Spirituality and Addiction Recovery

I hope this letter finds you well. I want to take a moment to share with you some thoughts on spirituality and addiction recovery, as it's a topic that has deeply impacted my journey.

I am beyond grateful for the role that spirituality has played in my recovery. Spirituality is not just about a belief in a higher power nor is it about being religious. Spirituality, for me, is about a profound connection to something greater than myself and realizing I am not the great “I AM!” It is about learning to let go of ego and finding meaning, purpose, hope, and strength in moments of struggle as well as triumph.

So let me backtrack just a little bit. Even though I did say a desperate prayer to a God that I did not fully know or understand and, at that time July 4th, 2009, was very angry at and confused by, I was very much spiritually empty. I just knew as I held my pistol in my hand and was ready to go to my mother’s graveside and lay down beside her to never get up again, that what I was about to do was not what I truly deep down wanted to do. I just could not handle the emotional pain and I was only two days without a substance. My words to God that night were “If you are there and you truly love me as they say you do, then you need to take my life or change it because I am done.”

I was stuck. I did not want to go back, and I could not move forward. That night He freed me from the prison of addiction. That was the beginning of a whole new lifestyle. I still find it challenging to completely trust this God whom I was still very angry with, but it was at least a beginning.

I often say that God changed my life by bringing me into the Twelve Step way of life, but the Twelve Steps brought me into an amazing relationship with God.

Throughout my recovery journey, spirituality, that connection with something higher than myself has provided me with a sense of guidance and support that I couldn't find elsewhere. Today I call that “something” God. For me, it has been through prayer, meditation, connecting with nature, and allowing the creativity inside of me to come out that has allowed me to discover a source of inner peace and resilience that has helped me navigate the challenges of addiction.

One of the most profound aspects of spirituality in my recovery has been the concept of forgiveness and acceptance. Learning to forgive myself for past mistakes and accept myself as I have been transformative. It's allowed me to let go of shame and guilt, and instead, embrace a sense of self-compassion and understanding. I have also learned the power and freedom of forgiving others for harm done against me, realizing that I do not know what their childhood was really like either. I learned that by acknowledging and saying to them “What you did to me was wrong, but I do not know what you went through either. I just know that I need to let it go and forgiving you is one way to do so.” I also have been able to acknowledge and thank them for the good that they brought to my life.

Spirituality has also connected me with a community of like-minded individuals who understand and support me on this journey. This community includes but is not limited to the Twelve Step fellowship, I find that as I have grown and evolved I find this community with my church family as well as some individuals in my business community. Being able to share my experiences, struggles, and successes with others who walk a similar path has been invaluable.

I do not believe that spirituality is a supplement to addiction recovery. I believe that it is an integral part of addiction recovery and life in general. ?It provides a foundation upon which to build a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, free from the chains of addiction, trauma, dysfunction, and many adversities we all face in life.

Spiritual practices like mindfulness, meditation, and prayer can serve as healthy coping mechanisms for managing stress, cravings, and other triggers for addictive behavior. These were my practices but there are other spiritual practices that individuals use as well. I suggest that whether because of addiction recovery or just life in general, everyone should discover a way that helps them to decompress and refresh.

Another major factor I have discovered throughout my recovery journey is that as we grow and evolve spirituality begins to create in us a set of values and morals that guide behavior. In recovery, these values can help individuals make healthier choices and navigate difficult situations without turning to addictive substances and/or behaviors. Sometimes we do not see these changes at first because it is like everything else in life, especially addiction recovery, a process.

I think it is also important to know that spirituality is a deeply personal aspect of recovery and can take many different forms. What works for one person may not work for another. Everyone in recovery should explore and find what resonates with them. Additionally, spirituality is often just one of the many aspects of a comprehensive recovery program. Some of the other aspects or ways of recovery may also include therapy, support groups, medication, and other interventions tailored to the individual's needs.

As I close out this letter, I want to thank you for taking the time to read it. I also want to say thank you to those who work to support individuals on their journey of recovery. May we continue to find strength and encouragement in our spiritual connections as we navigate the challenges ahead. May we always be willing to reach out a hand to those in need, whether they are in recovery or not and whether they are challenged with addiction or not. Being of a spiritual mindset reminds me that we are all human and we are all challenged with some form of addiction. A friend says that she may not be a drug addict or alcoholic, but her addiction is her perfectionism.

I hope that you have enjoyed this newsletter. Remember if you need support, even just someone to listen to you, my contact information is below.

[email protected]???????????? https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/susan-tyrrell-holisticrecovery/ https://www.alignable.com/shushan-ny/holistic-recovery-solutions https://www.instagram.com/purplelotus2016/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/susan.sedgwicktyrrell

Wishing you a happy and serene day!

With Gratitude

Susan Tyrrell