless” means in AA. If you or your loved one’s life has become unmanageable, get help from a local AA meeting or treatment center today. Alcohol use is extremely common in societies across the globe, and not everyone who drinks alcohol develops an alcohol addiction.