It can be helpful to think of ‘my power’ or ‘human-power’ as consisting of two things (i) Knowledge (of what to do), and (ii) Ability (to do it). When it came to alcohol, I was always missing one or both the components of ‘my power’. Catastrophic results of excessive drinking made it plain as day I should drink less. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. The original version of the Twelve Steps and The Big Book makes numerous references to God, and this is largely because the steps were based on the six principles of The Oxford Group, a religious movement.
They may feel like they have little choice but to continue using drugs or alcohol because they lack alternatives. Many people can become easily hung up on this first step in treatment, never truly diving into what it means, or how it relates to their story. For others, especially those who may have been victimized in the past, the weight of powerlessness feels impossible to bear, especially when they’ve built our lives on never feeling that way again.
Few people intend to destroy their lives and relationships by drinking or doing drugs, but that is what can happen with addiction. These substances literally rewire brain function, making the need to satisfy a craving take prominence over everything else in life–regardless of the consequences. While admitting powerlessness over a substance may seem at odds with efforts to hold addicts responsible for their behaviors, the opposite is true. By accepting that you’re powerless over alcohol, drugs or addictive behavior, you’ve come to terms with your personal limitations. Whatever the reason, admitting powerlessness is to say that practicing self-control does not undo the effects of drugs or alcohol on the brain.
Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting recovery. Most examples of powerlessness in sobriety have to do with admitting that you cannot change your behaviors on your own. Getting help from others at a treatment i am powerless over alcohol facility and in peer recovery groups can benefit your sobriety. The accountability and encouragement in meetings and therapy break the power of secrecy where addiction thrives.
This kind of thinking prevents us from looking at our powerlessness. Accepting our powerlessness opens us up to the willingness for a Higher Power’s help. We let this Power remove the problem by practicing the rest of the steps as a way of life. Until we can accept powerlessness, we will not fully seek Power. Accepting our powerlessness (complete defeat) is the bottom that an alcoholic and addict must hit.
In the long term, maintaining abstinence from alcohol and drugs requires a lot of effort. The most effective way to stay sober is by using the tools of recovery. This includes attending meetings regularly, getting counseling, practicing mindfulness, and staying connected with others who share similar struggles. When we admit that we are powerless over alcohol or drugs, we admit that we are living with a disease that alters the chemical makeup of the brain. Someone suffering from this disease did not make a choice to go too far and lose control, and they are not inherently lacking in values or good character. We’ve had good reasons to quit for good, and we continued drinking or using drugs anyway.
To admit powerlessness over alcohol (or drugs) means accepting the fact that you’ve lost control over your substance use. You accept that your life, either internally, externally or both, has been impacted by maintaining the use of a substance and this addiction has negatively influenced your thoughts and actions. Because the journey to sobriety is full of forward steps and backward ones, it may be necessary for some people to return to this step multiple times. The path to recovery is rarely a straight line, but a series of twists and turns.
When we feel powerless, we may feel hopeless, helpless, and stuck. We may lose motivation and interest in things we once enjoyed. We may start to believe that things will never get better. Instead of railing against powerlessness or relying on unhealthy ways of getting our needs met, we can simply share our struggles and ask for help in getting our needs met. Serenity, to accept the things I cannot change (other people).Courage, to change the things that I can (myself).Wisdom, to know the difference. (This is a matter of awareness and acceptance not a lack of ability to make this distinction).
However, some problems can escalate beyond our control. Admitting to being powerless over alcohol will help a person to recognize that he or she does not have control over their drinking. Denying there is a problem only allows the person to continue their destructive behavior. Providing these examples of powerlessness over alcohol can help an individual to start recovery.
To learn more, visit our rehab admissions page today. When you admit that you are powerless to addiction, you are empowered to reach out for support. By admitting that your life has become unmanageable, you open yourself up to letting go of control and gain acceptance of yourself. In this context, it means that someone feels like they don’t have any control over their life.
If your life is broken, you need a crutch, but first you have to admit that your life is broken. MARR Addiction Treatment Centers specialize in treating individuals whose lives have been destroyed by addiction. Relying on 48 years of experience in the treatment industry, MARR identifies each individual’s underlying issues and uses clinically proven techniques to treat them. The Serenity Prayer is a central mantra of many recovery communities. It demonstrates the paradox of powerlessness and the role of surrender. Be of service by sharing your experience, strength and hope with fellow alcoholics, new and old, around the world.
Acknowledging that, for many, feelings of ambivalence are a part of the process. That anyone approaching the need to change can benefit from the 12 steps regardless of the stage of acceptance that they are in. A person no longer must hit “rock bottom” to be able to engage in recovery.
The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Big Book states that “we were powerless over our drug problem” as its first tenet. Like AA members, NA members believe they cannot control drugs without the help of a higher power. However, admitting you are powerless when it comes to overcoming your addiction does not mean you have lost your innate power in all things.
When a person admits that alcohol is affecting his or her life, they can start recovery. The first step is about powerlessness over behavior that makes the individual’s life unmanageable. Powerlessness is often mistaken for weakness, but this is actually a step of strength. 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.
Rather, it meant that you’ve exhausted the options immediately available to you, and are in need of some new strategies. Untreated alcohol abuse remains a significant public health crisis in the United States, leading to devastating consequences for individuals and communities. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, an alarming 140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol annually, underscoring the lethal impact of this condition.
