The mental obsession of addiction is what keeps us trapped, even when we’re not actively drinking or using drugs. It’s an all-consuming fixation that overrides logic, consequences, and even our deepest desires to stop. In substance abuse recovery, we learn that addiction is not just a physical issue but a relentless mental battle. This obsession convinces us that we can control our drinking or using, despite countless failures and consequences.

Step One might seem daunting, but it’s also the step where hope begins to emerge. By honestly confronting your powerlessness and the unmanageability that addiction has brought into your life, you’re taking a courageous step toward a brighter future. Recovery is a journey of transformation, and each step you take brings you closer to a life free from the shackles of addiction. Read on to learn more about the concept of powerlessness, what it really means, and why it’s so critical in the recovery journey.

Clinical Supervisor – Primary Therapist

Mark joined the medical team at The Freedom Center in September 2018 as the Medical Director. He received his medical degree in Mexico with further A Guide To Sober House Rules: What You Need To Know certification from Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey. He then attended New York Medical College for his residency training. Admitting you have a problem is always said to be the first step of recovery. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are heading in the direction of recovery or sobriety.

Reclaim Your Life. You Don’t Have to Stay Powerless Over Alcohol.

Whether he’s leading groups or providing individual and family therapy, Kevin’s passion for serving those suffering from substance use disorders is always on display. When he’s not busy treating The Freedom Center’s clientele, you might find Kevin engaged in his other passion as an actor/director in the local theater community. Kevin’s expertise and experience as a Primary Therapist, paired with his natural talents and abilities as a speaker and an artist, have uniquely equipped him to reach our population and render top-notch care. Cheryl is a Clinical Social Worker licensed by the state of Maryland with over 30 years of experience in the field. She graduated from The University of Maryland with a master’s degree in social work.

Why the 1st Step Opens the Door to Healing

The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Even among the positive studies, potential health benefits are often quite small. In addition, alcohol may reduce the risk of one condition (such as cardiovascular disease) while increasing the risk of another (such as cancer).

What are the 12 Steps of AA?

Every individual’s Higher Power can be unique to their understanding and spirituality, embracing inclusivity within the programThis refers to any official course of treatment for addiction. This could be anything from in-patient facilities, to 12-step programs to harm-reduction programs.. An essential aspect of the twelve steps involves introspection and admission of past wrongs, not just to oneself but also to another person and the Higher Power acknowledged in the second and third steps.

Step 3 – The 3rd Step Prayer of AA & NA

Ambrosia was founded in 2007 with a mission to provide truly individualized substance abuse treatment to every person who enters one of our programs. The group has a lot of information online about its history and philosophy. 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. The original references to God were quickly challenged in the early days of AA, and Bill W. Addressed those challenges by explaining that every member was welcome to interpret God to mean whatever higher power they chose to believe in while working the steps. Philosopher William James and Carl Jung a Swiss psychiatrist also played a part in supporting the concepts of a spiritual (not necessarily religious) experience as part of recovery.

You may be powerless over the effects of substance abuse, but choosing to be better every day is where that power returns. Whatever the reason, admitting powerlessness is to say that practicing self-control does not undo the effects of drugs or alcohol on the brain. Accepting this reality is what will equip you to seek treatment rather than deny that there is a problem in the first place. It is admittedly off-putting to think of yourself as “powerless.” Many people see asking for help to overcome a particular struggle as a sign of personal failure. This pervasive stigma is a big reason why seeking help for substance abuse, or even admitting you struggle with substance abuse, is so hard.

Finally, the twelfth step centers on the principle of giving back and conveying the message to other alcoholics. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The twelfth step underscores the importance of communal support and service to others.

• It’s worth noting that current guidelines advise against drinking alcohol as a way to improve health.
• After enough pain, it did not take long before I had opiates back in my hand and absolutely no idea where it all went wrong.
• Sharing removes the shame that keeps us isolated and opens the door to healing.
• In essence, in Step One you’re making a conscious choice to recognize out loud you have a problematic relationship with substances.

I began moving from a lack of awareness into a new awareness and into the possibility of change. This cultivated the first glimmer of hope I felt in my sobriety – the idea that I was capable of living life in a different way. A new way of living, void of pain, and the awareness to recognize when I am powerless in a situation. The 1st Step of AA is a powerful reminder that admitting powerlessness is not the end—it’s the beginning of our fulfilling life in recovery. It invites us to break free from the chains of addiction and embrace a journey of hope, healing, and transformation.

A Deeper Dive Into The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

It teaches us that this physical response is beyond our control, making abstinence and recovery essential for reclaiming our lives. What does “powerless” mean when it comes to alcoholism/addiction? The dictionary defines powerless as being without the power to do something or prevent something from happening. https://thecinnamonhollow.com/a-guide-to-sober-house-rules-what-you-need-to-know/ Let’s think about this definition as it relates to alcoholism/addiction. 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.

Here’s what author and interventionist Jeff Jay has to say about Step One and being powerless:

Any thoughts at all of drinking again in the future mean that you have not fully admitted to yourself that you are powerless over alcohol. In this way, admitting powerlessness means accepting that you can never drink alcohol again in the future – even in full amounts. Enlightened Recovery is here to help you or your loved one overcome drug and alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders.

It also is not a lack of agency that implies we are helpless when it comes to choosing between right and wrong. 12steppers.org is not partnered or affiliated with any 12 step program or website that we link to. The content available on 12steppers.org is not medical advice and is strictly for informational purposes and is written/reviewed by active 12 step members.

Erin decided to switch careers and went back to school to obtain her Addiction Counseling certification. In addition, to being a certified Addictions Counselor, Erin is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), and a Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS). Client wellness, especially when dealing with the delicacy of addictions, remains a priority that drives his full engagement and committed nature. Drinking triggers are situations that make us feel the urge to drink.

As a model for rehabRehabilitation from addiction to a substance or harmful behavior. Rehab usually consists of an intensive course of behavior modification which may include therapy, medication, and oversight. Programs across the globe, the effectiveness of the twelve steps lies in their ability to offer a step-by-step process towards recovery. At its core is the admission of an inability to control one’s drinking and the recognition of a higher power to help restore sanity. This approach demystifies treatment, breaking it down into a sequence of achievable tasks and reflections which, taken as a whole, can lead someone toward a recovery that’s holistic and deeply rooted.