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Even after someone is completely detoxed and has all alcohol or drugs removed from their body, they will still obsess about drinking or using. I have suggested clearly in previous blogs how I think AA’s 12 recovery programme helps specifically with problems of emotion dysregulation. For example, one variable I believe is slightly different in alcoholism to other affective disorders is distress based impulsivity which leads to maladaptive decision making, it leads to always wanting more of that…that anything. I contend that alcoholism is an emotional disorder which results in chemical dependency on the substance of alcohol. However in order to treat it we have to first contend with the symptomatic manifestation of this disorder, chronic alcohol use, as it is the most life threatening aspect of this disorder when we present our selves at AA.
- The solution to your alcoholism is the same as the solution to their alcoholism.
- When this occurs, individuals are experiencing what experts refer to as a co-occurring disorder.
- We will try to fill this god-sized hole with anything we can.
- Just an attempt to stimulate thought or discussion and provide information based on my study and experience.
- My affective disorder via various neural and cognitive – affective mechanisms leads to chronic substance use and dependency of these substances.
I also have other ways of reacting in an emotionally unhealthy way that my step 4 showed. I got as far as deciding it was an inherent problem with processing negative emotions, which it is. Just as revealing where the negative emotions listed which clearly showed how I react, and can still react to people who I believe have caused my hurt or rejection. I did not realise that the engine driving this emotion dysregulation was chronic shame. I do not necessarily have to react to my feelings of negativity about myself, someone else does not need to experience the consequence of my resentments. This allows me to do a quick inventory of my negative emotions and a prayer to God to have them removed.
Lakehouse Recovery Center
Almost disappointingly I found some of my sins were quite tame when compared to other people I have spoken to in recovery. Thus my original point is not semantic, AA was not founded by one person, it was co-founded as we alcoholics achieve sobriety with the help of other alcoholics. Dr Bob, it is aid, went on to help over 5,000 alcoholics achieve sobriety and died sober. I share my feelings of shame with those who know what that feels like. When I am in fear and shame the same pattern of negative reactions entrap my heart in its’ poisonous grip and I react in a way I would not choose to, if more reasonable.
Anxiousness, depression, and boredom are a few other factors that contribute to being spiritually maladapted. We would use drugs and alcohol to deal with spiritual malady these issues. For a while, that seemed to work for us but once we stopped using substances the discontentedness came back to the surface in sobriety.
When a Spiritual Malady Becomes All Consuming
These things are out of whack and not aligned.“ The process of recovery is useful to remedy this problem. Due to the nature of frequent episodes of powerlessness over our behavior, attached to addiction and alcoholism, we often acted in a way we would never act in sobriety. We had limited control over behaviour at times due to intoxication and acted on occasion in a way that shames us today. Someone you are going to open up to and discuss intimate stuff with, someone who will ultimately know the shameful secrets that can keep a person spiritually and emotionally sick and will continue to do so until we share this stuff and let it all go. In order to fully recover from alcoholism, addiction and addictive behaviours, we find we have to trust at least one other human being.
Can an atheist do AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous don't require you to believe in a certain way. “Most people in AA are very welcoming and open to agnostics and atheists.
Whenever you find yourself feeling irritable discontent bored with your life or depressed it is likely that you may have skipped meditation or prayer. In these situations, I feel further from God than normal and then I wonder who moved me or God and the answer is always me. Frequently, individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction are also experiencing a mental health issue like an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder.