The Power of Prayer in Addiction Recovery Optimized Blog Post
This is an original blog post I wrote for Christian Drug Rehab. I used Surfer SEO software to optimize for the keyword search of "prayer in addiction recovery".
Our modern word "prayer" comes from a Latin word originally related to humble requests and needs. However, in religious tradition, praying doesn't just have to be a list of one's own desires. It doesn't even take belief in a higher power to experience the healing hand of prayer. Praying can be a powerful tool used to strengthen one's emotional health and encourage a person's addiction recovery and continued sobriety.
What is addiction?
Addiction is defined as a chronic mental illness that manifests as substance dependence. It has been proven there are genetic factors that cause the nervous system of some individuals to be more susceptible to addiction than others.
Through addiction treatment facilities and a variety of treatment options, it has been proven an addict can recover and stay sober. However, just as addiction looks different for each individual, every addict will have their own process and steps on their recovery journey. It is up to the person struggling with substance abuse to choose complete abstinence. Prayer can be crucial in helping an addict find the self-power toward addiction recovery.
What is prayer?
Prayer is intended to be an active conversation with a higher power. The regular ritual of prayer is believed to offer spiritual healing, but it can also help take away the sharp edges of everyday life. Praying helps people practice patient understanding and hope for a better future.
Often, a person's greatest enemy is the feeling of being alone. Prayers can remind anyone of the life-enriching community of their faith family and take away the emotion of isolation. This can help an individual face future problems with less tension and frustration, overall guiding them toward a more successful life.
Prayer and Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has used prayer as a resource for those who struggle with addiction since its founding in 1935. One of the most famous prayers connected to alcohol and drug addiction is the serenity prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
The practice of reciting prayers like these has proven to increase brain activity related to emotional control. This helps a person better ignore the cravings related to substance abuse and stay sober in their daily life.
Prayer and Mental Health
Praying has also been proven to reduce stress and increase a person's sense of inner peace. Those who participate in regular group or solo praying experience slower breathing and decreased blood pressure. This can give a person struggling with drug abuse or alcoholism the power to overcome mental health difficulties like depression and anxiety. Prayer has also been proven to increase a person's feelings of hope and compassion, two powerful emotional tools on the recovery journey.
Ready to bear witness to the life-giving powers of prayer in your addiction recovery? Contact us today!