Avoid AA's 12 Steps Program

It is New Year's Day and millions around the world are coping with the sickening feeling of yet another alcohol-induced hangover. Perhaps as a result, many are also starting off the New Year with a resolution to stop drinking alcohol, as they are simply tired of the negative after-effects. Countless thousands will consider Alcohol Anonymous and its 12-Step program to help them overcome their addiction.

But, is it possible that the 12 Steps do more harm than good, and that those who join AA are simply prolonging their addiction? You may have naturally assumed that it is helpful to the person struggling with alcohol addiction to participate in a 12 Step program, as they are at least "admitting" that they have a problem, and taking action to get help.

However, there are many who hold the opposing view, who consider AA to be irrelevant at best, and possibly even detrimental to the health of the alcoholic at worst. Reasons may range from the overt religious nature of the group, to the almost cult-like or group-think approach of its "members".

I find myself firmly in agreement with the second view. Not because I object to the group's focus on God, nor the strange sway it seems to hold over those who participate in its activities. Rather, I object to AA for one reason only: the first step it requires it's members to accept.

In case you don't remember, AA's First Step is as follows: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable." To you, that may seem to be a fairly innocuous first step - perhaps even helpful or necessary as the addict must admit his weakness so he can start getting the help he needs. However, this first step is as dangerous of a first step as any that could be taken.

You Can't Get Sober by Being Powerless

Think about being "powerless" for a moment - and ask yourself the following question: Can I ever truly overcome ANYTHING if I believe myself to be powerless before it? The answer is, of course, no. And the answer will remain "no" whether you're trying to get over an addiction to alcohol, the heartache of a failed relationship, or anything else in your life.

You will never truly get over something as long as you consider IT to be superior to you, and you powerless before IT. This belief weakens you before the very thing that you need to be strong against.It is learned helplessness, and will cause you to develop a victim mentality. Even worse,  your struggle against alcohol addiction will haunt you for the rest of your life if you choose to go down the AA road. Fortunately, there is a better "first step" to overcome alcohol addiction, and it's the opposite of AA's First Step.

A Better 1st Step: Empower Yourself

The first step toward overcoming alcohol addiction is to recognize these truths:

• YOU have the power to control what does or doesn't go into your body
• The only power that alcohol ever had over you was the power that you gave it
• No inanimate object has control over your life
• Alcoholism is NOT a disease that you are powerless against, it is a BAD HABIT that can be broken

As soon as you recognize the fact that you already have the ultimate God-given willpower to decide what to put into your body, the sooner you will be free from the debilitating effects of alcohol addiction.

Self Empowerment is only the first step toward an alcohol free lifestyle, it nevertheless is such an important foundational belief that all subsequent steps will become substantially easier to handle.

I can not more strongly urge you to AVOID 12 step programs that empower the addiction, and weaken you. Instead, choose to Empower Yourself, and the addiction will soon be a part of your past, and you can start living life to its fullest today.

Are you "powerless" before alcohol? Not in the least! The truth is alcohol is powerless before YOU.