Delusion and powerlessness

[nandm]

(From the chapter "More about alcoholism" of the Big Book)
We learned that we had to fully concede to our inner most selves that we are alcoholics. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.

We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovered control. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals---usually brief---were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.

There are several ways we learn that we must admit powelessness over alcohol. We learn by reading the book up to this point and by the example of the authors as well as millions of recovered alcoholics. Sometimes we learn by our own mistakes. Repeated failed attempts to control our drinking brings us to the point where we have to admit to ourselves that we are powerless over alcohol.

To fully concede is to admit that we are alcoholic. Any reservations we have must be set aside. This is not merely complying with the precepts of this program so as to avoid the negative results of drinking, but a complete and total surrender to the fact that we can not drink any alcohol at all and we never will be able to drink alcohol normally.

Who are we to admit our alcoholism to---our group, the police, our spouse? We are to make our admission to ourselves. No one else matters. We must speak to our hearts when making this admission.

These are the directions on how to take our first step. The author's promise was that they would show us precisely and specifically what they have done to recover and supply us with clear-cut directions. The directions are that we must admit we are, in fact, alcoholic and that we make this admission to ourselves. From the moment we make this admission, we can begin to recover.

Every word in the book up to this point has been to help smash our delusion. The third sentence of the book explains the authors hope that we can be convinced we are bodily and mentally different from our fellows by reading this book. If we are not convinced by these pages, we may have to continue in our current ways until our own experience allows us to see the truth of what the authors say.

This is a definition of alcoholism with which we may be able to identify. We can look at our drinking history and see if at some point we lost the ability to control of our drinking. This is a sign that we may be a real alcoholic.

Alcoholism is diagnosable. In A.A. we determine for ourselves if we are alcoholic. Alcoholism is primary----it is the cause of our problems not the result of them. Alcoholism is progressive---gradually we get worse. Alcoholism is chronic---we usually have this illness for a long time before we try to do anything about it. Alcoholism is fatal---if not arrested it will ineveitably lead to our deaths. Alcoholism is treatable----the A.A. program has over 60 years of success and many other programs have shown to be successful in the treatment of this progressive illness.

Our inablity to control our drinking destroys our confidence in ourselves and in all human aid. We despair of ever recovering. Prior to our understanding of the physical and mental aspects of this disease we thought ourselves weaklings. Now we understand that will power is of very little use against alcoholism. Our hope of recovery rests in finding a Power greater than ourselves.

We suffer from an illness, a state of unsound physical and mental health. This illness, just like many other illnesses, can not be conquered by will power. Only profound changes will allow us to recover.


What are your thoughts on this passage?
What has been your experience, stength and hope regarding delusion and/or powerlessness?
How did you determine you were an alcoholic?

[Rob B]

GOod post,
The ABC's spell it out clearly,
I am powerless over alcohol.
No human power could relieve me of my alcoholism
God could and would if he were sought.

( The 1st edition suggests rereading the book or throwing it away if we are not convinced of these propositions).

I see a lot of people go out under the notion(delusion) that they are powerless only after the 1st drink, this is not my experience, I understand I can't think it through, that at certain points I will be without defense against that drink. Powerless means powerless. The idea that I can somehow keep myself sober is alcoholic insanity. If I could just not drink, I would not need God.
however, the good news is that the book tells us exactly how to find a power greater than ourselve. There is one that has all power. That one is God, may you find him know.

Weird thing about the chapter "How it Works" is that it actually means how it works.

[jimhere]

Always amazes me when I hear some one years away from a drink say "I know it works, but I don't know how it works." Chapter Five spells out "How It Works."

It is my responsibility to know how it works. I am rather useless in Alcoholics Anonymous if I don't know how it works.

[Tazman53]

Great post and replies, I really can not add much, possibly I had an easier road to hoe in regards to the powerless portion because I took it as far as I did but not to far.

In the end of my drinking alcohol owned me, mentally, physically, and spiritually, I was broken by alcohol and by the grace of God was able to see that before I did lose all dear to me...... except my spirit, that was lost for a time, I felt as though I had as I have heard others say, gangrene of my soul.

In the end I existed to drink and drank to exist. When I reached the point where I knew I had to get sober or die and had no idea how to do that is when I surrendered.

[vegibean]

You know it all makes sense to me. I never really realized (delusional) how bad I was until the very end. "Life just sucks right now", "everyone else drinks like this" and "I'm not the ONLY one that cracks open a beer in the morning", LOL!!!! Yeah, whatever!!!!!!!!

I really like the beginning of the big book. The more I got into recovery and got my head out of my @ss it was easier to go back and realize how much of an alcoholic I really am. It's so weird when you hear people say that they're "grateful" alcoholics and I get it as just being better today. That's what I get from that anyway.

"A Vision for You" starting on page 151 sums it up a lot for me.

Thanks for the reading this morning.