Can Spirituality Help with Recovery?

Spirituality is a part of many recovery programs, including 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Spirituality is not for everyone, but many people in recovery turn to spirituality for support and guidance. It’s a personal choice, but some evidence shows that spirituality can increase the chances of recovery success.

Defining Spirituality

Spirituality is an abstract concept that’s difficult to define. People perceive spirituality differently, but at its core, it means connecting with something greater than self to find meaning in life. For some people, this means connecting with a higher power, while for others, it means connecting with nature or the energy of the universe. Spirituality is very personal, so you have to decide what spirituality means to you.

Spirituality Vs. Religion

While spirituality is more abstract and subject to personal interpretation, religion is generally more organized and structured. Religion presents a set of beliefs, rituals, and practices that people can choose to follow with the rest of that religious community. Usually, religion also involves the belief in and worship of a god or gods. What religion and spirituality have in common is a connection to something greater than self, whatever that might be.

What Science Says

Historically, in the scientific community, religious and spiritual beliefs were considered a symptom of mental illness. However, more recent research shows that spirituality and religion have mental health benefits and can aid in recovery. Studies show that people who are spiritual have higher recovery success rates. Spirituality seems to be linked to better coping skills, lower stress and anxiety, and improved emotional well-being.

Benefits of Spirituality in Recovery

Spirituality can provide many specific benefits that can lead to success in recovery.

Purpose

One of the challenges of addiction recovery is finding meaning in life to fill the void left when substance use ends. Spirituality involves much self-reflection in the context of things greater than self, which leads to a desire to find purpose. Having a purpose is a great motivator to achieve goals while staying sober. Whether the purpose lies in a career, creative expression, helping others, or personal growth, it drives the individual to move forward in a positive way.

Accountability

Spirituality involves connecting with a higher power, whatever you believe that power to be. This connection fosters a sense of accountability to the higher power, motivating you to stay committed to your recovery and to take positive actions.

Strength and Support

Often in recovery, people feel isolated and alone in their struggle. Belief in a power greater than self gives them something to turn to for support. Whether the power is a god or nature, they can lean on that power to find strength and guidance.

Personal Growth

Spirituality can motivate you to grow as a person to become the best version of yourself that you can be. It encourages you to self-examine, reflect on your mistakes, and acknowledge that you are a work in progress. This leads to a desire to become a better person and the drive to do so.

Mindfulness

Spirituality breeds mindfulness, which means focusing on the present moment and experiencing it fully. This can help to keep out negative thoughts and to avoid cravings. It also reduces stress and anxiety because you’re only in the moment, not worrying about the past or the future.

Spirituality in Practice

There are many ways to practice spirituality, and how you do so is a personal choice.

Meditation

Meditation involves focusing your thoughts to achieve a state of calm and relaxation. With spiritual meditation, you focus on connecting with both your inner self and your higher power. This can lead to greater self-awareness and a deeper understanding of your connection to the universe.

Yoga

Yoga is a way to connect your mind, body, and spirit through physical poses, breathing, and focused thoughts. Like meditation, it is a spiritual practice that can foster a greater connection with yourself and your higher power. It also has many physical benefits.

Prayer

Prayer means communicating with your higher power, often to ask for guidance or strength, or to express gratitude. It can be an individual activity or done in groups. It’s often a way to express feelings, and to foster a greater connection with something greater than self.

Connecting with Nature

For many, spirituality and nature are intertwined, with some considering the natural world their higher power. Connecting with nature can be done by going for walks in the woods, or to a body of water. As you experience nature, you focus on all the life forms around you, and your sensory experiences. This can be very calming and foster deep self-awareness.

Gratitude

For many, spirituality involves being grateful for the positive things in their life, or what their higher power or the universe has provided. Gratitude can be practiced in many ways, including prayer, or keeping a gratitude journal. Practicing gratitude can keep your thoughts positive and lead to a greater sense of well-being.

Creativity

For some, creative expression is a spiritual act, and a way to connect to their inner self, or to something greater than self. It’s very personal, and can be anything from sketching to painting, to writing, to singing, and more.

Service

Spirituality can be practiced through giving back by serving others. This can be through volunteer work, helping others who are also in recovery, or working for a social cause. By serving others, you may even find your purpose, which is an important part of recovery and rebuilding your life after addiction.

Kindness

Practicing spirituality can be as simple as being a kind person—looking for opportunities to perform acts of kindness no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Through kindness, you can find meaning in life and grow as a person. Kindness can even have a larger impact because it can spread. If you’re kind to someone, they may be kind to someone else, and so on.

In Closing

Although it’s not for everyone, spirituality may be a powerful tool to help you in recovery. It can also be a way to find new meaning and purpose in your life. It’s a very personal choice, and how you choose to practice it is also very personal.

At Bridges of Hope, we offer many resources to help you in recovery, and we respect and support your choices regarding spirituality. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help.