If you have any religious beliefs, your emotional and spiritual well-being requires the same level of care as your physical health. Relying on a higher power you trust can help you grow and move forward in your healing every day. Many types of belief systems exist, but facilities can tailor private and community treatment programs to accommodate your spiritual needs, whether that includes initiating contact with local church leaders or allowing you to practice certain religious rituals.
Actively connecting to a like-minded community provides a safe, supportive social space where you can recharge your emotional batteries and lower stress. Your recovery journey will benefit from taking advantage of resources like 12-Step meetings and advocacy groups that incorporate a form of a higher power in their content. Most facilities offer 12-Step facilitation or related alternatives. A 2006 research study reported, “social supports, spirituality, life meaning, religiousness, and 12-step affiliation buffer stress significantly and enhance the quality of life among recovering persons.”
Holistic Care is Essential
The holistic care at locations like White House Recovery and Detox heal your mind, body, and soul. How you feel impacts the way you think and act. Spiritual activities like prayer or meditation helps decrease stress and anxiety in individuals treated for substance use disorder (SUD). A few ways you can incorporate spirituality into your treatment routine include:
- Studying spiritual texts and guides during personal time
- Daily prayer and meditation
- Speaking or corresponding with a spiritual leader
- Attending meetings that follow 12-Step principles
- Choosing to incorporate alternative therapies into your treatment plan
- Attending church or other relevant religious events
Learn more about ways you can relax your mind and restore your spirit by visiting our Meditation page. White House Recovery and Detox also offers instructions on:
- Mindfulness-based therapy
- Yoga
- Music therapy
- Nature-based meditation
Gain Strength Each Day
Spirituality can lend you strength for battling triggers, cravings, and other difficult moments you may encounter. A few other benefits of adding spirituality to your treatment and long-term recovery include the following:
- A sense of forgiveness and rebirth
- A built-in support system of fellow believers and spiritual leaders
- The comfort of knowing you are never alone
- A set of routines to follow
- Safe spaces where you can relax and feel at peace
An exploratory study of the subject reported, “for most participants, it seemed that placing faith in a higher power lessened the perceived overwhelming personal burden of the challenges of recovery,” giving them additional strength and perseverance. You can take back control of your life by leaning on a higher power and accepting the support of your community.
5 Concrete Steps You Can Take During Treatment
Whether you have an established faith or not, there are concrete steps you can take during your treatment to grow spiritually. Below are five easy ways you can alter your daily schedule to accommodate those changes:
#1. Set aside 10-20 minutes every day for meditation, prayer, or self-reflection.
#2. Write down your thoughts and feelings in a physical or digital journal. Explore your faith by analyzing how the treatment is changing you for the better. You can also use this method to find motivation, work through complicated thoughts, and record successful milestones in your recovery.
#3. Commune in nature and use that time to connect with a higher power. Sit outside or take a walk and use that time to mentally and emotionally connect with the world around you.
#4. Join in-person or online groups that reflect your spiritual belief. For religious individuals finding a nearby church service to attend can be helpful. Online services are also available.
#5. Practice self-care by being kind to yourself and accepting the forgiveness and second chance your belief system provides.
Incorporating Faith Into Continuing Recovery
Houses of worship and community-based faith organizations often have outreach programs specifically for individuals struggling with substance use disorders or other conditions. You can find information on specific resources in your area by checking online and reaching out to local churches or other fellowship groups.
Whether you believe in a specific higher power or not, having faith in something beyond yourself can be valuable during recovery. Not only will you decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and other possible side effects of withdrawal, you can improve quality of life, happiness, and self-efficacy. Incorporate faith into your long-term recovery plan by finding a spiritual community that can meet your needs.
Find a Spiritual Community
No matter what you believe, there are in-person and online communities you can join. If you are not currently part of a spiritual community but would like to be, you can obtain more information by checking online faith-based directories in your area. In addition, most spiritual leaders have contact information available on their websites.
Finding a spiritual community that feels right for you can help you feel more comfortable, confident, and motivated to continue making progress in your recovery.
Faith and acceptance in a higher power are common principles in many treatment centers and advocacy organizations. Belief in something beyond us that is capable of providing us with strength and grace remains an integral part of 12-Step and other support groups for individuals entering long-term recovery. At White House Recovery and Detox, we embrace faith-based methods and encourage everyone to use resources that work for them. If you are a religious or spiritual individual, we can help you incorporate those beliefs into your treatment and aftercare. Your sobriety and continued well-being can be positively impacted by connecting with others who share like-minded principles. We respect all forms of religious, cultural, and spiritual affiliation. Because we fully personalize our services, we can accommodate essential religious routines. Find out more about our facility and the various treatments offered by White House Recovery and Detox by calling us today at (800) 510-5393.
