Powerless Over Alcohol: Giving Up My Best Friend

The sooner you can realize this and accept help the stronger you will be. Have you tried to cut back or quit only to find that you were unable to do so for any extended period of time? Do you often find yourself consuming more of a chemical substance then you intend to?

When ordinary people think of the priorities of life, their thoughts naturally turn to family, home, career, and the like. Not so with the alcoholic or addict trapped in the cycle of addiction. The particulars vary from person to person, but each of us went from functional drinkers and users to compulsive drunks and junkies. We developed laser-like focus, with all our thought patterns, belief systems, emotions, and actions converging on a singular purpose. Whether we admitted it or not, everybody and everything else assumed secondary importance. The impact of drugs and alcohol on your body over time renders your natural brain functions and mechanisms powerless.

Get Help With Alcohol Addiction

Be as honest as you can, starting with early examples and then going to the most recent. However, if you don’t really believe that you have a problem with alcohol, that you’re https://ecosoberhouse.com/ not completely powerless, then this is where you’d probably stop with the program. This is what would do it — the truth that, if you don’t do it, you’ll go back to drinking.

It gave me an opportunity to acknowledge the insanity of my obsessive-compulsive nature when it came to my addiction. Furthermore, it gave me the opportunity to wake up to the reality of the disease of addiction. It wasn’t long before I convinced myself I could just drink and smoke a little weed because powerless over alcohol I wasn’t like all of the other addicts and alcoholics around me. We all suffer from the same powerlessness over mood and mind-altering substances, people, places, and things. 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.

What Does It Mean to Be Powerless?

Finally, the night prior to the event, as I started yet another vain attempt at writing my thoughts on paper, I realized I was using an old notebook as a sturdy surface to write upon. When I opened this tablet, the first few pages were filled with the words that follow, written at 6 months of sobriety. Step 1 of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most important step in the program.

When I continued to indulge my addiction, realizing that I would likely die if I didn’t stop. Each day, I would gaze at my reflection, through yellow watering eyes, longing to see someone I recognized. I would often pray for God to just take me, as I would have welcomed death over the lifeless existence I was suffering through. With each morning sunbeam, I realized the disappointment of having to endure another day with the bottle.

Challenges to Overcome When Taking Step 1

We cannot start to change what is happening unless we can admit to what is going on. When you surrender to the reality that you have become powerless over the substance then change is possible. From this point, you are able to accept the situation as it is. 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.

Mary is an experienced Client Care Manager with 20+ years in customer service. She excels at problem-solving and takes pride in delivering tailored solutions. Mary builds strong client relationships, ensuring satisfaction with each interaction. Her attention to detail and communication skills are valuable assets. Mary goes above and beyond to exceed expectations and is dedicated to outstanding service.

Step 1 is the Most Important Step

The dictionary defines powerless as being without the power to do something or prevent something from happening. Let’s think about this definition as it relates to alcoholism/addiction. Learn how we can help your family by calling a Treatment Advisor now. So relax, take it easy, admit you have no control and enjoy the ride. Here at Chapel Hill Detox, our years of dedication and experience to finding the best roadmap toward your full recovery has placed us where we are today.

• Step one was a gateway to freedom and a proclamation of progress.
• It’s US managing our own lives that has made it so unmanageable (that’s the second half of step one).
• The Serenity Prayer is a central mantra of many recovery communities.
• She excels at problem-solving and takes pride in delivering tailored solutions.