The Dalai Lama famously said, “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” Now, while many people follow this regarding how they interact with others, they forget to apply this maxim to their own lives. The effects of alcohol on one’s spirituality and life’s purpose are often overlooked, but it can mean the difference between a distressed and damaged life and a faith-filled and fulfilled life.
How Common Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is much more common than many people may realize. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, “An estimated 76.3 million people worldwide have alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and these account for 1.8 million deaths each year. It is estimated that up to 42% of patients admitted to general hospitals, and one‐third of patients admitted to hospital intensive care units (ICU) have AUD.”
The reality is that these numbers also don’t represent the whole scope of people struggling with AUD. This is because many people either ignore that they have a problem and refuse to get help or are unaware that they may even have a problem. These are people who may not be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of AUD.
The Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
The signs and symptoms of AUD can be vast and varied. They may also vary based on the individual. However, there are many universal signs and symptoms that can be looked out for. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
- Isolating from family and friends
- Experiencing otherwise unexplained physical ailments like excessive stomachaches and headaches
- Having trouble sleeping, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Feeling overly nervous, “stressed out,” or worried
- Not being able to stop drinking once started
- Feeling depressed, sad, and lonely
- Exhibiting uncontrollable mood swings
- Starting to experience consequences at home, work, and school
- Having feelings like life is not worth living
As one can see (especially based on the last symptom), AUD can certainly affect one’s spiritual “bottom line.” The good news is that, with hard work and focus, one’s life’s purpose can be regained and even grow.
The Specific Effects of Alcohol on One’s Spirituality and Life’s Purpose
Excessive alcohol use and AUD can act like a tornado that rips through every part of one’s life. It can also eat away at one’s purpose and goals. This is the insidious nature of the disease – it eventually becomes the only “important” part of one’s life. It pushes everything else away. This includes one’s spiritual purpose.
It can be very hard to see a future for oneself when one can see no solution to the chemical problem that is holding them back. This lack of belief in the future makes it impossible to have faith that life can get better. However, letting go and accepting help can slowly bring this faith back. This is especially true when one uses holistic spiritual practices to help them recover.
Recovering From the Effects of Alcohol on One’s Spirituality
It is important to understand that AUD is about a lot more than the alcohol that one consumes. There are underlying issues that must be addressed. These issues can be addressed via practices like mindfulness meditation and yoga therapy (alongside other evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy, of course).
The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” It also offers many other benefits. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
Meditation also offers many similar benefits for combatting the effects of alcohol on one’s spirituality. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.”
The Importance of Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we know that “there is no chemical solution to a spiritual problem.” This is why we always offer spiritual-focused modalities for those who want to expand that aspect of their lives.
The Dalai Lama also said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” That practice can start right here at Lantana Recovery.
Many people don’t realize how seriously excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD) can diminish one’s spirituality and life’s goals. This is also why building back this sense of spirituality and purpose is often a major component of recovery. Spiritual practices also help to bolster other evidence-based means, methods, and modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of AUD or any other type of addiction or mental illness, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. For more information about spiritual solutions for addiction, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
