Research Assignment
The importance of spirituality in addiction Recovery
Introduction:
I chose to do my research assignment on the importance of spirituality in addiction recovery because I am interested in how people change their lives from addiction and what helps them in recovery. In my community addiction course I learnt about recovery and what helps. The 12 step program came up a lot and people are becoming more spiritual. I did not know anything about the 12 step programme and I related spirituality solely to religion, so I became interested in doing research on it.
In this assignment, I aim to look at spirituality and its definition. I will look at N.A in Ireland and where it started, I …show more content…
To others it may be a belief from within a religion to guide them, or a personal experience that might set them on their way in a spiritual journey. It can be the desire to grow in wisdom, with honest self-evaluation you can gain inner peace. The Oxford English dictionary has many definitions of spirituality, however the first definition for spirit is ‘’intelligent or immaterial part of man soul’’ and the definition under spirituality is ‘’ given of spirit as opposed to matter’’. Spirituality is seeking a purpose or a meaning for one’s life, finding peace of mind and self-worth. The word spiritual can be found in the definition for health. In May 1983 Dr, Halfdam Mahler, in the world health organisation on the global strategy for health for all by the year 2000 said ‘’ the spiritual dimension may turn out to be of historical value’’. Since 1946 the definition of health that uses positive terms in the constitution identifies three dimensions, which are physical, mental, social and since 1983 spiritual was added. Looking after your spiritual health can be beneficial with or without addiction. Meditation can help relive anxiety and stress and can have a sense of …show more content…
At the meetings they ask questions like ’’are we sure we want to stop using? Do we understand that we have no control over drugs?’’ They agree that addiction is a physical, mental, social and spiritual disease. At this point they may feel relief or surrender as they are looking at the effects drugs have had on their lives. The new member is the most important person at the meeting and may wish to ask a member to sponsor them, a sponsor is a member of NA who will try to guide you through the steps and you can call on if things get you down and you need support. The first step is about honesty and questioning yourself and admitting defeat with drugs and being willing to go regularly to meetings and have an open