What Is Powerlessness?

After all, helplessness isn’t a concept that solely applies to addiction, although it might be the first step to recovery and sobriety. Addiction treatment centers discuss the concept of powerlessness in therapy to help people recover. Being born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland, it was always a dream for James to start a program where he began his own recovery journey. Having faced addiction in his own life, and having worked through recovery, James truly understands what it takes to get sober and stay sober. James now has the opportunity to do what he loves and help others achieve long-term recovery. Hanley Center is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond.

• A sponsor is someone who has been through the program and can provide you with guidance, support, and advice.
• Outside of work, he finds solace in outdoor activities like hiking and woodworking.
• You accept that you can’t continue drinking alcohol or using drugs and that you have absolutely no control when you are using.
• The brain’s function and the person’s physical health are affected.
• The founders of AA understood that in order for alcoholics to truly take ownership of their recovery, they needed to accept the fact that life has become unmanageable due to their addiction.

I began working in the treatment field for alcohol and drug addiction in January 2020, and it has provided me with a sense of purpose, as helping others has always been a passion of mine. I worked in construction prior to this field and needed a complete change in career as I was too suffering from substance addiction. I watch clients walk through the door, broken, and still remember when it was I who felt hopeless. After learning the necessary coping skills and engaging in a 12-step fellowship, my life began to change, and only for the better. I now enjoy working with others and helping them get through the hard times of early recovery.

Graduate School of Addiction Studies

Rather, it meant that you’ve exhausted the options immediately available to you, and are in need of some new strategies. I experienced the death of my life power when I ceased to enjoy my relationships; familial, spiritual, and romantic. When I started not giving a damn if I could recall and celebrate important milestones. When I simply would rather “sleep” under a blanket, behind closed blinds, all day rather than behave like a functioning adult. Addiction is a disease, and with the right treatment, diseases can be effectively managed. This is what would do it — the truth that, if you don’t do it, you’ll go back to drinking.

In fact, sleep disturbances can persist for months despite continued abstinence. Some studies have shown that sleep disturbances can increase the chance of relapsing…. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-withdrawal-seizure-causes-symptoms-treatment/ In autumn and winter, the days get shorter, and skies are often cloudy, depriving us of natural sunlight and unleashing all sorts of mood disturbances in many people.

The Power in the First Step: Accepting Powerlessness

Himself, an alumni of The Freedom Center, Michael brings a personal experience of the program to his role. A resident of Gaithersburg, Michael has planted roots and established a network in the local recovery community. Michael’s goal is to connect current client and alumni with resources to strengthen their life in recovery. After graduating high school, he attended college at the University of Coastal Carolina & Salisbury University. In 2014, Corey moved to Florida where he worked in retail sales. In 2015, Corey was given the opportunity to join Amethyst Recovery Center’s Business Development team.

• Hanley Center is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond.
• From this point, you are able to accept the situation as it is.
• You have to fully surrender by absolutely saying no to any alcohol from now on.
• You must first admit powerless over alcohol and be honest with yourself about the situation.
• Powerlessness means that you are thoroughly convinced that if you put alcohol in your body, disaster will follow.

If you stubbornly forge ahead without an accurate idea of where you are and where you are headed, the road will be that much longer and frustrating. Once you accept step one, you do something about this feeling of powerlessness and gain back your power. Recovery is about gaining the insights, tools and skills so you feel empowered and able to understand and overcome your need powerless over alcohol for substances. We are not meant to go through this life alone and we need other people so we can be healthy, strong and independent. If you are struggling with addiction to alcohol, drugs or a combination of substances, you don’t have to deal with your problems alone. We’re available to talk 24 hours a day, and we offer a wide variety of science-based treatment programs.

Recovery Advocacy

Further, groups with trained leaders, such as AA sponsors, can positively promote substance abuse recovery. These include reducing isolation, providing a support system, and witnessing the healing of others. Step 1 of AA can be one of the most difficult on your journey to sobriety. You must first admit powerless over alcohol and be honest with yourself about the situation.

By letting others guide you through treatment and recovery, you are that much closer to a happier and healthier life. After all, you cannot escape the chains that bind you until you acknowledge that there are, in fact, chains, and someone else holds the key to unlocking them. Riviera Recovery is a health and wellness sober living community helping men & women recover from substance use, mental health and co-occurring disorders. Step One on your recovery path is surrendering into the reality of the situation that you have lost your power and are willing to get help. We cannot start to change what is happening unless we can admit to what is going on.

Examples Of Powerlessness

Once you realize that addiction is a disease, you can start to see yourself as someone who is sick, rather than someone who is weak or morally flawed. Once you’ve admitted that you’re powerless and that your life is unmanageable, you can move forward with the steps. AA is a recovery program for multiracial men and women who are suffering from an alcohol use disorder.

Thankfully, you won’t have to start dealing with these issues until you reach Step 4, by which point you’ll feel much more prepared. For right now, at Step 1, you just need to focus on admitting the truth about who and what you are and what you have done. You’re accepting reality and can begin to understand that you are not alone in your struggle and that there is help available.

Not understanding that alcoholism is a disease, many of us have tried to take things into our own hands. We may have poured out liquor, made excuses, nagged, pleaded, protected or punished the drinkers in our lives. We may have hidden our feelings, isolated and avoided contact with the alcoholic, thinking our problems would go away.

In most cases, when people struggle with other parts of the program, it comes back to a Step 1 problem. After all, the early days of sobriety can be very difficult. Having something greater than you to rely on can make it easier. Once you understand these important concepts, you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do to complete this vital step. According to Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1981), “Few indeed were those who, so assailed, had ever won through in singlehanded combat. It was a statistical fact that alcoholics rarely recovered on their own resources” (p. 22).