Words like “God” and “spirituality” can make newcomers to recovery run for the door. After all, what could spirituality possibly have to do with addiction recovery? The answers may be surprising. Spirituality and living by spiritual principles is a major part of many recovery programs. The concept is that addiction is a complex disease that affects the mind, body, and spirit. For recovery to be successful, it is highly suggested to address all three components of addiction. Spirituality, first and foremost, does not always mean religious belief. In 12-Step recovery, the focus is on a Higher Power of one’s own understanding and can include any concept that the person believes. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains, “Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” Many of us fell into the egotistical belief that we were the most powerful thing in the universe. By relying on something greater, we humble ourselves to the notion that we need outside help to gain the power to overcome addiction. Spirituality is not only a component of 12-Step recovery. There are many other recovery programs that recognize the spiritual aspect of addiction. Refuge Recovery, for example, describes itself as “a mindfulness-based addiction recovery community that practices and utilizes Buddhist philosophy as the foundation of the recovery process. Drawing inspiration from the core teachings of the Four Noble Truths, emphasis is placed on both knowledge and empathy as a means for overcoming addiction and its causes.” There are also Thai Buddhist monasteries that focus on recovery from an entirely spiritual angle. Dr. Gillian McCann, in a 2018 Psychology Today article entitled Spiritual Approached to the Opioid Crisis, explains, “Spiritual approaches can aid in re-balancing mental and emotional states even in a secular setting as has been demonstrated by the work of pioneers such Jon Kabat Zinn. However, with syndromes as serious and deeply rooted as addiction it seems that complete immersion in a traditional setting provides a therapeutic holding environment that is vital to its success. Those who participate are essentially living as monks or nuns for the period of their treatment.” While the entirely spiritual approach may work for some, the most effective treatment takes into account all aspects of addiction, including the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the disease.
Your story can become one of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. You can make the courageous decision to seek help now and embark upon the rewarding journey of recovery. Oceanfront Recovery, a treatment facility in beautiful Laguna Beach, is staffed with caring and compassionate professionals dedicated to helping clients develop all the tools necessary to achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. For information about individualized treatment options, please call today: (877) 279-1777
