Healing From Addictions

by Rhonda McBride

Addiction to drugs, alcohol, toxic relationships, anger and other compulsive behaviors can create pain and havoc in our lives. Addictions destroy our self- esteem and ruin our health and our relationships.

It is easy to take on the idea that those struggling with addictions are helpless, hopeless and condemned to a life of constant relapses as well as physical, emotional and personal problems. After all, there are none of us whose lives have not been affected in one way or another by alcohol or drugs. It may be our child, our parent, or our friend that has gone to jail, lost jobs, experienced broken relationships or even lost their lives. We have all witnessed the hurt and pain caused by addiction. We have witnessed it personally and we have witnessed it socially.

I am not saying that recovery is easy, but sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. This is directly related to our perceptions and beliefs about ourselves and about recovery in general. You see, what we think and believe is what we manifest in our lives. For instance, if I believe that every one is out to get me, then I am going to go through life with a defensive attitude. It will be impossible for me to be close to others or let others close to me. If I believe myself to be "sick" and "diseased"- that is exactly what I will be.

In order to heal, we must spend time focusing on what we do want- not what we don't want. If I spend all my time thinking about "not relapsing"- then I am thinking about relapsing! If I think about health, balance, personal growth and living my life with love and respect for others and myself, I am more likely to be healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually. It isn't that difficult situations won't happen, it is just that when they do, I will have the tools to deal with it. I won't dwell on the difficulty, but on the solution, or what I can learn from the given situation.

The level of our self- esteem is the level at which we deal with life. If I love and respect myself, I will cease to do self- destructive things. If I have little or no self- esteem I will be more self destructive and lash out in my relationships.

Addictions cause a spiritual disconnect within us. We lose sight of our self worth. We must go back and learn who we are. We must remember where we stand with God- of our understanding- and with the Universe.

What I AM saying it is possible to heal from addictions and live a life of abundance,