In Modern Terms, What is the Spiritual Malady of AA?

The desire to avoid connection with the spiritual aspects of the self are embedded in the nature of addiction. The avoidance of spirituality keeps the addict in addiction long after the desire to return to whole and healthy living is sparked. It is in this essence of anticipation of the future, and what it is imagined to hold, that stops so many from living the purpose they were born to live. He said, “spiritual simply refers to that which is not material.

• The 12-Steps focus on addressing and fixing the spiritual problems that led us into our addiction, and by doing so, we find that they allow us to positively change our mental and physical issues.
• These expressions that help people recovering from addiction regain a spiritual footing once again.
• It is emotionally healthy to live in the day … in the here and now.
• So, instead of fixating on the parts of the program that don’t work for you, focus on the things that do.

As you grow in your sobriety and learn more about yourself, you may find that your concept of a Higher Power changes as well. The most important thing is that you keep an open mind and heart as you continue on your sobriety journey. For example, AA rooms offer fellowship and support and provide a structure that can help keep you sober. These are all positive things that can help you on your journey to recovery, regardless of your beliefs. Here are some things you can do to work through your spiritual malady even if you don’t believe in God or have an understanding of your higher power.

#100 The Spiritual Malady Mary‘s Warstory

Part of the problem may lie in not being specific enough about what   alcoholism is. First, we searched out the flaws in our make-up which caused our failure. Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations. Reach out to our compassionate team to begin your recovery journey.

These things are out of whack and not aligned.“ The process of recovery is useful to remedy this problem. If you have found yourself or a loved one suffering from alcoholism or addiction, you are not alone! If you are ready to change your life and live free of addiction, thenFind Addiction Rehabscan help.

What About God?

My recovery has thus since been about “growing up” a bit, however unsuccessful I am in this pursuit on occasion. It shows the areas of behaviour and attitudes that can be treated by working the steps. It shows us how our approach to life can possibly be transformed for the better.

After reading ‘The Doctor’s Opinion,’ ‘Bill’s Story,’ and ‘There is a Solution,’ in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous,we came to an understanding that we have no control whatsoever over alcohol or drugs. For many recovering alcoholics this may be another unpalatable truth, that they have issues with emotional responding, with being emotionally mature. If further validation is required I suggest a frank conversation with  a loved one, wife, husband, child, parent, etc. What we used once to regulate negative emotions and a sense of self has eventually come to regulate our emotions to such an extent that any distress leads to the compulsive response of drinking. Alcoholics had become a compulsive disorder to relief distress not to induce pleasure. In fact our first “spiritual” wakening was probably the result of drinking as it transformed how we felt about ourselves and the world in which we lived.

The Spiritual Malady of Addiction

This means those things that are not solid- such as our thoughts, our beliefs, our emotions- are what is spiritual. When we say that alcoholism or drug addiction is ‘a https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-spiritual-malady-means/’, it means that our disease in centered in these things (thoughts, beliefs, emotions). In other words it is the consequence of my fear based condition, this affective disorder. It is important that when we embark upon this quest to alleviate our spiritual malady that we are not too harsh on ourselves. No one is perfect at first when attempting to live a spiritual life, especially when we are coming back from a long spiritual hiatus.

My inventory showed me also that I did not seem to have the facility previously to emotionally respond to the world in a mature way. I have for several years wondered if the spiritual malady described in the Big Book adequate or accurate enough in describing what I suffer from. Once you’ve found something that you can believe in, it’s important to remember that your Higher Power is there for you when you need it. When things get tough, take a moment to pray, meditate, or just sit quietly and think about your Higher Power and what it means to you. 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. One of the most important things in AA is finding a sponsor – someone who has been through the program and can help guide you through it.

What is A Spiritual Malady?

The third positive benefit is that someone who is obsessively seeking to improve has greater interpersonal sensitivity. Those who are seeking to be the best often seek the feedback of others and are more accepting of constructive criticism and instruction, making them more agreeable in their interactions. First things first, if anticipation of the future and what holds spiritually is alive, lay it down.

I contend that alcoholism is an emotional disorder which results in chemical dependency on the substance of alcohol. If you are seeking drug and alcohol related addiction rehab for yourself or a loved one, the YourFirstStep.org hotline is a confidential and convenient solution. The spiritual aspects of recovery and the ‘God word’ can be an obstacle for many new folks trying to get sober. Hopefully the ideas included in this short writing show that there are many ways to approach these topics.

Additionally, I could see Good Orderly Direction all around me- specifically in the workings of nature. This observation has convinced me of its importance in all of life. Conveniently, I overlooked the words ‘God as you understand Him (or Her’) ingeniously included in the steps. Receive weekly mailings to support your meditation journey and your daily practice. Find Addiction Rehabs is not a medical provider or treatment facility and does not provide medical advice.

There is an obsessive quality and an emotional sensitivity, often experienced in childhood, that later has the possibility of turning to an obsession to seek solace from the way they feel. Lacking the tools to manage pain, disappointment, and resentment in a healthy way, the mind obsessively seeks the only solution to the problem that has yet worked, which is a mind or mood-altering substance. This same obsessive nature causes those with a substance use disorder to instinctively seek other things for relief from their thoughts.

Friendship requires an active orientation toward life and your relationship

Similarly, those who struggle with alcohol addiction are more susceptible to developing a mental health issue. When this occurs, individuals are experiencing what experts refer to as a co-occurring disorder. It is treated through dual diagnosis, which looks to address both the physical addiction and mental health issues affecting the individual. Anxiousness, depression, and boredom are a few other factors that contribute to being spiritually maladapted. For a while, that seemed to work for us but once we stopped using substances the discontentedness came back to the surface in sobriety. So we have issues with emotions and somatic/body feeling states.

It doesn’t matter what your Higher Power is; what matters is that you believe in something that can help guide and support you on your journey to recovery. Self-reliance can also be dangerous because it can lead to pride. To do this, members must rely on their support system which includes other members, sponsors, and meetings. When people become too self-reliant, they often start to think that they don’t need AA anymore. They may start to skip meetings, distance themselves from their support system, and eventually relapse. As we work towards this state of selflessness we find that we are slowly being relieved of the hopeless alcoholic state we once thought we were doomed to be in forever.

In our addictions, we tried to quench our soul-thirst with fleeting pleasures. The pursuit of them dominated our lives, destroyed relationships, and caused greater desperation than we ever thought possible. We became selfish and self-seeking, ever thirsting for more, and this lust warped us on every level. But we were never satisfied, because but the living presence of God can quench our parched souls. One way to think of a Higher Power is simply as a force that is greater than yourself. This could be the power of nature, the universe, or even something as simple as your cats or dogs at home – perhaps their love for you and the fact that they need you to be sober is your Higher Power.

• In fact, I felt “more me” when I drank, it was like I escaped a restrictive sense of self to be a more expansive, people loving self.
• While I could go on forever on the differences between these two ideas, I’ll keep it as simple as possible.
• It shows us how our approach to life can possibly be transformed for the better.
• The important thing is that you stay committed to your sobriety and continue working the program – eventually, everything else will fall into place.
• 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.