Work It Wednesday - Take the first step!

The first step of any recovery program is to admit you are powerless over your addiction (alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs) and that your life has become unmanageable.  

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Powerless pow·er·less
adjective       

1. 1. Without ability, influence, or power
2. 
   
3. 2. Devoid of strength or resources

   
   

Unmanageable

un·man·age·a·ble

adjective

1. 1.

    Difficult or impossible to manage, manipulate, or control

   2. Difficult to keep under control or within limits

No one wants to admit that they are an addict!  It is not something that we strive for, but it unfortunately happens.  One of the hardest things to do is to admit to our self that we have a problem! It is only after we humbly admit defeat that can we begin the process of recovery.

Not sure if you are an alcoholic or drug addict?

Here are just a couple of questions to ask yourself:

1. Have you ever decided to stop drinking and/or using for a week or so, but it only lasted for a couple of days?
2. Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking and/or using, and stop telling you what to do?
3. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink or use?

Still not sure, take one of the following assessments. 

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has these self assessments: 

 Am I an Alcoholic?

 Am I a drug addict?

Addiction is a disease.  The only choice we have in the matter is whether or not to take the first drink. Once we have the first, our addicted brain simply wants more until it is at the brink of insanity, sometimes death. It cannot stop. As the song goes 'One drink is too many, and one more is never enough'.  We become POWERLESS!

The unmanageable part comes in when we have hit 'rock bottom'. This varies for everyone, but far too often it means that we have lost everything and/or done time in jail. We finally admit defeat and seek help. 

Here's what some of my friends are saying when asked "When did you realize that you were powerless over your addiction and that your life had become unmanageable?"

• When I realized that you didn't have to drink every day to be an alcoholic
• When I saw I couldn't do anything anymore without a drink I had enough!
• I was sick and tired of being sick and tired! My life was controlled by drugs. There was nothing left for me to do but to reach out to the hand of another addict and my higher power, Jesus Christ.
• When I lost pretty much everything - my job, place to live, friends and custody of my kids!
• Jail, lost jobs, lost relationships, more jail, and living on the street
• I realized that drinking made me break out in handcuffs!!!!
• When I woke up in the hospital getting a blood transfusion (because I was in severe liver failure), then waking up in a rehab facility to learn how to walk again and the whole time thinking only a day had gone by and it had really been 2 WEEKS! Words can't describe how scary that is!

So, are you ready to admit that you are powerless over your addiction and that your life has become unmanageable?  If so, congratulations! You've taken the 1st step!! Now find your way to a recovery program where you will find that you are not alone. Here are some links to find a meeting near you:

Alcoholics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous

In addition to the 'Anonymous' program of your choice, you may want to attend Celebrate Recovery.  Celebrate Recovery is a recovery program based on God's word. To find Celebrate Recovery near you: http://crgroups.info/

You've spent a lot of time on your addiction - now spend some time on your recovery! Go to a meeting! Go NOW - what are you waiting for?