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Understanding the Spiritual Malady,’ and How to Heal in Glenwood Springs

You are merely instructed to be open to the idea that you are not the end all be all, that there exists out in the universe something that is greater or more powerful than yourself. However, you choose to interact with that higher power is also up to you. Whether you seek to engage in formal prayer, informal mental conversations, or merely by doing good and putting positive energy into the universe, there is no right or wrong way to pray to your higher power. Once you open up to this idea and implement that spiritual connection, you will experience your long-awaited spiritual awakening, the answer to that pesky spiritual malady we suffer from as alcoholics. When the spiritual malady is overcome, a person experiences inner peace, freedom from resentment, and a restored connection with others and a higher power.

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I want to make clear to members that these thoughts are not definitive treatise on the subjects. Just an attempt to stimulate thought or discussion and provide information based on my study and experience. Today I look further at the disease of alcoholism focusing on it as a spiritual malady. A spiritual malady, then, reduces to a sense of otherness felt by many alcoholics that prevents them from feeling at peace with themselves and the world around them. Spiritual malady can trigger feelings of irritability, restlessness, and discontentedness. These feelings can become unmanageable – more on the unmanageability of life for alcoholics below.

Why Is It Important to Address a Spiritual Malady?

spiritual malady

This is why we need a satisfactory definition of what alcoholism and addition is? Rather than describing these conditions in terms of the manifest symptoms, i.e chronic substance abuse or, at times, vague “spiritual maladies”. Thankfully, the «spiritual malady» is no longer a «missing piece» of Step One for me.

  • The AA Big Book describes a spiritual malady as the inner turmoil, selfishness, and fear that drive addiction.
  • The most important thing is that you keep an open mind and heart as you continue on your sobriety journey.
  • However, that does not mean addicts are confronting this spiritual ailment by themselves.
  • Living by spiritual principles as outlined in the 12 Steps can help alleviate the symptoms of spiritual malady and promote spiritual growth.
  • Also, they cannot fathom how other people manage to deal with crises in life – even when they have it worse.

What are some common signs of a spiritual malady?

This could be the power of nature, the universe, or even something as simple as your cats or dogs at home – perhaps their love for you and the fact that they need you to be sober is your Higher Power. It doesn’t matter what your Higher Power is; what matters is that you believe in something that can help guide and support you on your journey to recovery. Even if you don’t believe in God right now, it’s important to keep an open mind. Things may change over time, and you never know when or how your beliefs might evolve. The important thing is that you stay committed to your sobriety and continue working the program – eventually, everything else will fall into place.

Causes and Triggers of Spiritual Malady

This will allow them to undergo the required shift in thought that will free them from their addiction. Doing so will give you a better idea of how a spiritual malady affects an alcoholic. Addiction is a spiritual disease because it represents an individual’s attempt to disconnect from reality and any sense of spirituality. Simply put, they feel a terrible loneliness at their very soul or center of being. However, this does not mean, necessarily, they’ve abandoned their faith. As overwhelming as I’m sure this all may seem for someone who’s either never had a spiritual connection, or been disconnected for years, I’d like to assure you it’s not as formidable as it may seem.

  • This is the type ofspiritually maladapted behaviorthat we typically exhibit in active alcoholism.
  • Integrating practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and acts of service into daily life can further enhance spiritual well-being and foster a sense of peace and purpose.
  • The spiritual malady is not the only aspect of the three-fold illness that can be healed in Glenwood Springs.
  • Science, in turn, points us to a more satisfying way out of the alcohol trap.

To conclude, it’s not my body – my allergic reaction to alcohol – that’sgoing to take me back to drinking. It’s really not my mind – the mentalobsession – that is the underlying root of what will take me back todrinking. It’s the «spiritual malady», as manifested by my EGO (selfishness-self-centeredness), that can eventually lead me back to drinking or sometimes even suicide.

If you are struggling with alcoholism or any other addiction, it is important to seek help from AA or another 12-step program. Developing and maintaining spiritual https://cheekystreet.com/tag/sober-literature/ wellness involves fostering a connection to a higher power or greater sense of purpose. This connection can be achieved through various practices, such as meditation, prayer, and reflection on principles or values.

To experience a spiritual connection with the natural world, there are various things you can do. Spending time in the great outdoors is an excellent way to connect with nature and feel a sense of calm and wonder. By taking walks in parks or hiking trails, you can learn more about the local flora and fauna while also calming your mind.

This requires a willingness to explore new ideas, practices, and experiences. It is important to stay engaged with others and to seek out opportunities for personal growth and development. This means those things that are not solid- such as our thoughts, our beliefs, our emotions- are what is spiritual. When we say that alcoholism or drug addiction is ‘a spiritual malady’, it means that our disease in centered in these things (thoughts, beliefs, emotions). And yet, if you’ve spent any time around AA folks, chances are the term has come up.

Grasping the way spiritual malady drives addiction is vital to break this cycle. By addressing the spiritual disconnection at the root of our addiction, we can begin to heal and find lasting sobriety. We become so fixated on it that almost everything we do leads us to think about getting intoxicated. The mind and alcoholism are so cunning, baffling, and powerful that we often cannot fathom how we ended up intoxicated when relying on our strong willpower to stay sober. This is because many people have had negative experiences with various religions or religious concepts in their youth. The good news is that spirituality and religion do not have to overlap in recovery.

For many folks, including myself, ‘the spiritual’ aspects of recovery can be a challenge. We tend to show up with a truckload of old ideas in this area and a lot of us consider ourselves to be atheists. Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. You’ll meet hundreds of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through!

But first, it’s crucial that you understand the difference between a spiritual experience and a religious one. While I could go on forever on https://mediredvital.com/2018/11/ the differences between these two ideas, I’ll keep it as simple as possible. If you are seeking drug and alcohol related addiction rehab for yourself or a loved one, the YourFirstStep.org hotline is a confidential and convenient solution. Finally, someone explained to me that those things are not the insanity that the Big Book talks about; nor are those things why the alcoholic’s life becomes unmanageable. An environment that is supportive and appreciates the spiritual aspects of addiction is crucial for sustained recovery.

On A Mission To End Addiction!

These are all positive things that can help you on your journey to recovery, regardless of your beliefs. This is the type ofspiritually maladapted behaviorthat we typically exhibit in active alcoholism. When not treating the spiritual aspect of the disease those behaviors are the types of things that will start to make life unmanageable once again. Once we are aware of these feelings, we can begin the real work on ourselves. It is not easy to do so but recognizing this aspect of alcoholism forces us to take an honest look in the mirror at our behaviors and attitudes toward life and other people.

It is also important to remember that a spiritual malady is not just a temporary or fleeting experience. It can be a persistent, ongoing condition that can have a profound impact on all aspects of your life. By staying alert to the warning signs and taking action to address them, you can avoid falling into the trap of a spiritual malady and find greater meaning and purpose in your life. As a result, a song in our head, upon waking up, can act as a spiritual wake-up call. It revitalizes our connection with our thoughts and emotions, pushing us to contemplate our spiritual growth and the need for positive change. A Pro Tip to alleviate this condition is to practice mindfulness and meditation, allowing for the release of negative thoughts and emotions, paving the way for a deeper spiritual awakening.

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