Understanding And Abolishing Spiritual Stereotypes

Programs that aid in the recovery of family members of addicts are also very different from those that help with domestic violence. The 12-step program worked by family members in Al-Anon is almost identical to those worked by alcoholics in AA, including acknowledging the fact that they are “powerless over alcohol,” placing a reliance on a higher power to “restore [them] to sanity,” (Al-Anon, 2008; p.44). This approach can make a person who has been abused feel even less in control of their life. This idea also serves to further reinforce the excuse of substance use that might be made by their abuser.

As the meeting started, we began with a serenity prayer and read the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The second step was the focus of the meeting. I stared at the poster containing the step because it took me quite some time to interpret what it meant. This step states: "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." My interpretation was that an alcoholic had to believe that a power such as God or another deity could cleanse his or her mind of this insidious disease. As it turned out, I was half right and half wrong.

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

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.

Evidence has linked a strong relationship between spirituality and medicine. There is a positive correlation between a patient’s spirituality or religious commitment and health outcomes. A spiritual assessment as a part of a health assessment is a practical step to incorporating patient’s spiritual needs into practice. The FICA Tool and HOPE Questions provide serve to assist clinicians in the spiritual assessment process. By examining the research done using these tools, it has been determined that the FICA Tool is easy to use and provides basic data on a patient’s spirituality. The FICA tool is both reliable and valid. The HOPE Questions are

This paper will try to explain the different views of how and why Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are accepted and rejected as effective tools in treating alcoholism and other addictions. The articles reviewed contradict the others’ opinion. First, we see that supporting the 12-step programs with a degree of involvement both the doctor and patient will see better results in treating the addiction. The second view will show that 12-step programs can be used as “self-help” treatment and must be used in conjunction with other forms of rehabilitation. When AA and other 12-step programs are not used with other forms of treatment, the patient tends to become codependent on the group.

4. Hodge, D. (2001). Spiritual assessment: a review of major qualitative methods and a new framework for assessing spirituality. Social Work , 203-214

The stereotype that I had before attending this service was one, I thought the followers of Buddhism worshiped Buddha as a deity. Second, the assumption that they are all happy and just love the world I associated with the stereotype of them being similar to “hippies.” These notions were proven false in that Buddha is not revered as a deity and the happiness they achieve is from knowing that life is not about status and possessions, however, it is about being satisfied with yourself. The monk spoke to this when he asked the people what are the keys to happiness? After several answers the monk disclosed the five keys to happiness by a 5th century monk that are, ability to eat, walking, bowl movement, talking, and sleep. The monk explained

White-skinned people ruled. Color-skinned people worked. In the novel, The Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, Dana continually switched between time-periods to save her ancestor, Rufus Weylin, as without him, she will not be alive in her present. In Rufus’ time period, she noticed how numerous characters in the 1800’s experienced the troubles of being a slave including herself. Firstly, the patrollers thought it was enjoyable to bother the slaves for their entertainment from time to time. Furthermore, Margaret, Rufus’ mother, had emotionally abused Dana for several reasons. Finally, Rufus, himself, tried to commit the illegal crime of rape. Butler has focused greatly upon acts of physical, emotional, psychological and sexual violence, which were commonly seen in the 1800’s due to abundant racism/slavery.

The 12-step program gives the impression that it has the capability of helping clients through alcohol abuse in its systematic, recovery-focused, and empathetic approach. AA’s 12 steps, from having “admitted we were powerless over alcohol…” to “having a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps” helps guide a person from alcoholism to sobriety (Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], 2001, pp. 59-60). The steps are easy-to-follow ‘checkpoints’ in the steps to sobriety, and because they are verbalized at every meeting, they reinforce a recovery mindset from alcoholism. This recovery approach emphasized in AA minimizes any particular focus on past struggles and magnifies progress, and as a member described, the group’s positivity and numerous success stories encouraged them to continue being sober (Personal communication, November 15,

As being a family support attendee for my stepfather, the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support group, this group main focus is to stay clean from drugs. The members of NA learn and expressed ways on coping, to staying away from drugs, and live a drug-free life with the help of their 12 Step Program. When present at the meeting, the support group was on Step Seven, reading about asking God to remove their shortcomings. Even though the support group is near the end of reading and using the 12 Step Program as part of their lives, an individual wanting to go into recovery is an attempt in making a change. However, the goal is to stay clean and away from drug to keep from having a relapse to alcohol and substance use. An onset to alcohol and substance

other addiction treatments, such as Rational Recovery, fail to incorporate spirituality as a vital dimension in recovery due to the misunderstanding between religiosity and spirituality. The science community has always been at odds with religiosity and spirituality throughout history as research has shown. However, as we aim to become a more culturally competent society, looking at research that shows the importance of spiritual principles and practices in addiction recovery, should compel clinicians to incorporate it in other treatment programs besides twelve step programs. The inclusion of spirituality in addiction recovery should not be optional as it is not restricting one to a particular doctrine, but rather freeing an addict to obtain a healthy quality of life which is the ultimate goal. Arnold et. al

For health care providers to deliver the best holistic care that patients deserve, a thorough spiritual assessment must be included during their care. With more research showing a relationship between supporting a patient’s spirituality with their health and ability to cope with illness, it is now a requirement of organizations to include a spiritual assessment to maintain accreditation with The Joint Commission. The minimum required of a spiritual assessment by The Joint Commission is to determine the patient’s religion and

According to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the transtheoretical model of change, “for most people with substance abuse problems, recurrence of substance use is the rule not the exception” (Enhancing Motivation for Change, 1999, p. xvii). Relapse can and most likely will occur in recovery, and should be recognized as well as anticipated by substance abuse recovery counselors. The significant challenges to counselors are bringing a client successfully and securely through a relapse and eventually preventing relapse from occurring at all. For many, helping a client find faith in a higher power is an essential piece of the puzzle for overcoming addiction.

Lately, I‘ve been thinking a lot about the- for lack of a better term- “culture shock” in which I live. I am a black, non-religious, uber-liberal, female; a lot of my beliefs have formed through information that I have sought out through various mediums. I come from a super-religious family that lives in the suburbs and the inner city. They have beliefs that are “democratic”, while being rooted in religious extremes. I live in a community of people who are mostly Caucasian, and have for over 4 years. A lot of them are religious, and there are varying political beliefs. I get a lot of weird vibes from both communities and sometimes I feel like I exist in a weird gray area that inhibits my ability to fit in with my surroundings.