springtolife.net - Returning To Church After Completing Christian Addiction Treatment Drug addiction threatened your health and your faith for years, but you're finally ready to beat it by attending a Christian addiction treatment center. We know this is a difficult decision, but its the best one you could possibly make and God is smiling down on you for it. However, you're a little concerned about returning to church after you've finished with your recovery. You feel like you've sinned and are worried that others will look down on you for it. That's simply not the case, as Christians understand that we all sin and are willing to forgive for it. Besides, your church is your community and the people there love you and care about your needs. …show more content…
Your addiction recovery will challenge every aspect of your personality and can often leave you exhausted. Social contact may seem difficult during this period, especially in the large and friendly atmosphere of a church service. Ask yourself the following questions to gauge whether or not you're emotionally prepared to attend church: Are you scared to talk to people who don't know about your recovery? Do you feel any type of spiritual uncertainty that may make church attendance difficult? Have you confessed your sins to a priest or reverend? Is your guilt about your addiction heavy and hard to face? The answers to these questions can be difficult, and if you don't feel you're quite ready, talk to your spiritual leader about it. They can give you advice, listen to your confession, absolve you of your guilt, and help return your spiritual faith. Being reminded that drug addiction is a disease, not a sin, is often an important part of recovery for many …show more content…
It also gives you the chance to ingratiate yourself with the church community again and to reap the major benefits that come from these social and spiritual centers. Reconnecting With Church Friends Beyond the spiritual aspect of church is the way it brings together people, families, and friends. For centuries, religious services have been the social bond that has held communities together. Your church is no different and you likely have multiple friends who you care about and who care about you. Even if you don't see them outside of church, these relationships are vitally important. Bible.org discussed the importance of church in society and the myriad of ways that it helps people. It discussed the political and spiritual elements, but had this to say about the social element of church: “(some people) see the church’s importance as a social institution. It helps meet the physical needs of the poor and the emotional needs of the lonely and distraught. It ministers to people at the pivotal times of life: birth, marriage, death, and times of
Although we are given free will and choice it is the choice to relinquish ourselves to God and His grace. May (1988) argues that addiction attempts to gain control over the behaviors that lead to shame and guilt. This book may be implemented into counseling to help those struggling between release of addiction and increasing spiritual growth. Ultimately, May (1988) argues that there are three simple ways in stopping addictive behavior results in “don’t do it, refuse to do it, and keep refusing to do it” (p. 178). When clients are able to face the truth of addiction, in their abilities, and longing for God they can begin to fall in love with themselves and the desire to love
In the book, Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions, May explores how addiction develops and can be treated from a psychological, physiological, and spiritual standpoint. This theme is clearly shown throughout the text as it shows addiction from a whole person's perspective. The book covers the development of addiction from desire through the experience of addiction. The key focus is on looking at the matter of addiction from multiple stand points then broken down by explaining how addiction is an issue psychologically, physiologically, and spiritually. By focusing on these three areas, the author is able to present the reader with a clear understanding of addiction from all sides of the problem.
It is hard to put into words the exact reason a person becomes addicted to something such as drugs, alcohol or even gambling. Addiction can be described as becoming so dependent on something that their tolerance could be raised to dangerous levels. When an addicted person needs larger doses, it is because the amount that they originally started with does not provide that “reward” that it once used to. This could lead to a dangerous downfall including disability or even death. One of the hardest parts of the addiction is when the user is in complete denial that there is even a problem.
You no longer have to stress about your daily life issue, such as work, family, relationship problems, because you know as long as you pray to God, and ask him to provide, he will do just that. Trust also Is important in the church, some things you share with your brothers and sisters and church leaders can be
Kelly, J. F., Stout, R. L., Greene, M. C., & Slaymaker, V. (2014). Young Adults, Social Networks, and Addiction Recovery: Post Treatment Changes in Social Ties and Their Role as a Mediator of 12-Step Participation. Plos ONE, 9(6), 1-7. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100121.
Those who have the gift and opportunity of Christian community often take it for granted. It is only through Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, that we are blessed with community. When we have other believers around us we are able to speak God's Words among and to each other. This allows for accountability, teaching and rebuking just as the scriptures call us to. We must always approach each other through the lens of Jesus, because we have been chosen to be with one another worshiping and praising God for all eternity.
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.
However, walking into that little church I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming the members were. They were regular people that take time out of their busy lives to meet briefly to talk about their history of alcohol abuse and the consequences it has had on their lives. One man in particularly was extremely glad that we were there and encouraged us to take advantage of the experience. He told me how important this meeting was to him and how it has helped many people overcome their addiction. Meeting this man and hearing other members’ stories reviled to me the true enemy of addiction, it is not the individual struggling, but the addiction itself.
Introduction Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, is referred to as a major contributor in the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the 12-Step tradition (Schoen, 2009). His main contribution was bringing forth the principle of surrender to a higher power founded on his understanding of archetypes. Jung (1959/1970) hypothesized that good and evil are psychic realities greater than the ego complex. He observed that whenever the ego is pitted up against something greater than itself, whether it is “divine or devilish or just ‘fate’” (p. 462), the individual has a “numinous” (p. 462) experience, which is an experience of divine awe.
Most of the thousands and thousands of substance abusers in early recovery, that I have crossed paths with over the past four decades, have had a great deal of trouble understanding who they are early on in their sobriety. One common factor that all substance abusers share in early
You can seek out professional counsel or get help from support groups that help you get through your addiction and help you develop the skills you need for sober living. Support groups puts you in contact with people who are going through similar issues, you get to discuss experiences and advice each other on how to overcome them. They also stand for accountability; you get to account for your progress or lack of it to your support group and professional help. 4. Be realistic: As much as you want to do away with the addiction problem, it is not going to happen overnight.
First of all, church has greatly influenced many different aspects of my life and caused me to be the person I am today. I have always been taught to treat others with respect and to treat them how I would want to be treated. This has caused me to try to be considerate of others' feelings and thoughts as much as I can. I also respect other people's property and take care of it just as I would my own. I have also been taught at church to respect those in authority including my parents, teachers, and elders. I also have participated in church activities such as choir and video production. This has helped me to improve my social skills by interacting with other people. These things have influenced me and made me the person I am today.
Addiction Recovery is never out of reach for anyone. No matter how hopeless or bleak your situation may seem. With the right treatment and support change is possible for you.
The church is a place in which many come to find a sense of belonging, comfort, and purpose. It's through these three qualities which have drawn and maintained many church goers throughout the years.
In conclusion drug addiction is a very terrible and challenging problem. It affects individuals, families, and the people around them. It is important that drug addicts realize that they must want to stop and seek help for the problem. The drug addict needs the support of friends and family, so they can make it through this process. The process to recover from drug addiction can take a lifetime. There is hope for a drug addict who wants to change their life for the better.