Spirituality in Recovering From Addiction

Spirituality is a term often conceived in the mind as a pious individual performing a rigorous ritual in a temple, mosque, church or any other religious institutions.In fact the term is so dreaded by individuals suffering from substance dependence that they rule out any treatment option which inculcates the term spirituality in it. The most popular and age old treating mechanisms such as 12 steps, AA, NA etc have inculcated the term higher power in the recovery module. This term is often confused or misinterpreted with religion and thus refusing to seek help. So this boils down to the very first question: What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is often defined in different dimensions and perceptions. Some of the most common definition are “It is a certain way of being. To get there, there are many things to do. This is like a garden in your house. If the soil, sunlight or stem of a plant is in a certain way, it won’t yield flowers, you have to do something. You have to take care of those things. So if you cultivate your body, mind, emotions and energies to a certain level of maturity, something else blossoms within you – that is what is spirituality. When your rationale is immature, it doubts everything. When your rationale matures, it sees everything in a completely different light.” The definition above might sound a bit vague to grasp but it does indicate a practice that is performed to train the body and mind to attain a certain level of maturity. This practice of training through meditation and exploring is done in a standardized manner following certain discipline in leashing the constant flickering of mind. I personally would call this as leashing the monkey from jumping from one tree to another and making the monkey realize that what ever it is searching for is right there.

Addiction often involves an individual clinging to a substance to ease the mind from flickering. To stop being bothered about any pain, emotions , problems or any thought that is undesirable and needs to be avoided at that moment. Though the problem or the issue is not dissolved but the individual is able to numb his feelings by the use of substances. So every time he utilizes this method in overcoming the issues the body gets used to the feeling. Very soon the individual is dependent on this feeling even when the problem or the issue for which he was using the substance is no longer there. When this numb feeling disappears there is more to add to his list of problems. The substance could produce several issues to the body and yet the individual would be unable to let go of it. The physical and psychological dependence the substance has on the individual is often not acknowledged as he looks for the pleasure obtained in numbing the body. 

According to Buddhist teachings, desire is the root of all sorrow because craving springs from the notion that if ones wants are fulfilled, it will by itself lead to lasting happiness and well being. In reality such beliefs normally results in further cravings and the incessant enactment of activities to bring about their gratification. By craving we mean the desire for anything from sexual pleasure to material gains; from fame and power to drugs- all of these are wants that apparently can never be satisfied . Longing for them only brings anguish.

Spirituality is part of the human experience in which we explore who we are and what our life is about. This could be about getting in touch with our moral  compass; a way of knowing what is right or wrong according to our own beliefs and principles.Learning to use this moral compass as a guide to live our life.Respecting ourselves and others. Getting perspective on our problems. The last one being the most important one. In addiction an individual is avoiding his problem but in spirituality the individual is trained to gain a perspective of the problem to resolve it amicably. In both cases the solution for the problem is not the end but the means to seek the solution is what matters. Adapting spirituality helps an individual to face the problem and not to avoid it. Thus Spirituality plays a vital role in the recovery of addiction. 

 

- Pavan Kumar R
  Head Admissions

  CADABAMS Group'

  www.cadabams.org

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