Spirituality and Recovery

Alcoholics Anonymous was the main pioneer of the spiritual concept in recovery from alcoholism, although AA borrowed much from the Oxford Group. The Oxford Group was a Christian religious movement aimed at alcoholics, though, while AA sought unaffiliated spiritual enhancement, leaving religion to each individual as a choice, so as not to exclude any alcoholics seeking help who have different religious backgrounds and spiritual understandings. Other 12 Step programs, like Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous, and treatment efforts of all sorts followed the lead of AA and instituted spirituality in recovery from addiction. However, there has been controversy, because many in our society are very careful not to appear mystical when it comes to  medical conditions, and most medical professionals are uncomfortable with concepts like spirituality when they mix with their medical work. It’s the old clash between science and religion. In treatment therapy, though, we can combine science and spirituality rather effectively, and many researchers are realizing there are evidenced based results when spirituality is included in treatment. It helps to understand what’s meant by spirituality. This is from Alternatives In Treatment:

Spirituality Is Not the Same to Everyone

Spirituality may be theistic, based on a belief in a god, or non-theistic, based on ideas of inner strength or certain moral values. Spirituality may be associated with a certain set of religious beliefs, or represent a broader, non-denominational sense of interest in the spiritual.  Spirituality doesn’t require church attendance or even a belief in a higher power. For some, spirituality is simply defined through the actual experience of spirituality, such as:

• Heightened awareness
• Acute clarity
• Feelings of understanding and empathy
• Authenticity
• Increased sense of meaning and purpose

Despite a lack of a certain definition for “spirituality,” it’s relevant to addiction treatment in that it often incorporates therapies and treatments of related issues, such as depression and anxiety. Multiple studies have found a correlation between spirituality or religious devotion and the ability to deal with stress, essentially serving as a buffer.

If you accept this working definition, it only makes sense that if a recovering person has a stronger sense of purpose and meaning, is more authentic, more empathetic, more mentally clear and focused, then they have a better chance at long-term recovery from addiction. Plus, when a person realizes they aren’t alone and can use the support and guidance of a “power” outside themselves, whether the power is a group of supportive recovering addicts, or the power of family love and nurturing, or the power of a chosen religion, or a combination of them all, their recovery is stronger. It’s not up to treatment professionals to determine the nature of the spiritual power, but only to convey that the power of spirituality is healing.