A Recovery Paradox: Dependence on A Higher Power Promotes Independence in All Life Areas

Central to recovery from addiction using the 12 Step Programs (for example, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous) is the development of a relationship with a God of one’s understanding (a Higher Power) or other source of spiritual strength. As stated in AA’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous, called the “Big Book”, the experience of the early AA members makes clear three pertinent ideas:

“(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. 

(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. 

(c) That God could and would if He were sought (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60).”

The 12 Steps suggest that the recovering individual decide to turn his/her “will and life over to the care of God” as the individual understands God to be, and are geared toward guiding the individual to a spiritual awakening. It is clear that foundation for recovery in the 12 Step Programs is dependent upon the development and nurturing of an ongoing relationship with a source of spiritual strength. Again, as stated in the AA Big Book: “***The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 43).

Newcomers to recovery, as well as many researchers in the addiction field, have reservations about the spirituality of the 12 Step Programs, expressing concern that turning one’s life over to the care of God or a Higher Power may foster an unhealthy dependence on AA of NA and somehow prevent the individual from self-actualization and independence. In fact and in practice, the spiritual strength developed in 12 Step recovery enables the individual to set aside fear, insecurities, unhealthy attachments, including, of course, abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and to utilize all of the innate strengths and abilities that were hindered and distorted by addiction.

The Big Book lists a number of promises that stem from the process of 12 Step recovery: “We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84).”

Indeed, the co-founder of AA, Bill Wilson, directly addresses the erroneous notion that dependence on a Higher Power or other source of spiritual strength may produce and unhealthy dependence: “The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more independent we actually are. Therefore, dependence, as A.A. practices it, is really a means of gaining true independence of the spirit (Step 3, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions).”

As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, www.alcoholdrugsos.com, 03/18/2014.

Smoking Cessation in Early Recovery Need Not Be a Relapse Danger

Until recently, treatment professionals addressing disorders such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse have tended to defer treatment of nicotine addiction until after the so-called primary disorder (anxiety, depression, substance abuse) has been stabilized. The thinking was that attempting to arrest nicotine use (smoking) would distract the patient from focusing on treatment of the more immediate problem of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. In a study summarized in ScienceDaily on February 11, 2014, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have concluded that “ ***that quitting or significantly cutting back on cigarette smoking was linked to improved mental health outcomes. Quitting altogether or reducing by half the number of cigarettes smoked daily was associated with lower risk for mood disorders like depression, as well as a lower likelihood of alcohol and drug problems.”

The lead researcher of the study “***believes the serious health risks associated with smoking make it important for doctors to work with their patients to quit, regardless of other psychiatric problems."

"About half of all smokers die from emphysema, cancer or other problems related to smoking, so we need to remember that as complicated as it can be to treat mental health issues, smoking cigarettes also causes very serious illnesses that can lead to death. *** We really need to spread the word and encourage doctors and patients to tackle these problems. When a patient is ready to focus on other mental health issues, it may be an ideal time to address smoking cessation, too."

There is abundant research that the benefits of smoking cessation not only result in improved mental health, as suggested in the study under discussion here, but also in almost immediate reduction of adverse effects associated with smoking, such as some forms of cardiovascular disease. So, this study perhaps removes an excuse recovering addicts or alcoholics may use to delay looking at addressing a serious, life-threatening addiction, namely, smoking.

As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams,www.alcoholdrugsos.com, 03/03/2014.