A spiritual awakening is a great way to increase your chances of recovering from substance and alcohol abuse. This will help you to have better mental health and a greater sense of serenity and peace. It will also help you to decrease your risk of relapse.
Mental health
A spiritual awakening is often part of the recovery process for individuals suffering from substance and alcohol abuse. It’s a moment of intense emotion that shifts how people think, feel, and react. It can be a part of a 12-step recovery program like the ones done at Impact Recovery Center, but it can also happen independently. Studies have shown that a positive spiritual connection to a higher power reduces the adverse effects of stress and depression. It’s also associated with fewer addictive behaviors. While a spiritual connection to a higher power is not necessary to be successful in substance and alcohol abuse recovery, many clients want their counselors to incorporate spirituality into the counseling sessions. It can help recovering addicts maintain the changes they’ve made during treatment.
Recovery
Getting help for alcohol and substance abuse is the first step in recovery. However, getting sober is not always easy. The most challenging part is realizing that you are an addict. The early stages of recovery can be physically and mentally exhausting. A person in recovery may be depressed and anxious. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with these emotions. One of the most helpful techniques is meditation. In meditation, you can relax and keep spirituality at the forefront of your mind. Finding a higher power can be essential in recovering from substance and alcohol abuse. Several studies have shown that higher levels of spirituality lead to better mental and physical health. Several people in recovery attribute their successful recovery to a spiritual awakening. This term may sound vague, but it can happen in many different ways. It can be a simple process of self-improvement or a more structured approach to religion.
Increased sense of serenity
Many people with substance use disorders struggle with a spiritual void. Often, this void can cripple a person’s sense of value and purpose. Having faith in a Higher Power is a powerful element of recovery. Spirituality encourages a person to look beyond themselves and to serve others. It can also renew a person’s energy in times of trouble. This void can also make a person numb and uninterested in life. Religion is a systematic set of texts and rituals that an organized leader guides. Religion can provide a feeling of community and belong despite its institutional nature. The study found that most participants believed it was essential to develop a relationship with a spiritual higher power. However, there were differences in the types of faith. Some group members believed in inanimate objects, while others believed in other people.
Reduced risk of relapse
In addiction recovery, it is essential to have a solid spiritual foundation. This may come from organized religion, but it can also be personal. It provides a basis for healthy coping mechanisms that can help you deal with stress. It can also prevent boredom, which is a common trigger for relapse. People in recovery are often unsure about what the purpose of life is. This can cause them to feel isolated and alone. However, spirituality can help them to find meaning in their lives. It has been found that religious involvement is associated with decreased substance use. It is also associated with increased abstinence.
Supportive communities
Using spiritually-based interventions can help patients reconnect with essential aspects of their lives. Faith-based programs are often paired with peer support groups. Both types of support groups focus on coping mechanisms. Some programs also focus on self-awareness and moral inventory. One study of addiction and recovery found that people who were intensely spiritual during recovery were more likely to remain sober. In addition, they were less likely to engage in substance abuse. However, the sample was too small to draw any conclusions about the relationship between religion and long-term sobriety.
