First Step Self-Assessment: Recognizing Powerlessness and Unmanageability

This workbook contains a comprehensive series of self-assessments designed to help you explore, understand, and integrate the profound realizations inherent in the First Step of Alcoholics Anonymous: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable." These assessments represent far more than intellectual exercises; they are tools for building the deep, honest understanding that forms the foundation of lasting recovery.

The First Step challenges many deeply held beliefs about self-reliance, control, and personal responsibility while simultaneously offering the relief that comes from stopping an exhausting battle that cannot be won through force of will alone. Through accepting powerlessness over alcohol, we begin to find genuine power; through acknowledging unmanageability, we create the foundation for a truly manageable life.

Understanding the Complexity of Powerlessness and Unmanageability

Alcoholism is not simply a matter of drinking too much or lacking willpower. It represents a complex medical condition involving multiple interconnected dimensions that affect every aspect of human functioning. This workbook breaks down these dimensions into specific, measurable components that allow for detailed examination of how alcoholism has manifested in your unique experience.