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Faith-Informed Recovery: Embracing Spiritual Support in Substance Abuse Treatment

Faith-Informed Recovery: Embracing Spiritual Support in Substance Abuse Treatment

Roughly 89 years ago, two people struggling with addiction got together and decided that they were going to have to do two things if they had any hope of recovery. One was to work with other people also struggling with addiction (to be “of service”). The other was to adopt a “Higher Power” greater than themselves. They would need to have spiritual support. Those two people were Bill W. and Dr. Bob, the co-founders of 12-Step recovery, a program that has gone on to help millions of individuals and their families recover.

What Is Faith-Informed Recovery?

Faith-informed recovery is very much what its moniker proposes. It is a recovery that relies on spiritual support. 

Many people balk when it comes to spirituality in recovery because of their past experiences with religion. Some individuals entering recovery feel like they have been abandoned by a Higher Power, “because what kind of Higher Power would let them fall into active addiction?” These are understandable and even justifiable feelings. However, this is an issue if these preconceived notions about spirituality close an individual off to the spiritual supports that can help them recover.

The iconic English philosopher Herbert Spencer said, “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance – that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” When one keeps themselves open to trying faith-informed recovery, they keep themselves open to a new better way of life. 

Is Faith-Informed Recovery Religious?

Many people conflate religion with spirituality. This is a bit of a fallacy. While, yes, religion is often very spiritual, spirituality does not have to be associated with any set religion whatsoever.

This is why many recovery communities chose to use the term “Higher Power of your own understanding” rather than God. It keeps the door open for any type of religion or spirituality that one wishes to incorporate into their recovery.

Some people have trouble with the Higher Power aspect at the beginning of their recovery. However, when they discover that their Higher Power can be anything bigger than themselves, they can usually find something to adopt. For example, many people choose the universe to be their Higher Power (it is certainly something outside the realm of complete understanding). Some people choose their Higher Power to be their recovery group because something must be responsible for keeping all of these people protected in their recovery. The key is to remain open to spiritual support.

Embracing Spiritual Support in Substance Abuse Treatment

It is interesting how many people are more willing to embrace modalities like therapy and medication than they are for spiritual support. After all, for as much research and evidence that is available, people are still not 100% positive about how and why these two types of treatment work. The same is true with spiritual support.

So, how can one embrace spiritual support in recovery? Again, the key is to remain open. It is also important to take suggestions. For example, most faith-informed recovery plans suggest praying and meditating in the morning and at night. This not only sets one up for a positive day and good night’s sleep, but it also has many other benefits.

The benefits of meditation are vast and varied. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.” Also, “A study on the effect of meditation on the executive attentional network found that meditators were faster on all tasks.”

Spiritual Support via the Twelve Steps

Another way to find spiritual support is via the Twelve Steps. There are many types of 12-Step recovery, but they are all based on spiritual principles and support.

In fact, the Second Step directly states, “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” By working a 12-Step program, one allows themselves open to the opportunity to adopt a spiritual life. 

When struggling with active addiction, it can feel like there’s no way out. A life filled with spiritual support offers that way out.

Offering Spiritual Support at New Creation Recovery

At New Creation Recovery, we believe in faith-informed treatment modalities. Why? Because we have seen the miracles that faith in recovery can bring.

In Mathew 6:34, Jesus Christ said, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Recovery is about one day at a time, and with spiritual support, each day can truly be better than the last.

The integration of faith-based principles in substance abuse treatment, even for individuals who may not initially identify with a specific religious tradition, can be highly beneficial for whole mind-body-spirit recovery. Spirituality can be a source of strength, hope, and guidance in the recovery process. This spirituality can also be wholly inclusive of anyone’s beliefs. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you onto the positive spiritual path to long-term recovery right away. You are not alone. For more information about our spiritual-focused treatment process, please reach out to New Creation Recovery today at (877) 868-5730.