Powerlessness and Strength

The first step in addiction recovery is to admit powerlessness. The word itself carries a huge amount of negative connotation, making the first step sometimes insurmountable to many alcoholics and addicts. After all who amongst us wants to acknowledge to ourselves, not to mention to others, that we lack power, that we don't possess the power to stop (using or drinking or gambling or eating or whatever the addictive behavior may be).

The paradox is this--By admitting powerlessness, we gain strength.

By making this simple admission, "I am powerless" we can acknowledge that we need help.

And by starting with that simple statement we can begin to seek those who can help us.

Meaning we are no longer alone with our addiction.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, reach out for help. A few simple words can get you the strength you need to begin the road to recovery.

Meaning that others can share in providing a solution.

Meaning that we can begin to surround ourselves with people who know what we are going through, and who can help us.

So powerlessness doesn't mean weakness. Powerlessness leads to community. It leads to solution. It leads to the strength.

Restoring the Alcoholic to Sanity

For the alcoholic, the last thing they want to admit is that their drinking has caused them to be "insane" The definition of insanity, to many, is repeating the same behavior over and over again, expecting different results. For example, the alcoholic who needs a drink first thing in the morning, may find that by taking that first drink only results in progressive drinking throughout the day, into the night until they blackout. As insane as alcoholics can be when in the grips of the disease of alcoholism, the alcoholic may really believe they can still have that first drink the next morning, hoping to yield a different result, maybe they believe they can stop after the first drink or two, maybe they believe they can continue drinking "normally" and not to excess that eventually leads to a blackout. Most times, the alcoholic will not be successful in their attempts to control their drinking. That is what we call "insanity".
Many alcoholics have found the answer through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Restoring the alcoholic to sanity is practiced through Step Two of Alcoholics Anonymous.

"We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

As the alcoholic approaches this step, they begin to consider that maybe, just maybe, there is a Power Greater than themselves - a Power capable of healing their hurt, calming their confusion, and restoring their sanity. The alcoholic learns and understands that finding this "Higher Power" doesn't mean they have to be religious. That's far from the truth, the alcoholic learns that the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a spiritual, not religious program. As the alcoholic remains sober and continues to work Step Two, they discover that no matter how long their drinking has gone on and how far their insanity has progressed, there is no limit to the ability of a "Higher Power" restoring them to sanity. There is help for the alcoholic.

The Disease of Addiction

What makes the addict is the disease of addiction - not the drugs, not the alcohol, not the behavior, but the disease. There is "something" within the alcoholic/drug addict that makes it impossible to control the use of drugs or alcohol. This same "something" also makes them prone to obsession and compulsion in other areas of their lives. How can one tell when the disease is active? When the alcoholic/drug addict becomes trapped in obsessive, compulsive, self-centered routines, endless loops that lead nowhere but to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional decay.

The disease of addiction can manifest itself in many ways. When the alcoholic/drug addict first realizes their problem, they think it's just the drugs or alcohol that is the culprit of their problems. Later to find out that their addiction is wreaking havoc in their lives in any number of ways.

It is suggested that working through the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous can help the addict/alcoholic identify and understand their disease. Help the addict/alcoholic find freedom from active addiction.

Addiction Treatment and Children: The Problem of Cheese

Another newly evolving trend in abusable substances includes the introduction of what is called "cheese." It derives its name from its look, given that it resembles grated Parmesan cheese--the type that is shaken over servings of spaghetti and meat sauce. Cheese is made up of low grade heroin mixed with ground up Tylenol PM. It has been recently discovered in parts of Texas where it is ingested by snorting.

Sadly, many of the users are children. Hospitals in parts of South Texas have reported numerous youth in their teens admitted to drug treatment centers for detoxification. And there has recently been reported an addict at the age of nine. Not yet an epidemic, clearly, but frightening nonetheless. At this young an age, state of the art treatment does not yet exist.

The field of substance abuse treatment has some sense of how to go about treating the adult alcoholic/addict. We have an awareness that a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and recovery based exercises along with a thorough understanding of the 12 steps of Alcoholic or Narcotics Anonymous can lead to a fulfilling lifetime of abstinence and recovery from addictive substances and behaviors. But we don't know if this applies to children. We may be at an unfortunate juncture where our ability to treat substance dependence has fallen behind. Regardless, nine year old addicts are a scary prospect.

The Emotional Life of the Newly Sober

Individuals new to sobriety often find their early days in alcohol and addiction treatment centers marked by significant swings in experienced emotions. Early in rehab, the alcoholic/addict may be plagued by a variety of uncomfortable and challenging feelings that can overwhelm their ability to cope. This is certainly not surprising given that most folks in drug rehab are experiencing for the first time release from the anesthetizing effects of their drug of choice, be it alcohol, cocaine, heroin, or whatever.

Early in recovery, as the mind re-awakens, the newly sober may find themselves gripped with marked anxiety, a tremendous sense of fear--sometimes about the things that have occurred in the past, sometimes of the consequences of their use, sometimes of an uncertain future. And sometimes they experience marked fear for no identifiable reason. In many instances, underlying anxiety disorders, undiagnosed and self-medicated for years surface to trouble the alcoholic/addict.

For others, early sobriety can lead to the re-emergence of painful memories of trauma in childhood which can spill out in the form of deep and penetrating sadness, hostile and aggressive feelings of anger, or inordinate shame. And as is regularly discussed in alcoholics anonymous meetings and associated literature, newly sober alcoholic/addicts in the early stages of recovery are particularly prone to resentment--the sense of focussed and bitter anger based on perceived past slights or harms that can lead directly to relapse.

Not all emotions in the newly sober are negative. Frequently in the early days of alcohol and drug rehabilitation and treatment, the alcoholic/addict experiences tremendous feeling of joy. They often describe a "pink cloud' or feeling of prolonged euphoria that can serve to reinforce new found sobriety.

With time, continued treatment, a recovery based lifestyle and supportive environment, the alcoholic addict can develop those skills that allows him/her to modulate his/her emotions, to achieve a sense of balance to his/her internal affective life, and to find appropriate releases when emotions pass individual "critical levels". Even after years of chemical numbing, the alcoholic/addict can redevelop the capacity to feel.

How important is spirituality in addiction recovery?

The decision to confront an addiction, whether alcohol, drugs, sex, or gambling requires a great deal of personal inventory, discovery, and/or re-discovery. In most addicts lives, running from core issues in our lives (e.g. feelings of worthlessness, childhood trauma, grief/loss, mood swings, etc.)helps to maintain the addiction and the numbing effects of the drug or process addiction.

Recovery requires nothing less than transformation! I often say this as a "mantra" when greeting new clients to Paradise Recovery. For certain, the addiction required your full and undivided attention, so recovery will ask for nothing less.

Spirituality is a key component to recovery. Notice, I'm not saying, "religion". Spirituality means having to do with your inner world and how your inner world connects with the inner world of another or some other thing. Often the aim of spirituality is peace and inner serenity. However, spirituality has aided many women and men through rough times and when life appears hopeless. Spirituality is both the container and the items in the container. You partner with spirituality to become the most authentic and happy person you can become...you thrive!

The self-help movement of alcoholics anonymous (AA)and more recently narcotics anonymous (NA) has been described as the most powerful spiritual movement of our time. The authentic connections, sharings, tears, laughter, coffee, etc. are all ingredients to a spirituality that works for many people who buy-in to the transformation concept.

Each person needs to find out for themselves what and how spirituality will bring them to the inner peace and serenity, while not running anymore from the "black pains" in our lives. Obviously, spirituality is very important. It is the ongoing relationship with yourself. You becoming YOU!

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, please do not hesitate to seek help. The transformation required cannot be accomplished alone! Call our HelpLine at (866) 478-9898.

Recuperatio Primoris.