Faith and Addiction

Recovery from alcohol and or drug addiction is an immense personal accomplishment and certainly one of life’s toughest journeys. With the goal of sustained sobriety in sight, the road to recovery often spans a long and bumpy path paved with various struggles, ranging from psychological and spiritual to social and occupational. Although inspirational stories of successful recovery give hope and motivation to many, the struggles associated with recovery are rarely discussed, leaving individuals feeling isolated and struggling to cope.

One of the often-overlooked struggles of recovery is the psychological struggle. This can include intense bouts of stress, depression, and anxious thoughts as the individual re-navigates life without their former substances. Low motivation and energy levels can be difficult to cope with during this psychological adjustment period, and often times individuals feel helpless and overwhelmed. Coping with cravings and substance-related temptations can also be extremely difficult and emotionally taxing.

In addition to the psychological challenges, recovery can also be a spiritual battle. While this doesn’t refer to any particular religion, spirituality is a key factor in fighting substance abuse and finding a sustainable path to recovery. Many individuals come to recognize their mistakes, guilt, and past choices as they journey to self-discovery, inner strength, and determination during recovery. Therefore, it is essential to search within to gain clarity on the spiritual cause of distress and regain faith in oneself as this can be a major struggle.

The struggles of recovery don’t end there; social and occupational burdens also arise. Social isolation is a common issue as most individuals find themselves cut off from the former group of “drinking buddies” or “drug-taking acquaintances”. This can cause social anxieties and loneliness which can lead to depression, and it can be hard to rebuild relationships that were previously overshadowed by substance abuse. Furthermore, primitive thoughts or behaviors can lead to difficulty in in managing interpersonal factors such as relationships and careers which can be an uphill battle to overcome.

Overall, while support groups, positive role models, and medications/therapy can provide some comfort to those seeking recovery, the real challenge is in overcoming the various struggles associated with recovery on a personal level. It is easy to lose hope and/or reach points of relapse, and while this is common and understandable, it is important to remember that recovery is a journey. There will be obstacles along the path, but with courage, determination, and discipline, individuals with substance problems can make great strides in overcoming their struggles and achieving recovery.

The road to addiction recovery can be an agonizing one, filled with heartache, regret and fear. It takes incredible courage to accept and confront these issues, all while embarking on the path to a better life. Though it’s a difficult journey, many recovering addicts have found that, with the help of the divine, successful addiction recovery is possible and attainable.

Getting back on track with the help of God can be a powerful form of support for anyone looking to confront and recover from addictive behaviors. Not only does it help to access an inner strength, courage and peace of mind, but often times, this form of support can put a person’s spiritual life in order. With faith comes redemption and the power to rise up and do something different, something intentionally better, is invaluable to an individual’s recovery process.

The encouraging words of the Bible and other sacred texts offer hope, peace and comfort for those in need of spiritual nourishment and solace. Understanding and embracing the power of God can help an individual accept the guilt resulting from his or her actions. Furthermore, being surrounded by a strong faith and community can provide distractions from destructive behaviors and can also open up an individual to trying new things and discovering healthier solutions to cope with life’s trials and tribulations.

When an addict recovers, it’s not uncommon to feel anger, frustration and sadness. Depending on the individual, recovery can be a long and arduous process. Although said person might feel set back and overwhelmed at times, knowing how to access and use words of God in order to keep pushing forward can do wonders. For instance, the book of Psalms is filled with scriptures that offer support, remind us of the power of God and can even provide inspiration and strength to stay sober. In addition, we can also look to Jesus’s teachings to enhance our prayer lives and help us find internal peace.

Recovering from addiction is a courageous and difficult process. If an individual’s faith is not a major part of their journey, then using the words of God can be a great form of support and a source of strength and courage. It can help an individual find his or her inner strength, create a better frame of mind and ultimately, leave behind the difficulty of an addiction.

Addiction recovery with the help of God can open up doors and provide an individual with the necessary support, faith and courage to recover from addiction and ultimately, live a better life. With hard work, an individual can learn of new and healthy solutions to cope with life’s difficulties, use faith as a form of support and start coming to terms with past or present issues. After all, no one is perfect, but with the help of God all things are possible.

When someone is dealing with a substance abuse disorder, the journey of recovery can feel impossible. The cycle of relapse, guilt, and shame can become so overwhelming that relying on faith seems futile. The truth is, your spiritual beliefs can give you the strength and courage to re-engage in recovery and build trust in yourself once again.

No matter what your faith or spiritual belief system entails, you can learn to lean on your faith after addiction. Harnessing the power of your spiritual beliefs can give you strength and help your journey to lasting sobriety.

How Faith After Addiction Powers Recovery

To begin with, having faith after addiction creates a sense of purpose and connection to something bigger. Finding a place of peace and ultimate understanding can give you an unexpected source of energy and a renewed enthusiasm for the process of recovery.

On a practical level too, relying on faith after addiction can be valuable. Faith can inform a person’s behavior by giving them an understanding of how their choices can affect their lives in the future. Even if you don’t fully believe in a higher power, faith can still be an incredible source of strength and hope.

Some people find refuge in a faith-based support system, such as a church community, supported recovery meetings, or spiritual groups. For many, this connection to spiritual support can be just as beneficial as traditional therapy and recovery meetings. The feeling of being part of a faith-based fellowship can help overcome deep-seated stressors or the fear of relapse.

Finally, one of the most powerful benefits of leaning on faith after addiction is the idea of forgiveness. Maybe you’ve gone down a road that didn’t serve you well, or maybe you’ve made mistakes that feel too big too fix. Faith helps you understand that there is an opportunity for a do-over. That with faith in a higher power, you can be forgiven—and you can forgive yourself.

How to Begin Harnessing Your Faith After Addiction

Think about your faith and spiritual beliefs. If you’re not sure what these look like or could be, explore a few different paths and conversations. Even if you believe in atheism or agnosticism, explore some of the tenets behind these religious and spiritual beliefs.

Think critically about why faith is important, or what spiritual beliefs you’d like to incorporate into your recovery process. Find resources that cater to those beliefs, such as prayer, meditation, or the scriptures. If you are comfortable with it, reach out to your local religious community and see if there are spiritual support groups.

Make sure the tools you’re using to support your recovery are appropriate for your level of addiction and mental health. For instance, there are recovery tracking tools, such as daily check-ins and a personal mission statement to help keep you accountable.

Finally, find ways to celebrate both the little and big accomplishments. Whether this be through a gratitude journal, small rewards, or however your beliefs direct you. Celebrations show that you have control over your recovery despite any setbacks you may have faced.

The Bottom Line

As you start recovering from addiction, faith can be an integral part of your process. It can give you the support and strength you need to maintain your sobriety. If you’re starting off on the journey of recovery, explore different spiritual and religious paths; learn to have faith in yourself and in the power of a higher force. By harnessing the power of faith after addiction, you can build trust in yourself and your journey to lasting sobriety.

Addiction recovery is one of the most difficult issues a person can encounter. The search for a meaningful recovery often leads to a sense of hopelessness and despair. However, many people suffering from addiction find solace and hope when they turn to a higher power for help.

It’s generally understood in addiction recovery circles that a person’s relationship with a higher power is a key factor in successful recovery. Whether you refer to that power as God, Allah, Spirit, Nature, or something else, it can be a source of comfort and strength when you feel especially helpless in the face of your addiction.

People in recovery report that when they turn to a higher power for help they are overwhelmed with a sense of comfort and hope. It’s like they have a friend who is with them and on their side–a shield of protection from the pain and suffering they’ve experienced. It helps them to break through the despair and hopelessness that have plagued them on their journey to recovery.

No two relationships with a higher power are the same. Everyone experiences their relationship in their own way–some may rely heavily on prayer for comfort and strength, while others prefer to simply take a few moments in nature to commune with their higher power. Ultimately, your relationship will be unique to you.

Many addiction treatment programs and faith-based organizations have found success in encouraging people to engage in a meaningful relationship with a higher power in order to support their recovery. By relying on a higher power you will have the courage to fight through your addiction without relapse. That courage can come from within but having the belief that your recovery is supported by a higher power will give it wings to go the distance.

The process of finding a higher power to help with addiction recovery requires self-reflection and introspection. You’ll need to identify what spiritual beliefs or practices help you feel closest to that power. Setting aside time and space for prayer or meditation can help to open the door to a greater understanding of your relationship with a higher power.

It can also be beneficial to join a support group of like-minded individuals who are in recovery or who share your spiritual beliefs. Attending meetings and having discussions about where you are in your recovery and what you seek from your relationship with a higher power can be a powerful form of feedback and reinforcement.

Reaching out to clergy, religious counselors, and spiritual directors can also be a beneficial way to foster a relationship with your higher power. These resources provide a safe and supportive environment for sharing your struggles and experiences with a higher power. They can also provide a perspective from which you can view your life in relationship to your higher power.

No matter how you go about it, searching for a higher power during addiction recovery is an important first step in finding lasting renewal and healing. Your spiritual journey may take you on a winding path as you begin to recognize and appreciate all the ways in which you’re supported in your recovery. Exploring your relationship with a higher power can lead to a sense of peace and joy that carries you through your moments of darkness and doubt.

Addiction can affect anyone; it does not discriminate by age, religion, or social background. When an individual is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, their whole life can spiral out of control very quickly. They may feel despair and desperation, as they feel like they have no escape from the clutches of addiction. In these moments, even the idea of faith can seem impossible to attain. However, faith can be a powerful tool in the recovery process and can help individuals take back control of their lives.

When it comes to addiction, it’s easy to feel like all hope is lost. You may feel like no matter how much you try, nothing will make the addiction go away. This is where having faith in something bigger than yourself can be very helpful. Whether you choose to believe in a higher power, such as a God or the universe, or in yourself and the will to recover, having some type of faith can provide a sense of comfort and encouragement during difficult times.

The first step to finding faith in the midst of addiction is recognizing that something greater than yourself is at work. This can help to remove some of the pressure you may be feeling to recover quickly and give you a sense of hope and security in times of uncertainty. Additionally, having faith can help to provide positivity and meaning to the process of recovery. It can give the individual a sense of purpose and the feeling that the journey back to sobriety is taking them somewhere better.

Faith can also motivate individuals to continue on their path of recovery, even when it feels like giving up is the easier option. Having faith can help an individual to find the courage that they need to take on the challenges that come with addiction and stay determined to turn their life around. This courage can also enable the individual to persist through the difficult times that come with recovery, such as cravings and triggers, and stick to the path they have chosen.

Lastly, having faith can help an individual to become more accepting of their addiction. Rather than completely hating or resenting the addiction, having faith can help an individual to find beauty in the hardships, knowing that there is something greater at stake, and that the journey of recovery is ultimately worth it.

In conclusion, faith can be an incredibly powerful tool during the recovery from addiction. It can provide a sense of security and hope, courage and motivation, and a deeper understanding and acceptance of the addiction. Above all, it can help individuals to realize that addiction does not define them and that they have the strength and power to get their life back on track.

Introduction

Most of us have seen friends and family, even when they are believers in God and go to church, battle with severe mental problems. Even though we all wish that they get deliverance in some supernatural way, it doesn’t seem to happen that way. 

Coming to the conversations in the church, till recently mental health issues had limited or awkward conversations. There used to be a tendency for pastors to avoid topics around mental illness unless there is an emergency situation that can’t be avoided.  

However, with the increased awareness and openness among the public and celebrity circles, many Christians and clergy members also feel comfortable to take the need for mental health support much more seriously. 

It is encouraging that many ministries and denominations are training pastors, elders and church members to handle emotional and psychological problems. One way we can be prepared is to better understand these realities in the society and among our churches.

In recent years, there has been increased interest among the researchers and scientists to understand the relationship between religion and spirituality and mental health. 

Study and Findings 

An interesting study led by the Department of Psychiatry, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reviewed the capacity of religion and spirituality to benefit or harm the mental health of believers. 

Findings indicate that religion and spirituality can promote mental health through positive beliefs, community support and positive religious coping. Interestingly, research also brought to light that religion and spirituality can be damaging to mental health through negative religious coping, misunderstanding, miscommunication and negative beliefs. 

Considering the deep impact of church and religion on the mental wellbeing of the congregation, it is important to identify tools and resources that equip the church leadership to play a helpful support role. 

Research also found some promise for the role of church and religion when appropriate tools were used for the assessment of patients’ spiritual needs and when spiritual themes were incorporated into treatment.

Conclusion

The key takeaway from this is that religion and spirituality have the ability to promote or damage mental health. This knowledge, in turn, demands an increased awareness of religious matters by practitioners in the mental health field.

On the other hand, it opens up the need for awareness and training within our churches and religious institutions to provide much-needed support to people grappling with mental health issues on a daily basis not knowing who could help them. 

For more information on the role of religion and spirituality in mental health study check out: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25046080

Problem gambling–or gambling addiction–includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Even though gambling is considered as a valid sport, gambling addiction is a serious issue and a psychological disorder affecting 1% of adult population in the United Stats of America. The diagnosis of the condition is based on the symptoms such as a constant preoccupation with gambling, frequent betting of money, feeling of irritability and unrest when attempting to stop and lack of control even when after experiencing serious consequences such as mounting debt, bankruptcy or family disruptions. 

People with Gambling Disorders describe similar experiences to those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Therapy is about recognizing the triggers that make the addict want to gamble.

Gambling has also been recognized by churches and religious organizations as a pervasive social problem. In the Bible there are a number of instances where gambling is mentioned as part of the culture. This age-old problem negatively affects lives, relationships, and families with miserable consequences.

The Christian community has role to understand the affect gambling addiction can have on individuals and families, its influence on faith, and available options for recovery.

Even though the problems directly associated with gambling are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, there are clear guiding principles about managing money and wealth. 

Christians are instructed to be good stewards of everything given by God including money, talents and time. The scripture that directly admonishes about money says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10). 

When gambling becomes a person’s focus, these Biblical principles that teach accountability get ignored. When it becomes an addiction affecting relationship with God and family, it becomes a spiritual issue. 

Along with traditional treatment options, such as group or individual counseling, and support groups, it is also helpful to incorporate spiritual elements. 

Rebuilding personal relationship with God can be an important step towards addiction recovery. Daily meditations and time in prayer can help to move the person’s focus away from gambling towards God and His grace. 

In addition, joining a small prayer or Bible study group in the local church is a great way to connect with spiritually minded group of people and will act as a support mechanism for recovery.

For resources on gambling help and treatment check out: https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/faq/ 

Counseling in Christian rehabs works with basically the same modalities as a conventional rehab. However, there are some features that set them apart.

One notable feature is the inclusion of the Christian faith. Conventional rehabs actually have no business highlighting Christianity, they keep it strictly professional.

For a Christian rehab, there is a need to mention it. Addiction is not the only goal in a Christian rehab, there are other objectives like: Faith restoration, fellowship restoration and a host of others.

In Christian rehabs, counseling is a form of guidance that allows people to encounter the aspect of spirituality for which they should identify with.

This is unarguably the biggest difference between Christian rehab and secular rehab.

The endeavor to recover from the damage caused by addiction is the major goal. But the inclusion of the spiritual side is what sets them apart.

Christian counselors are just like other counselors. They are professionals who have a good understanding of how human emotions and thoughts work. They also understand the Christian faith, and this is why they are qualified to counsel in Christian rehab.

These set of counselors do not only advise and motivate you, they also pray for and with you.

Their method of follow-up is slightly different from the conventional style. Whilst keeping tabs on you, they also follow you up in prayers.

It is the responsibility of a counselor in a Christian rehab to introduce God to the individual if the person is not saved yet.

He or she needs to further explain and shed more light on God’s love, stating that as they receive him, they become transformed from within.

One important point you should note is, addiction takes you further away from God. It soils your fellowship but your relationship remains intact.

To wrap it up, it would interest you to know that, counselors in Christian rehab also handle mental health problems adeptly, just as they would treat addiction.

A counselor who has been certified to be of good standing in the Christian faith, is qualified to work in a Christian rehab. Theirs is not necessarily work, it is service.  

In the addiction recovery journey, one of the major fears that everyone has, is the possibility of a relapse.

The road to being sober is laced with lots of difficulties, and this is one of the reasons why not everyone finishes rehab. However, one of the ways to secure your recovery, is by turning to God for help.

Drawing closer to God is one of the best gifts that man has. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of this, and this is why it is underutilized.

A good number of people do not trust God to get their addiction problem sorted out, and this is why you will see some Christians struggling with addiction.

One of the contributing factors to this is hinged on the fact that, people have not fully understood the principle of submission.

Submission is an act of surrendering to God, and this should be done fully and not otherwise. Doing this shows God that you are willing for him to take full charge, because you cannot do anything of your own volition.

God is very much interested in our lives, and when he sees that we are struggling with any unpleasant act, he expects us to come to him.

However, we ignore his call, and try to sort out things on our own. Avoiding distractions completely is possible only with God. Keeping in touch with him ensures that our gaze is fixed on him and nothing else.

When you are faced with any challenge that has to do with your addiction, one thing you must remember is the danger of impairing your fellowship with him.

God is our heavenly father and this relationship cannot be broken. However, fellowship with him can be broken due to addiction.

Therefore, it is advisable that addicted individuals turn fully to God and trust him to help them triumph over addiction.

This can be achieved daily by praying and meditating on his word. With time, he gives us certain instructions which helps us in the battle against addiction.

In the addiction concept, anyone could be addicted irrespective of age, color, gender and the likes. Even Christians get addicted, and this should not come as a surprise.

However, there are some advantages that Christians have over non-believers in addiction recovery which is Faith.

Faith is what people would typically call hope. To a Christian however, Faith is much more than hope. Faith is having the conviction that an occurrence has taken place even when it has not.

Faith is believing in the unseen even though the chances are slim. In the addiction process, Faith is believing that you have been cured from addiction prior to even going for treatment.

It is expedient for a Christian to exercise Faith, but it is equally important to backup this faith with action. A Christian who has Faith of being cured from addiction needs to go to a rehab.

This does not undermine or make Faith less effective, it only means that you are taken the right steps to ensure your health is back on track.

Faith is a spiritual act that is backed up by physical action. The two of them go hand-in-hand. It is safe to say that Faith without acting it out could end up being fruitless.

Taking a look at the stories in the Bible, you will discover that those people who had faith, did not take things in their stride. Rather, they acted out and their Faith worked effectively for them.

Your Faith can pave way for you in addiction recovery if all you confess is positive and not negative. Faith works with the words of our mouth, so we need to be careful of what we say o that it does not affect our progress.

For someone in addiction recovery, Faith is principal, particularly if the person is a believer. The Faith of a believer would be made effectual by acknowledging every good work in Christ. This is what you will typically find in a Christian rehab.