WEEK 2 � STEP 1
We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol � that our lives had become
unmanageable
The reading for this are: The Doctor�s Opinion, chapters One, Two and Three of
the Big Book. These readings describe the nature of the alcoholic. There are two
defining symptoms of alcoholism given in the book:
First is the fact that when we take the first drink, it sets off the phenomenon of
craving. So this means that once we start either we cannot stop, or even if we do
manage to stop, we will be very uncomfortable indeed because we will be fighting the
terrible physical craving.
Second is the obsession that all abnormal drinkers have, that one day we will be
able to control and enjoy our drinking. This means that even when we don�t drink, we
are thinking about it � that is what an obsession is. So the way we are now is like this:
either we manage, often through superhuman effort, to control our drinking but when
we do we don�t enjoy it; Or the only way we can enjoy our drinking is to let go and
lose control. But we cannot control and enjoy our drinking at the same time. It is an
impossible situation and yet, as abnormal drinkers we have an obsession that some
day we will be able to drink normally.
This first case, the one of the first drink setting off craving means, as many
people say, it is the first drink that does that damage. This is the physical
part of the
disease of alcoholism.
The book then goes on to explain that once we know the consequences of taking
that drink, then the answer should be simple: never take it! But we always do. Sooner
or later that day comes. So the problem, as well, must lie in our minds � the part of us
that makes the insane decision to take a drink. This is the insanity of the alcoholic and
is the mental aspect of the disease.
The book goes on to explain that we are utterly powerless, without outside help,
to stop our insanity. The only thing that can save us is a Power greater than us. To
deal with our powerlessness we had to undergo a change in personality, so that we
could develop a relationship with a Higher Power that will allow Him to help us. This
means that we must change the spiritual part of us. The Big Book says on page 25:
"We had but two alternatives: one was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the
consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept
spiritual help." The things we do that enable us to accept spiritual help are the 12
Steps. This is why we had to do the Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to recover from
our disease.
These are the three aspects of the disease: spiritual, mental and physical.
When we are right spiritually, then the mental and physical parts of our illness sort
themselves out � or to be more accurate, the Higher Power sorts them out.
To drive this point home the book lists lots of examples of people who stopped
for a while, but failed to enlarge their spiritual lives and drank in the end.
- There is the person who had much knowledge of all the terrible consequences
of his drinking, but all reasons for not drinking were pushed aside in an instant. In one
example in the book, it is for the insane idea the he can take whisky if he mixed it
with milk.
- There are people who justify their drinking by citing feelings of nervousness,
anger, worry, depression, jealousy or the like; reasons that do not really justify it
when examined properly.
- There are the alcoholics who have much knowledge of their psychological
make-up and so think they know why they drink. But even if they are right, it doesn�t
help them. They are absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge.
- There are those who are well balanced and sane in all matters, except in regard
to their attitude to alcohol.
- On the other hand, there are the alcoholics who are manic depressives.
- And finally, there are those who are happy and contented with life, without
even a "cloud on the horizon" apart from their drinking. They are well balanced in all
areas save for their attitude to drink.
The point is made over and over again � no matter what our mood or level of
sanity in regard to matters other than alcohol, if we are alcoholic we will have no
mental defense against the first drink. The defense must come from a Higher Power.
There is no need to consider "unmanageability" as a separate concept from
"powerlessness". They are equivalent: the step does not come in "two different
halves". The second bit: "� that our lives were unmanageable", is a restatement of our
powerlessness. We say this, because, as mentioned just now, we are told in the Big
Book that some alcoholics are well balanced in all areas except drink. Many other
areas of our lives may be unmanageable, but that is not what Step One is about. The
unmanageability in our lives that is important is our inability to manage ourselves
when faced with the prospect of that first drink.
There is something else that is made clear in the book � once an alcoholic,
always an alcoholic. This means that in our experience, no matter how long we lay off
the stuff, we can never become normal drinkers.
How do we take Step 1? If you understand what it means to be alcoholic and
you can admit to your very core that you are an alcoholic, then you have admitted that
you are powerless over alcohol � that your life is unmanageable. You have taken step
one. Then ask yourself the question posed in the Big Book: "Am I ready to go to any
lengths to recover from alcoholism?" If you can answer yes, then you are ready to
take the rest of the steps.
What can you do if you are still doubtful? The Big Book suggests a simple
way to find out: try some more controlled drinking and see how you get on. There are
a couple of other things that we have found helpful. We could write down examples
from our own experience when we drank when a sane attitude would say don�t; or we
could pray to the Higher Power each day and ask: "Please give me the honesty of my
condition".
That is the talk for this week. Now I am pleased to introduce [Name]. to the group,
who will speak in a general way about what it was like, what happened, and what it is
like now.