Step 1 AA – Admitting That Alcohol Has a Power Over Us

“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol
that our lives had become unmanageable.”

This is the start of your journey to recovery. It is not uncommon to feel nervous or anxious starting this first step, but you might also feel a little excited about the prospect of changing your life. Now, we will explain how step one works and how you can avoid some of the common pitfalls that can be encountered during this step. Feel free to read this step in your own time and take some time to process all the information. 

This post is part of a 15 part look into the 12 Step Program and how it can be used to help in alcohol addiction and recovery. The full 15 part book can be downloaded for free by Clicking Here

What Is Step 1?

During the first step, it is important for the addiction sufferer to admit there is a problem. While this may sound like a straightforward step, you will find that it can be a little harder than you thought. After all, nobody wants to admit that an addiction took over their life. Nevertheless, this is the step that puts you on the pathway to permanent change.

How Do I Do Step 1?

There are a number of ways in which you can follow step one. This is an overview of common things AA members do for step one.

Speak at your AA meeting: During an AA meeting, you will get the opportunity to state your name and admit you are an addict. Obviously, this can be a scary step for many people, but do not hesitate to seek support from a sponsor or a counsellor to help you make that first step.

Speak out when tempted: When you feel like you are about to give into your addiction again, it is vital to let someone in your AA group know. The truth is that you will be tempted during your recovery, so having that support to prevent this from happening is vital to your success.

Sponsors and counsellor: Support is a vital part of addiction recovery, so having the support of an AA sponsor, counsellor or psychologist is important too. This is where you pick up strategies and techniques to stop the addiction and cope with temptation. 

A sponsor you trust in is often more important than everything else, mainly because this person has been through a similar addiction situation and can therefore provide you with first-hand advice. So, do not feel afraid to speak to your sponsor if you feel your addiction taking over.

Tell someone: When you do give into addiction, do not try to hide it from your sponsor or other people who are trying to support you. Many members feel ashamed if they do slip up, but this is one of the pitfalls of recovery. Telling someone and admitting to what happened is the best course of action and will help you stay on your path to recovery. 

What Are The Common Pitfalls And How Do I Avoid Them?

Since step one is the beginning of a recovery journey, it is not uncommon for members to encounter some pitfalls. Of course, many people have gone through the program before, which enables us to identify those pitfalls and share them with new members in the hope to avoid them.

Hiding addiction relapses: Some members who slip back into addiction can find it difficult to admit their mistake. However, hiding a relapse can only make matters worse, as you will not have the support you actually need. It is therefore important to talk about your relapse, even if you think you have control over it.

Not reaching complete acceptance: Accepting the fact that addiction ruled your life is difficult and some members do not accept this immediately. By not acknowledging the power of alcohol or drugs over you, you are not fully committed to the recovery program. It is vital to recognise just how big of a problem addiction is in your life before even considering heading to step two.

Shame: We already explained how many people hide the fact they are an addict, as guilt and shame prevent them from speaking up. Unfortunately, this is a common pitfall of addiction in more ways than one. During this step, it is vital to overcome your own feelings of shame and guilt to admit there is a problem and that you submit to the process.

Environment: Many people who struggle with addiction can end up in an environment that keeps on fuelling that addiction. For example, it is not uncommon for a drug user to seek out the company of other drug users. This environment is often kept in place because it serves as a supply chain for your addiction, and needless to say, such an environment can be a serious pitfall for your recovery.

Finding the right support is vital throughout your recovery. Obviously, some environments are more difficult to get out of, especially for someone suffering from addiction. If you do find yourself struggling because of addiction, it is vital to speak to a sponsor or a counsellor and search for ways to get out of this environment safely and build a safer life for yourself. 

Lack of practice: Accepting the fact that addiction took over your life is not just a single event. Much like the entire twelve-step program, it is very much a journey. Therefore, it is vital to practice acceptance. This does not only apply to accepting that addiction took over your life, but also that you cannot change things you cannot control. Some things are beyond your power and learning how to deal with that aspect of life is an integral part of anyone’s recovery.  Your sponsor can also provide you with helpful tips on how to practice acceptance.

How Will I Know When I Am Ready To Move Onto Step 2?

Once a person acknowledges that addiction had a negative impact on many different aspects of their life – and that they cannot control this addiction – step two can commence. Since step one is all about acknowledging the problem and getting ready to seek help, these two things must be achieved before step two can be successful. In other words, members must acknowledge that they are powerless over their addiction and that this addiction has become unmanageable.