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Over the years I have had the opportunity to talk with and work with thousands of alcoholics and addicts.

Many of those people had begun to suffer consequences from their drinking and/or drug use and were looking at the idea there may be a problem with alcohol or drugs.

I have come to call this period of introspection step zero.

I call it that because at this point the denial and delusion around their addiction is so apparent to everybody who knows them but so hidden from themselves, hence the idea of step one (admitting we are powerless over alcohol and our lives are unmanageable) can’t even enter their thought life.

It is at this point in time that step zero questions can begin to open these people up to their truth about their alcoholism or drug addiction.

At step zero, they begin to ask themselves questions such as:

• Do I lose control once I start?
• Am I suffering consequences from my drinking or drug use and can I see that as the problem?
• Do other people say things to me about my drinking?
• Is my drug use having an impact on the relationships that are important to me?

The first step in getting help for addiction is realizing you have one. Step zero is where this process begins.

- Mark Houston

Tags: Addiction, Recovery //