Drug & alcohol withdrawal can be agonizing — even life threatening. A medical detox will help you safely and comfortably withdraw from drugs & alcohol. Detox is is the vital first step in the journey toward lifelong recovery.

How to Simplify and Interpret Step One, Then Put It into Action

• In addiction, individuals often try to exert control over their substance use, believing they can manage or moderate it.
• The dictionary defines powerless as being without the power to do something or prevent something from happening.
• After all, helplessness isn’t a concept that solely applies to addiction, although it might be the first step to recovery and sobriety.
• Other 12-step programs include Al-Anon, Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Sexaholics Anonymous, and others.
• At Spero Recovery, we understand how hard it can be to admit that you are powerless over the effects of drugs and alcohol on your life.

The self-awareness that comes with realizing how bad things are and how damaging the substance abuse has been is how you can start to desire a better future for yourself. By recognizing and embracing these examples of powerlessness in sobriety, individuals can navigate their recovery journey with a greater sense of self-awareness, humility, and resilience. Step One marks the beginning of a lifelong commitment to connection, support, and personal growth. As individuals continue to work through the 12 steps, their understanding of powerlessness and unmanageability deepens, offering inspiration and guidance to others on their recovery journeys.

The Power in the First Step: Accepting Powerlessness

Addiction treatment centers often talk about “powerless” as a way to describe the feeling of being unable to control one’s life. This is different from the inability to manage one’s life, which is what most people think of when they hear the word unmanageable. In fact, many people who struggle with addiction feel like they have little power over their disease but still want to change. Many 12-Step programs are well-known groups that use the concept of powerlessness to benefit recovery.

• Recovery is possible and healing will take place in mind, body, and spirit.
• Excessive alcohol use not only leads to more than 140,000 deaths nationally each year but can also cause lives to spin out of control.
• By focusing on the present moment and observing thoughts and emotions without judgment, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their inner experiences.

What is Step 1 in AA?

The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Big Book says “powerless over alcohol” as its first principle. AA members believe they cannot control their drinking without the help of a higher power. The 12-step program is based on the belief that one day at a time we can take control of our lives by making positive changes. Many peer recovery groups use examples of powerlessness in sobriety to help participants accept themselves for who they are. Acceptance includes taking responsibility for our actions and accepting that we cannot change what has happened in the past.

Step One isn’t the only reason for this, but it is clearly a part of the problem. 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. We strive to exceed patient and community expectations in every life we touch. The journey of self-discovery is truly beautiful, but it is not always easy. In order to discover ourselves thoroughly we must be completely honest with ourselves, and this means taking a fearless and searching look at the good and the bad simultaneously.

• 12-step programs have been statistically shown to have a 5-10% success rate.
• Letting go of these familiar but destructive behaviors requires a willingness to embrace change and adopt healthier alternatives.
• 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.
• Denying there is a problem only allows the person to continue their destructive behavior.
• Spero Recovery Center is a peer-based residential recovery program.

Powerlessness is just an important part of realizing just how much power our addiction has over ourselves. An addict is powerless because he or she is unable to control intake of a substance and limit it to “responsible” levels, or stop when it becomes harmful. Many people drink to excess or use drugs irresponsibly, but then are able to stop or change their behavior after a few warning signals. When you start your path in recovery, you’re likely to find that your life is a bit unmanageable. Please don’t feel the need to surrender when you begin; this is an ongoing process, and it might take time to cope with everything that’s happening. Read on to learn more about the concept of powerlessness, what it really means, and why it’s so critical in the recovery journey.

Alcoholism is not even about alcohol

First, we have to understand that we will never be able to control our drinking or our drugging – we will always be powerless over chemical substances if we start using them again. We can reclaim power over alcohol and other drugs, but we need to understand that in order to do so, we can never safely pick them up. As soon as we do get sober, we will also regain power over our own lives. We will no longer be slaves to chemical substances, living our lives to drink and to drug and to die.

This trust and surrender create space for growth and transformation, enabling us to experience a deeper sense of peace and serenity. Recovery is a journey that can seem intimidating if you’re how am i powerless over alcohol 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.

Step 1 in the Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Programs