Codependency Treatment | Spirituality
Spirituality in Addiction Rehabilitation
– Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Codependency –
* Information and help for alcohol and drug abuse, codependency, addiction and recovery, as well as much of life is completed in spirituality (beliefs).
A vital part of overcoming alcohol addiction drug abuse, codependency or baggage from the past that may make you susceptible to a lifestyle of pain and suffering is finding spirituality in recovery (beliefs), or a strength greater than yourself. Meaning you are no longer limited by the physical reality because you are consciously asking for this strength to liberate you from all the deceptions of your life.
The more faith you put in the spiritual relationship and the more you trust the guidance without using human logic, the greater will be the results in your life.
This does not mean religion, which is usually based on routines, rules, earning something by your own merit or by being good. Many good people suffer at the hands of others because they do not let the spiritual relationship have priority in their life. They get so busy in planning the details of how things will happen that they take away from the higher stronger spiritual nature that can deliver them because they put their faith in it.
That does not mean you can not go to church. If you find it a source of connection to the greater strength you have named then it may be helpful. If it is full of rules and self trying to make things happen, it will just be more work. Some churches are described as legalistic.
They teach God is there to punish you with a hell, fire and brimstone nature. It has little to do with the AA slogan of Let go and let God. Some churches are more in tune with the Bibles teaching "That is not by good works that you are saved, but by grace and mercy, which is liberating and given without merit of your work." It is a gift.
The more time you put into this relationship wanting to live without abuse, stress, and constant pressure, the more you will be liberated from these things. You may have to start saying no to some of your long time habits such as perfectionism or long work hours to make the money just to survive life. Life is not meant to be survived, but lived with joy.
Transitioning to Spirituality Leaving Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Codependency Behind
During this time of transition when you start relying on the new strength you can count on some battles where the old strong holds and patterns of your life try to hold you back. You will be tempted to still try to gain approval of man and please other people, when God has all you need in His hands.
If the word God is difficult for you to use then you need to go back and ask yourself who taught you about what God is in life. Be willing to drop others interpretations and ask God or this greater strength to reveal Himself to you personally. Ask the guide for what His plan is for your life not what you think you have to do to earn approval.
Hope and faith in a way that is less demanding of your side and more leaning on the spiritual side is a way to look at this change. It is more about changing your thought systems than increasing what you do. Letting go of your own efforts and realize that only the Creator is perfect and His perfection that provides your needs, not your need to be perfect.
If you have guilt and shame about the past quickly confess to this strength and ask Him to help you receive without carrying this past around with you. Lean of this strength when you feel scared, anxious or lack of hope and let Him reveal what only He can do. Be sure to give the credit for prosperity that comes from this life to the Source it came from, and realize it is mercy and grace not your deserving that makes things possible.
No one receives because of their worthiness but rather grace. That does not mean you lose your self esteem. You begin to acknowledge that what you do is done for and through you by a God who cares about you even in your weaknesses. In your weaknesses, whether drug abuse, alcohol addiction, codependency, or any other area, He made strong.
This may certainly look like loss for a while. The new can not fit in the old. You will have to start putting boundaries on time limits and possible giving up some relationships. If a relationship is not building up both sides, then it is not whole and will not bring you joy. The true relationship that will never forsake you and always take your side is your Creator. The stronger your belief the more you will see the benefits.
Many people have been abused in the past and can't bring themselves to see a God who cares about him. You may wonder where God has been in your life. Man is not fair or just and the world will not bring you happiness. It is giving up the anger at God and realizing He can not work if you harder your heart towards him.
People are the blame for the abuse not God. Parents who abuse children will ultimately reap their ways. You can turn the cycle around in your family by not repeating it. Some times generations have passed abuse on the children instead of facing their own issues. You can decide to break this pattern. Self will is not likely to work as pattern have strong holds. Realizing that it is much easier and faster to let the higher than human strength fight for you will bring quicker results.
The loss is only temporary such as leaving a job where you are mistreated or discriminated against is a way to start saying I trust God to feed and prosper me. Also relationships that put you down where you always have to please someone else to be accepted is not healthy. When you close one door expect God to open up one that will bring you prosperity and joy.
Spirituality, Defining Beliefs for Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Codependency
If you have children a good exercise is to look back at them when they were young and see their simple trust and faith in you. Think what you really want, not what you may have been, to happen in their life.
Do you want your children to grow up with hope and kindness and a value for themselves and life and no live in fear of anger and abuse? Then think how much greater the source of all life must want to give you the same thing. Your part is to say no to the blocks that are in your way so the greater strength will act in your best interest.
There are many spiritual books written by Christians now that see the Bible as a gift that supports their life rather than threatens it. A positive author who experienced much abuse as a child is Joyce Meyer. She has her own television show and has written many books.Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mindhas a workbook, which is excellent to show how to withhold the stands of evil in your life. Her other books are also supportive of spiritual living not necessarily religion. Max Lucado has an excellent small book called theTraveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bearand talks about how the Lord is interested in every detail of your life. If you are open to finding your beliefs or challenging your old beliefs, possibly built on a church you may find these authors present a different view of God and the Bible.
Studying the nature of God Himself will draw you nearer to Him. Look at nature in general and see how the birds and the flowers grow naturally with all they need to live on provided by God Himself. Don't you think he cares about you enough to provide. If he can house a bird, then He can house you.
AA does not promote religion. It does strongly recommend a stronger or as it calls it a Higher Power than yourself. Even if you do not go to church or believe the AA way if is nearly impossible to overcome human limits without this spiritual connection.
Working hard long hours may bring you money. It may also effect your health, relationships and ease of mind. Think about what the priorities in your life are. When you are on your death bed what will you wish you did differently.
Start doing it now before it is too late. There is really only restoration and mending of broken hearts and families to be reclaimed with the spirit. It may look like loss on the outside as you begin to make the changes but you have to believe they money will come and you will not be left bankrupt or homeless. Money is not the point but it is necessary to survive on this earth. It will be provided but don't limit the way.
Self imposed limits on what can happen also limits what does happen. God is greater than the body or any other issue in your life. The more you lean on that instead of humans the more it will work. You need to tell the strength you are willing to receive. God gives. He does not take away. He is the mender and restorer of life and health Himself.
Being good enough will never make it. Simplifying your life and letting go of all the time you try to earn things will give God room to work.
Shakti Gawain has an excellent book and audio calledLiving in the Light: A Guide to Personal and Planetary Transformation. It is a simple relaxation exercise where you see light filling your body and meditate on what you want in your life and see it happening. It is a kind of visualization of the positive. What you give your attention to will increase whether positive or negative.
Conclusion of Spirituality in Recovery from Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Codependency
Be open to the new in recovery from addiction to alcohol, drug abuse, and codependency. Whether it is AA, the Bible, a church or even a TV show which teaches spiritual methods, incorporate it into your life. Give yourself a chance to put away the past beliefs and open up to one that supports you just the way you are without demanding perfection.
Perfectionist think the world revolves around them. It is really low self esteem, which needs to make them the center of everything. They take away from others and claim all the success or themselves. It is a selfish demanding way of life. They may have the best car and house but never time to go to the beach with the kids. Even the kids are expected to be perfect with their grades, sports or anything they do.
Perfect is different that allowing people to choose their own goals and lifestyles and support what they want not your agenda for them. That puts you in God's place. If your kid likes to clean or loves nature and wants to be a maintenance person or landscaper look at that job as important as any. Support your families goals not insisting on your agenda. Let the other person be whole and not part of you.
Whole people coming together make good positive relationships because they all have something to add. If the goal is to let the Higher Strength lead all of you to where you want to be then the goal is God centered not man centered.
For true success in life in a simpler softer way, be willing to take the time to investigate these issues and see how your life changes for the positive. It will be worth the effort you put in time to find this Strength and life will become less burdensome.
