Recovery Through Acknowledgement & Acceptance of an Addiction

You must first acknowledge and accept the reality of your addiction before you can begin the work of releasing the addiction. Do not let pride, fear or negative thinking prevent you from taking that important first step toward recovery.

History

• In the beginning we push aside an awareness that we cannot control a certain addiction

  Marty Mann, the first female in Alcoholics Anonymous, immortalized the recovery process by writing a recovery primer which included the importance of beginning and maintaining sobriety by acknowledging a lack of power over alcohol.

Significance

• Eventually we accept our powerlessness over the compulsion

  In order to recover from an addiction you must first accept the fact that you lack control over a substance or behavior as you acknowledge the detrimental ways it affects your relationships, your performance at work or school, and your health.

Effects

• Your children's anger may not even convince you to change if you're not ready

  Your family members, friends or physician may advise you to get help for your addiction, but only you can make the decision to begin the process of recovery.

Insight

• You can face your addiction and begin to recover before you hit bottom

  You do not need to hit rock bottom to begin recovery. When you recognize your loss of control over this addiction, or when you see your compulsion breaking up your relationships or causing you to miss too many days at work, you can choose to get help before the downward slide continues.

Considerations

• Acceptance brings positive change

  After you accept the truth about your addiction you can begin the work of learning to live without it by attending an inpatient recovery program or by attending outpatient meetings such as "Alcoholics Anonymous," where people like yourself share thoughts and feelings while encouraging one another's recovery efforts.