“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s” – 1 Corinthians 6: 19- 20 NKJV

Addiction impacts toddlers and teenagers, young people, and elderly men and women alike, and affects people of all ethnicities, demographics, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It varies from person to person since some people battle with addiction more than others. While addictive behaviors share similar neurological and psychological processes and produce pleasurable feelings and sensations, persons attempting to cure an addiction frequently replace such behaviors with other alternatives that may not be healthy.

Addiction, therefore, is a relationship between a person and an object, substance, or activity. The object or activity becomes increasingly important as the addiction progresses, whereas formerly important activities become less important. In the end, addiction is about a complex conflict between acting on an urge and resisting it. The condition has existed since the dawn of time, and society has been trying to develop various remedies for it for nearly as long. As one might expect, some of the previous methods of addiction treatment were less than pleasant, making it even more fortunate that we now live in a society where compassionate care is available. While we do not know everything about how it was treated in the past, there are enough accounts of treatment procedures from the last 300 years to give us a good idea.

It is also worth noting that the recovery process only works if the individual battling addiction acknowledges the problem and the challenge that comes with it.

According to the transtheoretical model of behavior change, any change requires a process that begins with pre-contemplation and progresses to contemplation. You may be in denial about the impacts of your battle with addiction in the early stages of treatment. You may experience feelings of doubt as you become more conscious of the issues you’re dealing with, even as you become more aware of your need to conquer your addiction. However, once you have decided to change, you may start planning your next steps.  The length of time it takes to recover varies from person to person based on the severity of the addiction, and it requires a certain amount of consistency to get the desired result, therefore addiction is not a hopeless situation.

Recognizing and accepting the warning symptoms of addiction can be frightening, especially as a Christian living in a society where many are ostracized for the same.  Starting to seek addiction treatment is a far more difficult task, however, it is important to mention that there is nothing wrong with seeking help from addiction as a Christian.

Seeking counseling and therapy is one approach to get started with the process as outpatient or inpatient programs are both available. These programs also help you develop and strengthen (healthy) life 樂威壯
skills, as well as provide structure and support for long-term recovery.

Here are some of the approaches or ways you might come across:

  • Behavioral therapy

This comprises dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing (MI), which are often done one-on-one. They are designed to change people’s behavior, emotions, and attitudes. They assist you in taking responsibility for your recovery and abstinence. Through this therapy, you can also improve family and close relationship communications and dynamics.

  • Group psychotherapy

This method, which is facilitated by at least one therapist, creates a space for you to relate to other patients who are dealing with similar problems. This allows you or a loved one to share knowledge and assist other patients. You can use this to create healthy and loving relationships.

  • Support groups

These provide a secure place in which to discuss personal challenges and addiction issues.  After finishing therapy, these organizations provide support and follow-up care. However, they cannot be utilized in place of a strategic, well-planned treatment.

  • Prayer

Above all, it is important to maintain and continuously work on your relationship with God as a Christian. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 admonishes us that we should care for our body as it is the temple of God. This means avoiding, at all costs, anything that destroys our ability to connect with God. Prayer is one way we can ensure we walk in alignment with God’s purpose for our lives. It is important to constantly study His Word too. You can read more about How to Understand the Word of God Better

No Christian is perfect. Every Christian is battling with something. One of those things could be an addiction, and if that is the case, feel loved, and feel heard. Explore some of these tips and we hope you recover soon.

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