In this powerful testimony, Brian Reinhart opens up about his deep struggle with Step 1 of the 12-Step journey. He reflects on his childhood, filled with intense anxiety and trauma, never feeling comfortable in any space. His addiction became a coping mechanism for years, but like many who struggle, he eventually reached the point where the drugs and alcohol stopped working, leaving him in pure misery. Despite going through 30 to 35 treatment centers—from short seven-day detoxes to six-month recovery programs—Brian couldn’t escape the overwhelming truth: his life had become unmanageable.

Step 1 in Alcoholics Anonymous asks us to admit we are powerless over alcohol (or any addiction), and that our lives have spiraled out of control. Brian’s story highlights the essence of powerlessness, described so vividly in the AA Big Book. “We lea ...