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.