Acceptance includes taking responsibility for our actions and accepting that we cannot change what has happened in the past. It’s not easy to admit this, but if we don’t accept that we are powerless, then we won’t be able to move forward. Recovery is a journey that can seem intimidating if you’re just beginning, but in AA, you just have to take it one step at a time. Asking for help seems like such a simple concept, but admitting powerlessness is a humbling, courageous act. In recovery, we learn that it takes far more strength to surrender and admit powerlessness than it does to try to control addiction by ourselves.

• It wasn’t until I had a full understanding of this word that my spiritual journey really was able to begin.
• Many have said that taking that first step is one of the most difficult things to do.
• 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).
• Step 1 of AA references the need for members to hit rock bottom before genuinely understanding their addiction.
• She is committed to living out the 12-step philosophy and sharing the message of hope to those still suffering in addiction—and to those in recovery as well.
• It’s your responsibility to stay engaged in your recovery and work with your sponsor.

It’s your responsibility to be open and willing to treatment and growth. And if you end up drinking or using once sober, you have to take responsibility for that too. You can’t blame it on powerlessness–that is, the complete inability to control your actions. In essence, in Step One AA you’re making a conscious choice to stop lying to yourself. You accept that you can’t continue drinking alcohol or using drugs and that you have absolutely no control when you’re using. Recognizing your powerlessness over alcohol isn’t a sign of weakness but rather an acknowledgment of the addiction’s strength.

Alcoholism is not even about alcohol

Getting help from others at a treatment facility and in peer recovery groups can benefit your sobriety. The AA first step, admitting powerlessness and acknowledging the unmanageability your addiction brings, is a crucial leap toward lasting recovery. It’s a moment of profound self-realization and humility, opening the door to hope, healing and transformation. Remember, the 1st step AA is not the end but the beginning of a brighter future. If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug addiction, please contact us now at FHE Health for compassionate help and support. While admitting powerlessness over a substance may seem at odds with efforts to hold addicts responsible for their behaviors, the opposite is true.

Write down in detail 3 different examples of how your life during your time of acting out has become unmanageable. If there were only a workbook to help you figure out how to deal with the unmanageability in your life, then everything would be ok, right? This miraculous guide could give you ways to get your life back in order. If you justify your use of your addiction, you may be powerless over it.

Are You Powerless Over Your Addiction? Here’s How to Know

Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Members of Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon Family Groups present some great insight into the healing principles of the 12 steps. Many have said that taking that first step is one of the most difficult things to do. This cycle of lies and keeping secrets can go on for years, and that in itself can create an atmosphere that actually causes the situation to deteriorate faster. Join Recovery Connection in celebrating your recovery with our sobriety calculator. I frequently remarked when life got tough, “This is why I drink.”

Step 1 of AA requires a great deal of strength and courage as you accept that alcohol has taken over your life. Alcohol was not my saving grace that brought me peace and serenity – it was the enemy! Everything that brought grief or loss to my life was directly related to my alcohol and drug use.

Questions to Ask Yourself in 1st Step AA

This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Step 1 of AA acknowledges the need for members to hit rock bottom to understand alcohol addiction’s destructive nature. Has a love for the 12 steps, as working through them several times has helped her steer clear of addictions and grow personally and spiritually.

Dominica has attended both Alcoholics Anonymous and Codependents Anonymous meetings over the years and appreciates the support she’s received. She’s got a deep-rooted passion for helping others heal emotional pain and trauma, as her own journey through love addiction has served as a catalyst for her own healing and transformation. I ditch the victim https://trading-market.org/nutrition-guide-for-addiction-recovery/ mentality, take a step back, and take responsibility for my life and my emotions. But the terminal stages of addiction will strip everything away, and an addicted person who refuses to recover will often be left with nothing. Reach out to us here at Renascent to lend a helping hand or for more information about our programs and services.

How Can I Get Help With the First Step of Alcoholics Anonymous?

You must first admit powerless over alcohol and be honest with yourself about the situation. 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. Only after admitting you are powerless can you begin to make changes in yourself. From step one, you can continue to the rest of the 12 steps and 12 traditions. “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.”

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 Learn What Spiritual Malady Is And The Role It Plays In Your Recovery who is just starting out, but solutions exist. 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.