Addiction can be one of the hardest things to overcome in an individual’s life. Having to go through the process alone can be extremely difficult, not to mention the withdraws that come from fighting an addiction. However, there are many support groups and different associations a person can join to help them fight of their addiction. Even so, addiction is still extremely hard to fight off. So what can an addict do when they have done everything to fight off their addiction, but they are still addicted? They do what many people have done when they are in need, they turn to a higher power, something or someone who is greater than themselves. Having a higher power when one has an addiction, can help them fight off and possible completely quit …show more content…
Many of them follow the same set of rules. The first being, accept the fact that oneself has and addiction and that they need to overcome it. Second, ask for help from others around. Lastly, work hard every day to fight the addiction. These are the three main points in all support groups, however many support groups have brought in the fact that believing in a higher and stronger power can help oneself recover easier. According to the article, “Future of God in Recovery from Drug Addiction”, written by a number of authors, this belief and idea came in to play back during the mid-1800’s, by the Salvation Army initiated by William Booth’s mission to London’s underclass (4). Today the Salvation Army runs social services including alcohol and drug services in 111 countries in the world. However, the most popular place of God or a higher power in recovery from drug and alcohol is in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which was founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, which were part of the Oxford Group together in December of 1938 (4). The first three steps that were created for AA were; a psychological shift from relying on oneself, facing the addiction problem at hand, and lastly to gain strength from an idealizing higher power. These first three steps have been referred to as the basis for the change in cognitions, emotions, and behavior that occurs in alcoholic recover …show more content…
An individual will have to face many challenges in recovery, it can be a great source of comfort to believe in a higher power that is providing them with help (2). Also, addicts know that they do not have to face and beat their addiction alone, they can get help from a power that is far greater than themselves. Another benefit to believing in a higher power will in recovery is that, they have a sense of purpose in their life, and it encourages an individual to develop as humans, they find meaning in the little things of life and start to be thankful for everything (2). Even so many people say that faith based recovery programs, is the wrong way to
Sometimes being dependent on other things can give a false sense. It is not unusual for someone suffering from addiction to replace one thing for another. You can depend on someone to encourage you but when they fail to do so, you might be tempted to go back to your original item of choice. So being dependent can be a blessing and a curse, therefore, you must be selective in what you choose to become dependent on. Many strongly suggested that you only rely on your “higher power” because when you take inventory on where you were to where you are now, you truly know that it was your “higher power” which got you there. People will fail you where your “higher power” will be there regardless.
The 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-known treatment method that’s used for many types of addiction, not just alcohol. Alcoholics are encouraged to “work” the 12-steps. The first step involves admitting the powerlessness over alcohol. The second step has the alcoholic believe that there is some type of a greater power working that will help aide the alcoholic to reach sobriety, as well as maintain is once reached. This step is an example of the religious influence on the 12-step recovery process.
In the book, Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions, May explores how addiction develops and can be treated from a psychological, physiological, and spiritual standpoint. This theme is clearly shown through out the text as it shows addiction from a whole person view. The book covers the development of addiction from desire through the experience of addiction. The key focus on looking at the matter of addiction from multiple stand points in then broken down by explaining how addiction is an issue psychologically, physiologically, and spiritually. By focusing on these three areas the author is able to present the reader with a clear understanding of addiction from all sides of the problem. This is then
Addiction is a theme that has been present throughout my life through members of my family and myself. My father was addicted to gambling and alcohol until finally, his drinking ended his life. My brother struggles with alcohol and keeping ahead of his problematic drinking. I have several cousins that float between alcohol and drugs to fulfill the need for an outside substance. For many years, I pondered how I had escaped the addiction curse in my family only to realize that my addiction is food. I overeat and self-sooth through food even though I have health concerns and know a better way. I spent most of my young adulthood angry at my father because he could not or would not change for his family. I am understanding more through education
Even just being there, listening to others peoples story will still make a difference in their life. An additional issue that these people face is hitting rock bottom where they have lost everything in life like, friends, family and themselves. One person went through this dramatic realization that alcohol was ruining his life where at one point he lost his house, wife and became homeless. The leader of the AA meeting gave him a chance to get his life together and make him get his life before alcoholism became his happiness. He admitted and accepted that he was an alcoholic and he told us that the AA meetings have turned his life around. Another issue is trying other drugs that cause a synergistic effect that may result them to relapse. I heard one of the patients stating that when they had the urge to drink or try drugs that they would call their fellow members from the group meeting to get support, to help them fight the urge to pick up a
In 1935, a fellowship by the name of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) originated as an effort to develop a method for understanding the complexities of and recovering from alcohol abuse and addiction (Clinton & Scalise, 2013; Hester &Miller, 2003). AA is a non-professional spiritual organization of men and women who gather to share their experiences with alcohol abuse/addiction, to convey hope and strength to overcome alcohol dependence, and help others in the recovery process (Clinton & Scalise, 2013).
There are several different kinds of psychoeducational groups for addictions: Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, Nar-Anon, and so many more. Although those these groups may focus on different types of addiction one thing they all had in common to decide how the group was to be formed. Each one group has their own unique why on how it is ran, but according to to Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry-Rooney, and Strom-Gottfried success of a group rests largely on the thoughtful creation
Group therapy has evolved so much that the participant are learning how to help themselves and others. Self-help groups are one of the most popular forms of group therapy. One of the most known self-help groups is Alcoholics Anonymous also known as A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international organization produced to assist alcoholics to recover and live alcohol free lives. It was founded by Bill Wilson and Robert Holbrook Smith in 1935. It is a program, complete with twelve steps and twelve traditions, that was put together to help addicts
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon groups have helped a lot of people become sober, and to deal with an alcoholic family member. It takes a lot for a person to first admit to having a drinking problem, and then share their experiences with a room full of people. If they want help, that is what they have to do. Research on two AA meetings provided a lot of knowledge and understanding.
Addiction is regarded as having a multitude of causations and contributing factors. No single specific component or model can accurately predict a person’s substance use behavior (Clinton & Scalise, 2013). Substance use disorders are a reflection of the impact of person-specific biological, psychological, and social influences. Understanding an individual’s spiritual beliefs and the role spirituality plays in a person’s susceptibility to addiction is also necessary. If a spirituality component is absent in a person's life, addiction could fill that void (Doweiko, 2015). Substance
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the largest and most commonly known self-help group in the world. Since the creation of AA in 1935, there have been many programs modeled after it, which are also based on the 12-Step Program. Some of these include Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Chemically Dependent Anonymous, as well as programs for specific drugs, such as Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and Crystal Meth Anonymous (NIDA, 2012). Attendance and participation for self-help groups are open for anyone to attend and free of cost for all members, with meetings typically held in locations such as churches and public buildings. “Metropolitan areas usually have specialized groups, based on such member characteristics as gender, length of time in recovery,
Alcohol Anonymous was founded in 1935 and offers a twelve step program to help individuals kick the addiction. Fellowshipping with other alcoholics, sharing troubles of the addiction, and having a sponsor has shown to help addicts in their recovery process. Most counseling treatment centers focus on teaching a healthier lifestyle, overlooking the importance of the socioeconomic structure (Nikelly, A., 1994).
Thankfully, I've seen most, if not all, of those people fight back from the clutches of addiction and regain a life of sobriety. And they did it by filling their basic human needs. As humans, we all have the same basic wants and desires and understanding how to fill them is crucial to recovery success.
When considering spiritual bankruptcy and void in the life of an addict, despair comes to mind. When an individual feels despair they are unable to consider anything else but what is happening in the present and often appear desperate. Literature supports that “people are also spiritual beings who are either actively or passively involved in a relationship with a Higher Being” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 353). When a person is spiritually bankrupt they have lost moral direction and often begin to make poor, self-pleasing
Many reformed addicts also believe they are no longer in recovery from addiction and they simply just quit. The beliefs of the twelve-step program may not appeal to everyone but the key to the program is recognizing a problem and taking the steps to correct it.