What Does Being Powerless Over Drugs Feel Like?

Our only viable course of action was to recognize our powerlessness for what it was. Acknowledging it doesn’t relegate us to living a life imprisoned in fear, shame, or helplessness – in any context. Even when we consider the natural disasters cited above, we well know that not everyone bears the brunt of those forces https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/you-are-not-powerless-over-alcohol-and-heres-why/ of nature. Only those unfortunate enough to be in the path of destruction suffer the effects of powerlessness. By way of illustration, imagine for a moment, a group of people who live on an annual floodplain. Every year the raging waters rise, steal away loved ones, and obliterate all they worked so hard to build.

• You may be powerless over the effects of substance abuse, but choosing to be better every day is where that power returns.
• Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk.
• In addition, Deirdre has experience in caring for young adults, women’s health issues and adolescents with HIV/AIDS.
• 10; I’ve neglected the well-being of my best friend’s health because of the drugs.

Alexandra oversees all operations with The Freedom Center to ensure clients are given the best chance at success. She works with The Freedom Center team to develop and implement policies, procedures and oversees Intakes and Transportation. Her primary focus is to provide all clients with a safe, structured environment while coordinating their care. Alexandra understands addiction 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.

Benefits of Understanding Powerlessness in Sobriety

It frees you up to focus your time and energy on things that are within your control. Perhaps you are familiar with the words of the Serenity Prayer, which is commonly recited at AA meetings. Federico is a certified A.D.T. who is bilingual is Spanish.

But beware of others that sell the book marked up 400% or more. For the same money, you could buy 4 books and use 3 as sponsee gifts. Endangered the lives of others and my own by driving under the influence daily and crashing once. We both need to stay strong and try to keep moving forward. Want Jason Wahler in-person for your next gathering!

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You are recognizing that alcohol is a powerful thing that could once again take control of your life. By doing so, you are actually showing how strong you are. You are strong enough not to let alcohol take over your life again. By practicing abstinence, alcohol cannot wield its power over you. And when you start living a sober life, then you can gradually gain your power back as your power comes from sobriety. When you start your recovery journey, the goal is to lead a sober life free from the claws of alcohol.

Humans naturally gather together, which is why group therapy remains a powerful therapeutic tool for alcohol addiction. 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.

List of Examples of Powerlessness in Sobriety

One step is to understand that addiction is a disease. 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. It wasn’t long before I convinced myself I could just drink and smoke a little weed because I wasn’t like all of the other addicts and alcoholics around me.

We might even go days or weeks without actually using, and tell ourselves that we were better, but the result was always the same. Once we started back again – and we always did – all bets were off. It is difficult to manage all the different problems drinking has caused, especially after a major consequence from a spree. Looking back on my own drinking history, at least what I remember of it, I can see this phenomenon at work.

I could not manage my

They suffer desperation and hopelessness, and they further feel shame and guilt for not having prevented catastrophic loss of life and property. But, what about their neighbors who live on higher ground, above the plain? Factually, they are as powerless against the raging floods as those whose homes were swept away. They do not suffer the ill effects of their powerlessness at all, whether loss of life, destruction of property, desperation, shame, or the other. They sympathize with the plight of the victims, but they live their lives hopefully, not in helplessness. When in the cycle of addiction, it was not uncommon for us to wake up from a binge feeling guilty for what had just happened, yet with the obsession to use still clawing at our brains.