Life has its ups and downs that's for sure.
Sometimes we can go months or years without too many major complications in our life but eventually we all experience loss, grief, pain, or upset of some sort.
As a recovering addict I have known that pain.
I have known that pain while enmeshed in the problem of active addiction and I have known that pain in the journey of clean and sober recovery.
It's not fun! While many people turn to drugs and alcohol to help them cope with life's turmoil it is clear that this is a temporary solution.
A band aid fix that does not solve the root of the problem and furthermore brings on more un-manageability to the person's life in the areas of finance, spiritual growth, relationships, family, health, to name a few categories.
If the person has the disease of alcoholism or addiction then they also are suffering from a fatal, incurable illness and are sure to use or drink themselves to death unless they find help in the form of a twelve step program or by some other means such as treatment, psychotherapy or the like.
This article focuses mainly on the use of the twelve step program as a strategy for finding recovery.
Their allergy (an abnormal reaction) is triggered by the substance they ingest which makes it literally impossible to stop by their own will power and they have a mind which is plagued with mental obsession which tricks them into the illusion that they can "handle one or two more" even after they stop for a time.
True powerlessness.
The beauty of the twelve step programs is they offer a way out.
A way of living by spiritual principles which give them tools to deal not only with the obsession of the mind but a way to cope and work through the hardships of daily life.
These steps help the addict or alcoholic take stock of their lives.
Look at what's not working and not saleable in their thinking and actions, look at the flaws in their makeup, take inventory of what should be kept-character assets, analyze their own fear, misconduct of the past, and as any business does get rid of the bad and keep the good.
Members work on repairing past harm to others through making amends which relives them of guilt and remorse.
They take daily inventory and when wrong promptly admit it.
They practice prayer and meditation which keeps them connected to their higher power, They pass on the message of hope to others which keeps that message fresh in their lives and takes their minds off themselves and their problems and issues.
The true power of the twelve step program is the fellowship of one addict or alcoholic identifying and helping another and most importantly the reliance of a power greater than themselves to help guide them and provide them with the strength, courage, hope, and sustenance to get through life's pain.
This reliance is necessary because an establishment of powerlessness of the human variety is made in the first step based on the recognition that they have a body that can't handle even one hit, drink, etc.
and a mind that insists that they can and will try every trick in the book to get them to give in to that obsession for more.
It is my belief that most addicts and alcoholics have suffered some sort of trauma in their lives such as abuse or neglect, family dysfunctions, etc.
and therefore should also seek professional help in the form of psychotherapy, pharmacology, holistic approaches or a combination of such strategies in addition to regular attendance at twelve step meetings.
Support networks such as family and friends can also be of great comfort during times of hardships but the mot valuable tools one can find to help get through life's up and downs can be found in the practice of spiritual principles- honesty, hope, faith, courage, integrity, willingness, humility, brotherly love, discipline, perseverance, awareness of God, and service.
Such principles offer a way to face the pain of living, fear, anger, resentment, and are simply a better way to live in one's own skin, one day at a time, on life's terms.