This relationship is a vital part of finding serenity and healing, so let’s take a minute to look at the spiritual side of recovery and then we’ll talk about building what we call a “spiritual inventory”. Adam Vibe Gunton is an American author, speaker and thought leader in addiction treatment and recovery. After overcoming homelessness and drug addiction, Adam found his life’s purpose in helping addicts find the same freedom he found. As Founder and Executive Director of the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Recovered On Purpose, and CEO of The Drug Rehab Agency, Adam has helped thousands find freedom from addiction all over the world. Taking time for reflection, pondering the significance of life events, and practicing forgiveness and compassion are key practices for spiritual wellness. Daily gratitude and journaling help recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of life, fostering spiritual growth.
Personal Relationships and Recovery
Finding a Higher Power is an essential part of Alcoholics Anonymous, but what if you don’t believe in God? You’re not alone – there are plenty of people in AA who don’t believe in God, or who have trouble with the concept of a higher power. Finally, self-reliance can be dangerous because it can lead to complacency.
How Can I Heal My Soul?
They may start to skip meetings, distance themselves from their support system, and eventually relapse. Without a connection to a higher power, it can get quite ugly in sobriety. We will try to fill this god-sized hole with anything we can. Regardless of how it manifests itself, a spiritual malady is always rooted in an inner conflict.
- This did help me deal with a miserable situation in a more meaningful way.
- So the question isn’t how to “heal” your soul (because the soul is Divine and incapable of being fractured – you can experience this while meditating), but how to find your soul.
- We have the subawareness shadow part of our physiology that tends towards a defense bias and trigger.
- Remember to keep an open mind and heart, and eventually, you will find something (or someone) who can serve as your own personal higher power.
- I believe that everyone in the spiritual community needs to understand that trying to “heal” is not always about healing.
- Our emotional response to criticism, stress, trauma, and grief can build up negative emotions and lead to spiritual malady.
What are the Symptoms of a Spiritual Malady?
Now, the mental obsession is how our minds have been conditioned to crave alcohol and preferred illicit substances. It is also the reason why many of us relapse because we cannot stop “obsessing” about drinking and/or using. If a strong recovery is not in place, then this mental obsession will lead to that drink or a drug, and the physical allergy then kicks in.
What is spiritual malady in Alcoholics Anonymous?
Seeking guidance from a spiritual advisor or therapist can help you determine if you are experiencing a spiritual malady and how to overcome it. There are countless stories of people whose lives were transformed by merely acknowledging and addressing spiritual malady. Spiritual practitioners have attested to the significant impact of the practice on their lives. For instance, one man narrated how consistently waking up to the same song in his head led him to seek spiritual guidance, leading to a positive transformation in his life. This very much resonates for me, as one who has suffered intense anxiety. I spent my whole life as a self-improvement project and spiritual seeker, desperately trying to find ways to fix myself.
- Following this program will cause them to feel less alone or closed off from the messages of life, thus relieving them from the burden of isolation.
- Spiritual malady, a condition that disrupts the balance of inner peace and calms one’s spiritual state, is caused by various factors.
- Our brains are constantly searching to see if we are safe or threatened and this subaware mechanism fine tunes the system based on the incoming information.
- So, what is the cure for physical, mental, emotional, shadow, social and spiritual illness, and disease?
- David Roger Clawson, M.D., is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician with an interest in natural prevention and healing strategies for health and wellness.
- Just an attempt to stimulate thought or discussion and provide information based on my study and experience.
Freedom From Addiction: Get Started Here
“They told me that I will actually lose my obsession with food.” Then she added, “I don’t believe them! ” But sure enough, she followed the program and within a month or two her mental obsession had dissipated. Selfishness, self-centeredness, and self seeking are manifestations of spiritual malady that contribute to the cycle of addiction. The Big Book cites the ego as the driving force behind these symptoms, further isolating us and exacerbating our addiction.
The contemplative connection between body, movement, dance and a meditation practice
This isn’t about a legalistic set of religious rules we are required to follow. It’s been medically proven that after a few days of not drinking, alcohol is completely processed out of the body. After a period of abstinence, the substance is physically worked out of the body. An environment that is supportive and appreciates the spiritual aspects of addiction is crucial for sustained recovery. Maintaining close relationships with AA sponsors is critical, particularly in the first year of recovery, to avoid distractions and stay focused on healing.
Final Thoughts on Living the Spiritual Life and Recovery
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, suffered from severe depression throughout his life. Despite his achievements, he remained haunted by profound feelings of sadness and hopelessness. His struggle reminds us that we may face spiritual malady despite our professional success or achievements.
- Finally, self-reliance can be dangerous because it can lead to complacency.
- But there is more to our threat load than the physical and spiritual.
- This biases our system towards threat physiology and plays a significant role in our health and wellness.
The Spiritual Malady: Bane of the Alcoholic and Addict
By using this approach, a recovering addict can experience a notable change in their outlook. Following this program will cause them to feel less alone or closed off from the messages of life, thus relieving them from the burden of isolation. As overwhelming as I’m sure this all may seem for someone who’s either never had a spiritual spiritual malady connection, or been disconnected for years, I’d like to assure you it’s not as formidable as it may seem. But first, it’s crucial that you understand the difference between a spiritual experience and a religious one. While I could go on forever on the differences between these two ideas, I’ll keep it as simple as possible.
- Addressing a spiritual malady is important because it can negatively affect all aspects of one’s life, including relationships, work, and overall well-being.
- Allow yourself to feel the strength and support that comes from knowing that there is something bigger than yourself out there rooting for your success.
- They can record stories, write down their questions and muse about possible answers.
- Intellectually, believing in something we cannot physically see or a scientifically proven exists is a hard pill to swallow, those intellectual individuals shut the idea out completely.
Signs and Symptoms of Spiritual Distress
Spiritual awakening in AA often begins with Step 3, which involves deciding to turn one’s will and life over to a higher power. Living by spiritual principles as outlined in the 12 Steps can help alleviate the symptoms of spiritual malady and promote spiritual growth. Grasping this concept allows us to truly understand the necessity of spiritual healing in our recovery journey. Spiritual malady can trigger feelings of irritability, restlessness, and discontentedness.