As the Family Nurse Practitioner, Deirdre performs history and physical exams, and works with clients to diagnose and treat dual diagnosis clients. Michael is the Community Outreach Coordinator and Alumni Director. Himself, an alumni of The Freedom Center, Michael brings a personal experience of the program to his role.
You’re not alone—almost everyone has a hard time with Step 1 when they first get sober. The phrasing can be confusing or dated, and when people first encounter Step 1, they’re likely to pause at the idea of being powerless while others scratch their heads at “life has become unmanageable.” Ambrosia was founded in 2007 with a mission to provide truly individualized substance abuse treatment to every person who enters one of our programs. Understanding powerlessness in sobriety can help you manage your addiction.
The concept of powerlessness can seem quite foreign, especially to those from countries like America whose culture idolizes independence and raising one’s self by their bootstraps. But powerlessness is not the same thing as weakness; it isn’t something to be feared or despised. It also is not a lack of agency that implies we are helpless when it comes to choosing between right and wrong. If you can acknowledge and accept those two things—that you have an addiction and it’s causing problems—then you have completed the First Step of Alcoholics Anonymous, and you have officially begun your recovery. Even if you don’t believe in God, you can still undergo the AA first step.
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 powerlessness in aa has taken over your life. 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.
In that role, James audited a national trade association with over 1,300 member companies that sell health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. He also conducted official financial examinations of various non-profit organizations and for-profit corporations. This experience allowed him to learn the inner workings of almost any aspect of a company. It also taught him the value of building meaningful relationships with clients and having a strong ethical framework.
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. Coming to terms with powerlessness can be one of the most challenging aspects of Step One. It’s not easy to admit that something as seemingly controllable as substance use or addictive behavior has taken control of your life.
If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction and are trying to overcome it on your own, give 12 step meetings a chance. Find an AA meeting near you to hear from others in a similar position and receive judgment-free support. You may have noticed your life in chaos—maybe you’ve lost your home, your job, your family, your possessions, or your self-respect. Regardless of how you got to this point, alcohol rehab Step 1 of AA is merely realizing that your alcohol abuse disorder was interfering negatively with your life, and you need to change. NA defines powerlessness as “the inability to control one’s life.” This definition implies that someone is powerless if they cannot control their drug use, but it doesn’t specify what happens after they stop using drugs.