AA - Step 1

tlcate · Veteran Member

AA - Step 1

Doll · Newbie

For about a dozen plus years before getting to AA I knew I had a drinking "problem". But an alcoholic? No way. Not me. I didn't meet what I thought the 'criteria' was (jobless, homeless, daily drinking, etc.). After getting to AA via a relationship, identifying with stories and the BB I finally said "OK. I admit it. I'm an alcoholic." But in my mind I couldn't imagine never drinking again. So 32 days into the program I relapsed for about 12 hours. I went back to Step 1 - again admitting I am an alcoholic. I relapsed again about 90 days into it.

This became a pattern for me for over 2 yrs. AA, relapse, back to AA, relapse again. I just couldn't figure it out.

Then one day, out the blue, I realized for me admitting it just wasn't enough - I like to think of that as my spiritual awakening - It wasn't until I became willing to accept that I am powerless over alcohol, did my life and program of AA action change.

For me, acceptance really was the answer......

~ Jen

sallyo · Newbie

I haven't had a drink in 33 years but I am back in AA as I now see I never became
emotionally sober. I isolate myself and stay away from people. My marriage of 25 years
to a workaholic has recently ended and now I see how I have been hiding. I had other
addictions (spending) but was able to keep in denial how lonely I was. So I am back to finish the work and my life is definitely unmanageable. I am also in Adult Children of
Alcoholic which is also helpful. I love AA because they work on the basics which are so
easy to forget. Sally

Benson · Newbie

I'm new to AA and have never attended a face-2-face meeting. Instead I wanted to find something online and that's how I got here.

Yes I admit that I'm an alcoholic. Am I powerless over alcohol? Yes I believe so because I drink it on a regular basis, and too much. So I'd say yes.

I've been drinking for 30 years but have increased the regularity and amount about 10 years ago.

Has my drinking affected my life? Yes I'd say so. I'm not living the life that I expected and don't really like it.

I'm reading a little about the 12 steps and am a bit confused. There seems to be a bias towards a 'god' in the steps. But I'm not religious so how can I go forward with the 12 steps and thus recover?

Best to you all!

Shirls2008 · Newbie

Hi I'm new here too and how fortunate to get in on Step One. I have been sober for 13 years (how time does fly) but never got to do Step Four back then. (Thought I didn't have any shortcomings LOL).
It took me a long time to admit I was powerless over alcohol. Then I admitted it but carried on drinking. Then lo and behold my life became so unmanageable that I had to admit that too. So I got my doc to admit me to a detox unit and came out of there so drugged up with tranks that I thought I was going to die. Fortunately I went to another doc who was in AA and he told me to flush the pills down the toilet and get to a meeting. I miss those meetings but would love to participate here.

DY · Newbie

If you have a Big Book, read the chapter to the agnostics as well as the chapter of how it works. I think these two chapters will help settle your neves with the 'god' thing.

Enjoy the journey. It's a good one :)

melanie · Member

Hi, I have been sober for 8 days now. I am going to AA meetings. I have the bi book. But what is the 12x12?

tlcate · Veteran Member

Congratulations, Melanie! The 12x12 is "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions". It is a smaller book focusing on the steps and traditions. Often when you see meetings that are "book study" - they are meetings that go through the Big Book, and the "step study" meetings go through the 12x12.

"A co-founder of Alcholics Anonymous tells how members recover and how the society functions."

Have you had an opportunity to go to any meetings in our area?

If you need help along the way - you can email me at tlcate at comcast.net. I have 32 days - so still very early for me. I go to two meetings a week, one is a big books study, have taken a commitment, and have found a sponsor. So far, it is all really good. Meeting a lot of people who understand and want to help. I get struck with the desire to drink and that funny little voice in my head that says "You've made it 30 days without much problem - perhaps you aren't an alcoholic." But I know deep in my heart that if I pick up another drink there will be more blackouts, more drunk dialing, more hangovers - and worse waiting for me. I have many phone numbers from my meetings - some people I don't even remember - but if I get the desire and the little voice of alcoholism is nagging me, I call. That is what it is for and they are VERY happy to hear from me and understand EXACTLY where I am.

Feel free to reach out to me if you aren't ready to reach out to others.

tlc

melanie · Member

Thank you so much.

melanie · Member

What does powerless mean to you?

tlcate · Veteran Member

Hello Melanie,

That is a very good question. I am a newcomer, and will give you my take, but I am sure others with more time will have better feedback.

For me, admitting I was powerless was REALLY difficult. But, once I did it - I felt free! I am powerless over alcohol - I can not control my drinking. I am powerless over others - I can not control them. With this realization came much relief and an end to the effort put towards doing those exact things.

Does that mean I am a "Powerless" woman? Absolutely not! I am a very powerful woman - successful, single mother and business woman. And in my opinion, success comes from hard work. I have to work my program of AA, I have to work at work, and most importantly for me - I have to work at being a good mother. But if I have given those things my best - and I do not get the desired results - that is OK - because I am powerless over the results.

I was recently in a relationship where I actually gave him all my power then tried to control the outcome through worry - extra effort to make him happy - changing who I was to fit his needs. Once I took that power back - did what was right for me - and stopped trying to control the situation, which I was powerless over, the relationship quickly ended.

I can not control anything but myself, and to myself I must be true. Everything else, I am powerless over.

tlc

eileend · Newbie

The shock and grief are subsiding; I have known I would have to deal with this at some point. The reality is no one is surprised, just another step going forward. I didnt ask for it, didnt want it but as usual no choice had to deal with it. Im not happy, but I will go on and work on getting a life. I have set myself and my partner free. Free to choose our own lives, make our own choices and hopefully move to a higher level of peace within ourselves. A long time ago I was told change has to happen, so I decided the change would be stronger that would be the change. Now I have to let go give him his freedom to take charge of his life. How I hope he will, I want nothing but the best for him. I am strong and will survive and get a life as well. Were at the point where there is less years to work with, less time to decide what we want out of our lives. So now is the time to be strong and find peace as individuals we can no longer be partners or a couple. I did not cause it, I can not control it, I can not cure it. We've been together 40 years its been a month tommorow that I conceeded and surrender he is a alcoholic, and there's nothing I can do but surrender and admit I am powerless. I can control myself and find my way no longer allowing him to suck me down with him. I did'nt realize how it effected me. I will do what needs to be done for me, for the first time in my life I'm on my own and will rebuid my life for I have no power to control or cure anyone else but me. This is my first time online, Im keeping a journal so I can track my progress and deal with the everyday that's what I can do.

Learn how the 12 Steps work. Participate in your own recovery as well as the recovery of others, by being active on this board as we go through the 12 Steps of recovery together! We discuss each of the Twelve Steps In the order they are written, one step at a time, every two weeks.