Practicing the 1st Step of AA requires daily commitment and tools to stay grounded in the reality of our powerlessness over addiction. Developing daily habits like prayer, meditation, or attending an AA meeting helps us embrace powerlessness while staying connected to our recovery program. Staying honest about substance abuse is another critical habit, as keeping secrets can lead us back into addictive behavior. The mental obsession of addiction is what keeps us trapped, even when we’re not actively drinking or using drugs. It’s an all-consuming fixation that overrides logic, consequences, and even our deepest desires to stop.
How Fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous Provides Strength
She works with The Freedom Center team to develop and implement policies, procedures and oversees Intakes and Transportation. Alexandra works with Admissions and Clinical Departments for scheduling client admissions, transfers, discharges and outside appointments while maintaining positive relationships with all clients. Her primary focus is to provide all clients with a safe, structured environment while coordinating their care. Alexandra understands addiction what is alcoholism from both familial and personal standpoints, as she is active in her own recovery. Alexandra is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend and has learned the value of recovery and succeeding in whatever she sets her mind to. Her innovative approach as Director of Operations gives her clients a safe and compassionate place at The Freedom Center to begin their recovery journey.
- When referring to powerlessness in AA, it is referring to the inability to control how much alcohol you drink.
- Vanessa is a Montgomery County native who spends her free time traveling with her daughter and volunteering in the community.
- According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, an alarming 140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol annually, underscoring the lethal impact of this condition.
- By accepting that you’re powerless over alcohol, drugs or addictive behavior, you’ve come to terms with your personal limitations.
So What Is the First Step Asking For?
- Incorporating daily reflections or step recovery readings into our routines helps remind us of our commitment to living free from alcohol and drugs.
- Few people intend to destroy their lives and relationships by drinking or doing drugs, but that is what can happen with addiction.
- The power of fellowship lies in its ability to create a safe space where we don’t feel judged but understood.
- In the long term, maintaining abstinence from alcohol and drugs requires a lot of effort.
- Judy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland, and a National Certified Counselor.
- James now has the opportunity to do what he loves and help others achieve long-term recovery.
Prior to entering the substance abuse and mental health field, Erin was a Special Education Teacher for 10 years. Admitting powerlessness isn’t giving up—it’s accepting that we cannot fight addiction alone. The 1st Step invites us to stop struggling and start building a new life through a recovery program. By letting go of control and seeking help from a higher power, we transform pain into growth, and despair into a fulfilling life in recovery. powerless over alcohol Unmanageability isn’t just about chaos—it’s about realizing that our drinking, drug use, and addictive behavior have destroyed relationships, damaged our health, and taken over our identity. Individuals who are suffering from alcoholism often find themselves prioritizing drinking over important responsibilities and activities, and their lives can become consumed by the need to drink.
Reclaim Your Life. You Don’t Have to Stay Powerless Over Alcohol.
I have over four years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges, including mental health issues, addiction, trauma, grief, and other issues individuals may experience. I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and then pursued my Masters in Clinical Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. I have experience working in psychiatric hospitals, inpatient, outpatient, detox, and partial hospitalization programs providing clinical social work services. My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, empathy, and a deep understanding of the unique experiences and perspectives of each of my clients . I utilize a person-centered approach to my clients to help empower change within themselves. I have over three years of experience helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges of mental health and substance use.
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. Bunmi is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services. Bunmi is dedicated to helping her clients reach their full potential and build their toolkit of resources to support their long-term recovery. Throughout that process, he learned the importance of helping others and living by spiritual principles. Throughout his recovery, James has used his personal story to help make a difference in the lives of others.
