Saint Augustine famously said, “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” This is symbolic of the role that both faith and personal perseverance have in one’s recovery. Incorporating faith into your recovery can be highly beneficial. While it is not a requirement, millions of people find that faith is a critical component of their recovery. However, it is important to remember that “faith without works is dead.”
Better Understanding Addiction
Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. This includes people both in the U.S. and around the world. Many of these people struggle in silence because they feel that they are alone. Also, many people are afraid of admitting that they need help because they worry about the stigmas that surround addiction. One of the primary stigmas is how people often categorize addiction.
Many people are under the misconception that addiction is some type of moral failing or choice. This is simply untrue. Addiction is a disease. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.”
It is also important to understand that addiction is a family disease. That means that addiction affects far more people than just the individual who is struggling. This is often why addiction is referred to as a “tornado that destroys everyone and everything it comes into contact with.” However, there is a silver lining. While the family may be the most affected, they are also often the most able to get their loved one the help that they need. However, they must know the signs and the symptoms to look out for.
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of addiction are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms of addiction. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Not being able to stop once starting to drink or use
- Experiencing trouble at work or school
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
- Causing harm to oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
Often, people minimize addiction and/or mental illness or even falsely categorize it as that previously mentioned “choice.” However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can even be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help sooner rather than later is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It could also help you (or a loved one) eventually incorporate faith into your recovery.
Incorporating Your Faith Into Your Recovery
Many people get worried about recovery because they feel like they will have to change everything about themselves. This is simply untrue. You will still be the same person you always were, just a healthier and safer version of yourself.
If you were already religious but lost your faith due to addiction, you may choose to pick it back up. If you were never a religious person, you may find yourself seeking a new form of faith in recovery. This does not have to be religious, either. It could be spiritual seeking that has nothing to do with formal religion. This often happens with people who choose to recover with the Twelve Steps.
Incorporating the Twelve Steps Into Your Recovery
Many people choose to follow the Twelve Steps in their recovery. If you are incorporating faith into your recovery, this may be the road you take. This is because the Twelve Steps have a focus on connecting with a “Higher Power of your own understanding.”
This Higher Power may be a religious figure, or it may be something else entirely. The key is that it is something bigger than yourself that can be relied upon when times get tough. Many people choose to make other people in recovery their Higher Power. This is because seeing other people recover can give you the faith that you can do it, too.
The Importance of Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe that faith can be a critical part of your recovery. That is why we offer a path to connecting with a Higher Power of your own understanding.
There is a whole new world out there in recovery. You just have to believe that you are worth being a part of it. It’s time for a new way of life. We can help.
Many people who decide to recover from addiction struggle to reconcile how their treatment program works with their faith life. The good news is that faith can be a critical part of recovery and can definitely be incorporated into a successful plan for long-term success. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about incorporating one’s faith life into their addiction recovery plan, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
