As of 2011, over 20 million people over the age of 12 suffered from an addiction. The numbers do not include those who were dependent upon tobacco. Over 5 million emergency room visits that year were because of drugs. Today, headlines regularly educate people about the epidemic of opiate addiction and dependency in communities across the United States. These numbers stretch across economic classes and races. Clearly, millions of people require intensive treatment to get them on the path towards recovery, leading to many conversations about spirituality in mental health recovery and in healing addiction. Understanding the role of spirituality in mental health and the importance of spiritual recovery can help these patients and their loved ones on this path.
Spiritual Recovery and Its Essential Role in Getting Your Life Back
In this article:
- How Spirituality Benefits the Person?
- Understanding the Role of Spirituality in Recovery
- Healthy Expressions of Spirituality that Benefit those in Recovery
How Spirituality Benefits the Person?
Although most patients and their loved ones understand the importance medications and treatment centers can play in the recovery process, countless people also overlook the importance of the patient’s spirituality and how much their beliefs and spiritual practices can help them cope with their disease and progress in their recovery.
The idea of incorporating spirituality into addiction recovery has been around for generations; it even plays a prominent role in the premier 12 steps programs which help millions of people across the United States and their families. At the core of many of these programs lies the idea of a higher power. Although patients are generally free to fill in many of their own beliefs about this higher power, the role of spirituality cannot be denied.
Researchers have also discovered a host of benefits for people who engage in spiritual practices. For example, they find those who are spiritual will:
- Be better equipped to handle regular stressors in their lives and be in greater control over their emotions.
- Find greater clarity through regular spiritual practices, such as prayer and meditation. This helps them progress through the stages of recovery easier.
- People who define themselves as ‘spiritual’ individuals are 8 times less likely to abuse illicit drugs. It can also help patients avoid relapsing into harmful behaviors.
Understanding the Role of Spirituality in Recovery
‘What role does spirituality play in mental health recovery?’ is topic of discussion at our July spirituality conf: https://t.co/NvTIiOSHEc pic.twitter.com/MhxqzTPzAq
— TEWV (@TEWV) May 8, 2017
Many professionals regard addiction as a disease which attacks the person on three different levels, their physical, mental, and spiritual sides. Various spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, and yoga, all help to restore the patient in these areas as well. Patients can strengthen their connection with themselves, which in turn helps them strengthen themselves against relapse and damaging patterns. Spiritual patients also better understand the reasons behind their disease. They often do a better job of avoiding potentially tempting situations after completing rehab as well.
Many spiritual activities, such as yoga and different types of meditation, can help to calm the central nervous system. During the early phases of recovery, patients often experience intense emotions related to stress and turmoil. They often find themselves face-to-face with the underlying reasons led to their addiction. This can lead to overwhelming feelings. Using these spiritual activities can help patients regain their composure. They begin to learn how to replace their old, destructive, coping mechanisms with healthier ones to help them lead more productive and healthy lives.
Healthy Expressions of Spirituality that Benefit those in Recovery
Past patients progress through addiction recovery. They may need to do some experimenting to find the spiritual activities to benefit them the most along their path to recovery. Different practices may be more suited for the different patients. This depends upon their own spiritual lives and their emotional needs at various phases of the process. There are a few aspects of a spiritual lifestyle, however, that have consistently shown themselves to be helpful.
Many patients find gratitude and forgiveness will greatly benefit their recovery. Patients who do not take their healing for granted, but instead use their gratitude as a motivation for maintaining their sobriety, often see considerable success. Those who find it within themselves to forgive others in their lives, as well as themselves, often experience peace.
Other helpful spiritual practices generally include prayer and meditation, yoga, and mindful creative work. These practices help patients better understand themselves and find their own sources of peace.
The University of Huddersfield Research shares their thoughts on spiritual recovery and its huge role in a patient’s mental health. Watch this video!
The role of spirituality in recovery from addiction continues to be studied by those involved in the process and others who want to help those afflicted with this disease. As people begin to better understand the brain, the causes of addiction, and what best empowers people to overcome these struggles, incorporating spiritual practices into the treatment program will likely increase.
Do you believe that cleansing the spirit helps in recovery from addiction and mental illnesses? Share your thoughts in our comments section below!
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