How Spirituality and Recovery Go Hand-in-hand

What's the connection between spirituality and recovery from addiction? Addiction, fundamentally, causes us to lose touch with ourselves. The addictive chemical fills the self and becomes a “friend”. When the substance is disposed of , a space opens up. This is viewed as an absence or a chance to get in contact with the true self. By identifying and getting in touch with your religious self, you'll plant a seed that will grow into connection with your true self and with the world around you.

Embracing your spirituality gives you a chance to hand your cares over to a higher power. Irrespective of how you perceive that higher power, it is really important to realise that you don't have to bear the burdens of the Earth on your shoulders. The higher power and deeper meaning of existence soaks up some of that responsibility and buoys you up in hard times as well as intensifying your joy when things are going well.

When you have released obsession and gotten in contact with your inner, religious self, you will feel more inclined to reach out to others. In building relations, you may end the isolation that obsession has imposed on you. When you connect to others, you may begin to see the areas in which you can be of unique price in the world. Whether you connect in your family, in a church or other place of worship, or at a poetry reading in the park – as soon as you connect, you'll see where you can be of service to others and in relationship with others.

When we are hooked, our aim is to get the following drink, cigarette, hit – whatever it is. Regardless of if we say we have other goals, they are secondary to the addiction. When you replace your obsession with spirituality and healthy habits, you'll start to see your true self. Your true self can have real goals and pursue them in earnest without the distraction of thinking about where the following self-medication is coming from.

When you're in contact with your religious self or your true self and you are aware of a bigger power both inside yourself and surrounding you, your isolation ends. The emptiness that you attempted to fill with addiction to a substance can be filled with purpose, a larger sense of belonging and connection, and a richer perception of the world around you. This explains why spirituality must go side-by-side with recovery in order to end addiction and start life.

S. Branche is a writer and former smoker with private experience in the areas of addiction recovery. She strongly supports the idea that recovery starts within and that substituting healthy habits and religious introspection for addiction are key supports for any successful recovery program, particularly overcoming cymbalta withdrawals symptoms.