Spirituality and addiction

Reach out now, we can help
Home / Posts tagged "#12Steps" (Page 3)

Spirituality and addiction

30 September, 2020Articles, News

Addiction is often described as a “spiritual, physical, and emotional” disease.

What is spirituality

Historically the terms spirituality and religion have been confused to mean the same thing. Generally speaking, when the term “spirituality” is used, it refers to a feeling or belief in the oneness between an individual and the universe, being in touch with one’s soul or inner self, and even simply a sense of personal well-being. None of these meanings has a specific reference to a deity or to religion.

Spiritual consequences in active addiction

Addiction and spirituality go hand-in-hand as we notice the contrast of how spirituality plays a role in both addiction and recovery. In active addiction, there is typically an absence of connection to spirit – this will differ from individual to individual.

Addiction is a disease of isolation which feeds on shame and guilt. Addiction robs us of our spirituality because it makes us believe we are not connected, we are alone and we, in turn, are too numb to hear or understand any sense of intuition, spirit or higher power. It makes us believe we have little or nothing for which to be grateful and it blinds us from being mindful or present to reality.

Spirituality in recovery

In recovery, a spiritual practice is absolutely essential and often becomes the backbone of staying clean and sober for many. Most would argue that to be truly successful in breaking the chains of addiction, we all need a spiritual path in recovery and a community of support to go along with it. The reason for this is that the addict in us wants us to remain alone in the dark, but a spiritual path and community, shine the light for us. Once a light illuminates, the darkness cannot survive. Understanding the role spirituality can play in recovery is usually the cornerstone for many in treatment.

Feeling connected to ourselves, others, and a source greater than us, can cause feelings of well-being, purpose and contentment. These feelings begin to replace our ego, fear and anxiety as the sense of connectedness creates a pathway for healing.

The 12 steps and spirituality

12 Step programs guide individuals to really contemplate their sense of spirituality and, over time, to build on it. The 12-Steps themselves help people understand just how much control we have over our lives as human beings – and, with that, how we can rely on God as you understand Him, or any another Higher Power, to help navigate the journey towards recovery which is typically filled with ups and downs.

12-Step programs don’t need to merely talk about spirituality in order for a person to generate a stronger sense of what that means to them. The Steps themselves require that those in recovery acknowledge the pain they’ve caused others, and to ask for forgiveness. This act of taking ownership builds a sense of spirituality in bringing a person’s focus back down to the level of “humanness”, which we so often forget.

By participating actively in 12-Step meetings, a person is making a contribution – an effort towards bettering their community and connecting with others. This spiritual sense of belonging is crucial for a person to soar in recovery, and 12-Step programs clearly facilitate this.

Reference

https://www.burningtree.com/spirituality-and-the-12-steps-what-you-can-gain-in-recovery/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/the-heart-addiction/201503/spirituality-and-addiction

No Obligation Addiction Assessment

Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
Left Arrow Right Arrow

Approved Medical Aids

Bestmed LogoBonitas LogoCAMAF LogoDiscovery Health LogoFedhealth LogoGovernment Employees Medical SchemeLiberty CorporateMedihelp Medical Scheme

What is a 12 Step Programme ?

Reach out now, we can help
Home / Posts tagged "#12Steps" (Page 3)

What is a 12 Step Programme ?

28 August, 2020Articles, News

Bill Wilson (Bill W) and Dr Robert Holbrook Smith (Dr Bob) are the founding members of Alcoholics Anonymous; this fellowship came into being in 1935. Both were alcoholics and both found a new way to live through the programme they founded, this has become known as the 12 step programme.

A twelve-step programme outlines specific actions to be taken for recovery from an addiction, or compulsive behaviours or indeed other behavioural problems. Alcoholics Anonymous were the first to introduce the idea as a way of overcoming alcoholism. As a result there are over 200 different types of 12 step fellowships/organisations that offer recovery from addictions, compulsions, and other behavioural related problems; these include Over Eaters Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Co – dependents Anonymous.

The 12 Steps:

  1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
  2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
  7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
  8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
  11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The 12 Steps were first published in the book ; Alcoholics Anonymous: The story of how more than One Hundred Men have recovered from alcoholism in 1939. The book described how alcohol affected the individual in three ways, spiritually, mentally and physically. It describes a physical allergy – when the alcoholic has the first drink the body reacts with craving and wants more alcohol. You are unable to stop.

The mental obsession sees the alcoholic persisting with the same behaviour expecting a different result, trapped in the delusion, unable to see their truth. The book spoke of the “Spiritual Malady” based in self-centredness. Through working through the steps, the self-centredness is replaced with a willingness to be more self-less.

There are four elements that make a 12 Step programme unique in its approach to dealing with any addiction or negative behaviour. Members of these fellowships are encouraged to attend meetings, have a sponsor, connect with a Higher Power and to be of Service.

At meetings individuals are able to share their experience, relate and identify with others who are in recovery. A sponsor is someone with experience in the programme and is able to guide others using their experience. The programme has no religious affiliations. Instead it suggests that people have a personal connection with a Higher Power, which means that those with no religious beliefs are able to find something that will work for them. Individuals are encouraged to be of service as this helps to combat the self-centredness.

Members of 12 Step Fellowships are encouraged to practice the spiritual principal of anonymity and respect other members confidentiality. This ensures a space free of judgement and fear. Members are able to express themselves without fear and therefore find deeper connections with others in the programme.

The 12 Step model is a proven method used to bring about change. The majority of treatment centres have adopted the 12 Steps as a foundation of their treatment models. Unlike other models it offers specific action to bring about change. Practical and Simple.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program

No Obligation Addiction Assessment

Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
Left Arrow Right Arrow

Approved Medical Aids

Bestmed LogoBonitas LogoCAMAF LogoDiscovery Health LogoFedhealth LogoGovernment Employees Medical SchemeLiberty CorporateMedihelp Medical Scheme

Putting the Resilience into Recovery.

Reach out now, we can help
Home / Posts tagged "#12Steps" (Page 3)

Putting the Resilience into Recovery.

21 August, 2020Articles, News

Resilience is the remarkable human capacity for bouncing back. The hallmark of resilience is the ability to adapt in the face of adversity, be it trauma, tragedy, threats, adversity, or any other source of stress, from relationship troubles, workplace and money stressors, to serious health issues.

This isn’t to say that a resilient person never experiences any degree of difficulty or distress, or that if they do- it doesn’t affect them emotionally. It merely means that they have the strength and coping skills to bounce back after these traumas. Resilience is not a personality trait that people are born with, either. It’s a set of skills which can be learnt and built upon.

Some of the so called unfortunates referred to in The Big Book: alcoholics , addicts, “failures”, people who’ve attempted suicide, those lost in depression — the kind of people you’d never think would make it through — and yet, their resilience has been both remarkable and transformative.

Traditional trauma and crisis theory suggest that people generally adapt well over time to life-changing situations and stressful conditions. After a six to eight-week period, normal coping skills kick in and life returns to a kind of normality.

Most people we encounter in the rehab environment do not have the coping skills to manage the trauma that has resulted in a life of abuse of substances. They turn to an addictive set of behaviours to stop the emotional pain that they are facing. This often results in a life of complete unmanageability and destruction both to themselves and those close to them – family, partners friends and work colleagues.

There are some of these individuals who have been through hell and emerge on the other side. They embody all that the research into this field outlines. There are several factors that can enhance resilience, and it can be cultivated to serve you in overcoming life’s hurdles. Some of these are outlined below:

● Supportive relationships characterised by love and trust;

● Role models who offer encouragement and reassurance;

● The capacity to make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out;

● Develop positive self-esteem and confidence in your strengths and abilities;

● Skills in communication and problem-solving;

● The ability to control and deal with strong feelings and impulses.

One of the most relevant theories to understand the capacity for resilience is the theory of locus of control. It initially comes from social psychologist Julian Rotter in the 1950s and has been expanded on in many areas of behavioural science, most notably by Bernard Weiner, who was on the psychology faculty at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1965 into the early 2000s.

Your locus of control is the extent to which you believe you have control over the outcomes of events in your life, as opposed to external forces that are beyond your control. People with a strong internal locus of control believe outcomes result primarily from their own actions and abilities: for example, they feel the capacity to stay clean and sober comes down mostly their own efforts. They view their success or failure as being dependent on their ability to beat the disease.

A person with a strong external locus of control will assign using triggers and behaviour to external factors and circumstances over which they have no control.

Research has also shown that there are 5 key factors that contribute significantly to the chances of post discharge recovery.

● Support from others:

Does the person have a supportive and understanding environment of people in their lives that will aid the recovery process in a mature, stable manner? This could be family, a partner, a group of positive friends, a supportive employment environment and of course the AA and NA fellowship with meetings sponsors and all that goes with the recovery environment.

● Flexibility and adaptability

Has the person developed a set of flexible behavioural skills and tools to deal with adversity when it arises?

● Action planning

Do they have a plan of action in place to manage their daily monthly and yearly activities and have they built in contingency plans to adjust these plans when things do not work out according to their plan? Covid-19. Do we need to say anything more?

● Self-awareness

Have they developed a strong sense of self-awareness so that they can manage their behaviour in the most appropriate way in different situations?

● Hopefulness

Do they have a sense of hope for the future or are they consumed by despair and depression?

Resilience can be learned or taught. It involves developing thoughts, behaviors, and actions that allow you to recover from traumatic or stressful events in life. “When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience.” – ― Jaeda Dewalt.

No Obligation Addiction Assessment

Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
Left Arrow Right Arrow

Approved Medical Aids

Bestmed LogoBonitas LogoCAMAF LogoDiscovery Health LogoFedhealth LogoGovernment Employees Medical SchemeLiberty CorporateMedihelp Medical Scheme

The Craziness of the Crystal

Reach out now, we can help
Home / Posts tagged "#12Steps" (Page 3)

The Craziness of the Crystal

12 August, 2020Articles, News

Over the recent past, most rehabs in South Africa, have seen an exponential growth in the number of clients who present with paranoid thoughts and behaviour as a result of the abuse of Crystal Meth as it is commonly called.

Where did it originate.

“Methamphetamine is a man-made stimulant that’s been around for a long time. During World War II, soldiers were given meth to keep them awake. People have also taken the drug to lose weight and ease depression.” It has also been used for the treatment of obesity and in the treatment of ADHD. Today, the only legal meth product is a tablet for treating obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Crystal meth is made with the ingredient pseudoephedrine, which is found in many flu and cold remedies.

It was mainly produced in labs in Mexico however many small labs appear to have sprung up in South Africa. The ingredients are usually variable-depending on that is cheap and accessible at the time, therefore the user never quite knows what they are getting. There is some indication from users that it is laced with what they refer to as “spiritual stuff” (muti).

What Are the Effects?

  • Meth can make a user’s body temperature rise so high they could pass out or even die.
  • A user may feel anxious and confused, be unable to sleep, have mood swings, and become violent.
  • A user may age quickly. His/her skin may dull, and he/she can develop hard-to-heal sores and pimples. They may have a dry mouth and stained, broken, or rotting teeth (meth mouth).
  • They may also become paranoid and hear and see things that aren’t there.

It is this last point that seems to be the most prevalent and most concerning for rehab and addiction practitioners. An almost entrenched paranoia that seems to last for many months even though the toxic effects of the methamphetamine should, theoretically, no longer be present in the body

The research

The link between crystal meth use and symptoms of paranoia is well known and well documented in the relevant literature. The real concern for practitioners in the rehab field is being able to differentiate what is crystal meth induced paranoia and what is possibly a psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or even bipolar mood disorder.

Several research groups, especially in Japan, have successfully studied methamphetamine-induced paranoia. These studies are well respected as the Japanese methamphetamine subculture is characterised by single use drug users as poly-drug (multiple substances) use has been uncommon. The results showed that a small percentage of meth users suffer from entrenched paranoia after at least 6 months of sobriety but there were a number of cases where even though people had been clean for many years there were still signs of paranoid delusions unrelated to a more severe psychiatric disorder.

Meth-induced psychosis sometimes presents in a similar way to paranoid schizophrenia and research has shown that at least 60 percent of people who use meth experience psychotic symptoms and syndromes.

What are the major signs of meth induced psychosis?

  • delusions
  • hallucinations,
  • paranoia, and sometimes
  • violent behaviour.

It is extremely difficult to differentiate hallucinations from what is real.

Prior to developing psychosis, a person who uses meth, may encounter a pre-psychotic state that is marked by delusional moods and ideas of reference or believing that everyday events have great personal significance. Delusions and hallucinations accompany full-blown psychosis.

People who are dependent on meth, who use high doses, who experienced childhood trauma, and/or who start taking the drug at a young age have an increased risk of having psychotic symptoms. The sleep deprivation that often accompanies meth use may aggravate these symptoms as well.

Other warning signs of crystal meth psychosis

  • Meth delusions: A person has strange, unrealistic, and/or false beliefs.
  • Meth hallucinations: Auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations make a person hear, see, or feel things that don’t exist.
  • Meth paranoia: A person becomes extremely suspicious of those around them and may even believe that people are out to get them.

This can result in very strained relationships with their fellow people in the recovery centre.

How long can these signs remain?

It is usually dependent on the physical characteristics of the individual as well as their level of mental health, and severity of drug use.

Meth psychosis may last several hours, and on average, a person typically recovers from it in one week. However, psychosis sometimes lasts for months and even years after a person stops using. Spontaneous flashback psychotic episodes may also be triggered by stress or by using the drug again.

The Treatment processes

Individuals experiencing meth psychosis may need some form of stabilisation in specialised health care facilities before coming to rehab.

At Crossroads we apply the combination of the 12-step programme as well as the traditional Crossroads treatment methodology, which involves group therapy, family support and individual counselling .

Individuals with a dual diagnosis and co-occurring mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, may be better served in an inpatient or residential treatment program until they are stable.

No Obligation Addiction Assessment

Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
    Angelique J
    Read more
Left Arrow Right Arrow

Approved Medical Aids

Bestmed LogoBonitas LogoCAMAF LogoDiscovery Health LogoFedhealth LogoGovernment Employees Medical SchemeLiberty CorporateMedihelp Medical Scheme
add_action('wp_footer', function() { ?>