We may start to believe that things will never get better. We live in a society that tells us we should be able to figure out our problems and overcome challenges on our own; that if we can’t, we’re weak. Being open to trying something new requires a great deal of courage because it’s an admission that you don’t have all the answers.
Need Help With Alcohol Abuse? We’re Here for You
They may not be drinking anymore, but the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that got them into alcoholism in the first place haven’t changed. Getting sober this way sets you up for relapse because the deeper causes and reasons for your addiction aren’t being addressed, they’re just being avoided. Recovery is a multifaceted approach to addressing addiction that requires serious life reflection and commitment to change. Many people with an addiction to alcohol feel guilt, low self-esteem, and shame.
At Enlightened Recovery, we offer a comprehensive approach customized to the severity of the addiction and the presence of any co-occurring disorders. Our addiction professionals highly recommend a multi-staged recovery program to ensure the best outcomes. This dilemma represents a significant public health challenge, as it often goes unnoticed or ignored due to social stigma, denial, or lack of awareness. Individuals struggling with alcoholism may not seek help due to feelings of shame, fear of judgment, or a belief that they can manage their drinking on their own.
You recognize that none of your efforts to stop have truly worked, and that the addiction has caused destruction and chaos in your life. Enlightened Recovery is here to help you or your loved one overcome drug and alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders. Our holistic treatment programs treat the whole person in recovery.
- In fact, recognizing and overcoming denial in addiction can be a major turning point on the road to recovery.
- Step 1 of AA requires a great deal of strength and courage as you accept that alcohol has taken over your life.
- This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.
Families can also find support in 12 step based self-help in groups such as Al-anon and Nar-Anon. A crucial part of completing AA Step one revolves around admitting powerlessness. Step 1 of AA requires a great deal of strength and courage as you accept that alcohol has taken over your life. If you’re ready to take that first enabling behavior meaning step, there are numerous resources available to help you on your journey. From addiction hotlines and treatment centers to support groups and online resources, help is within reach.
Mental Health Services
Our family therapy program is second to none.Learn how we can help your family by calling a Treatment Advisor now. 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. That is why many people consider it to be a family disease. Whether or not you have a problem with alcohol, how often have you heard the phrase “honesty is the best policy”?
Untreated Alcoholism
You have to accept and understand that you can’t recover from AUD on your own. Then, you must accept that an outside source of help will allow you to overcome your struggle with addiction. Rather than pushing you to believe in spiritual power, Step 1 of AA gets you to the point where you trust in the possibility of recovery.
Then, you’re ready to believe you can manage your AUD with help from outside sources. Although you may be powerless in the fact that you struggle with addiction and have no control over it, you are not powerless over the actions you can take because of that knowledge. By accepting the things you cannot change and understanding that it’s possible to change the things that are within your control, you open yourself up to options that can help you heal. So you understand the benefits of Step One and of admitting powerlessness, but the next question then is why is such emphasis placed on being reliant on others to get yourself out of addiction? 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.
How To Overcome Powerlessness Over Addiction
Remember, reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a courageous act of self-love and determination. Recognizing and accepting powerlessness over addiction is not the end of the story – it’s the beginning of a new chapter. It’s the first step on a challenging but rewarding journey towards reclaiming your life and your power.
Once you realize what you can and cannot change, you’re actually quite powerful. 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. 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.
Providing these examples of powerlessness over alcohol can help an individual to start recovery. 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. 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.
