Spirituality in addiction treatment is essential to finding a sustainable path to recovery. Everyone has their own unique journey. It takes time to build a routine that offers you the tools to cope with everyday difficulties and maintain a substance-free life.
If you aren’t comfortable with the word “spirituality,” that’s okay. You don’t necessarily need to think about specific religious doctrines or begin a quest for enlightenment to benefit from a spiritual practice. Your journey might be more about finding routines that connect you with others and equip you with the tools you need to live a better life.
Spirituality is Self-Discovery
Most people reach a point in their lives when they start searching for answers. It’s in our nature to look for meaning and purpose. Spirituality is simply a person’s journey to learn more about their identity and place in the world.
It’s tempting to think about spirituality as some abstract pursuit into questions with no real answers. However, a spiritual practice is fundamental to living a fulfilling life. For many people, the practice results in finding constructive, practical routines that remind us of what we value and what we might do to help ourselves and others.
Recovery is Spirituality
At its core, recovery is a spiritual journey. It’s about being present and engaged with the world around us. Substance use is often a misguided attempt to push away challenges in life. Drugs and alcohol silence the concerns a person feels about everyday challenges or past trauma.
When someone suffering from an addiction decides to live a substance-free life, they benefit greatly from spirituality in addiction treatment. You might have heard people in recovery or 12-step programs talk about “doing the work.” The work is different for everyone, but it typically means dealing with difficulties or unhelpful thought patterns in constructive ways.
The process of recovery and spirituality are so closely linked that they are nearly identical. They’re both journeys in which you look for answers about yourself and the world around you.
Tools to Aid Spirituality in Addiction Treatment
People use many tools as part of their practices. In recovery, you will likely try several different activities to find which ones work best for you. A few of the most helpful tools include…
- Meditation
- Gratitude
- Mindfulness training
- Yoga
- Prayer
- Charity work and volunteering
- Self-exploration through the Enneagram
These are just a few of the tools available to those seeking spirituality in addiction treatment. You might find that your practice involves something as simple as exercise or focused breathing. It’s important to be open to new experiences and concepts that you’ve never previously considered. You never know where you might find unexpected answers.
Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice
You might initially find these ideas challenging. For those who are naturally pragmatic, skeptical or cynical, spiritual practices and concepts may seem so abstract that they promise few benefits. If that instinct sounds familiar, you shouldn’t be deterred from giving these approaches a try.
A spiritual pursuit is about searching for tools that work for you. It’s about finding resources and activities that bring you a sense of peace and meaning. You don’t need to inauthentic or betray your pragmatic instincts. In fact, you are looking for practical solutions to some of your biggest challenges in life.
Through spirituality in addiction treatment, you learn to keep an open mind and try practices or routines that offer you real benefits. By connecting with yourself and others, you allow to potential to improve and learn lessons that will enrich your quality of life.
Contact Providence Treatment to Find Your Path
At Providence Treatment, we help professionals find their own sustainable path of recovery. We encourage clients discover the tools that work for them, offering them everything from individual counseling to silent retreats. If you’d like to learn more about our holistic approach and pursuing spirituality in addiction treatment, we encourage you to contact our staff today by calling 866-247-3307.
