Is Spirituality Necessary to Quit Drugs? Let's Look at The Science

I've heard it countless times, if you want to get sober you need to be spiritual. I decided to look into what scientists had to say about this divine claim. Is there truth to what they are saying? What I found was interesting.

First, I think it's important to define what spirituality is. When people talk about spirituality they are referring to many different things: connection, community, purpose, hope, ritual, prayer, meditation, beliefs, and more. No wonder spirituality is so important to people! It's a catch all term for many aspects of what makes up a psychologically healthy life. So when people say that they wouldn't have been able to get sober without spirituality, they really mean it.

For people who do not think of themselves as spiritual, they could still benefit from translating spiritual language into language that they can relate to. As shared in my other article, being able to connect with others is a necessary part of integrating oneself with a recovery-supportive community.

Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg believes that we have evolved to be spiritual. He says that practices associated with spirituality, like prayer and meditation, is like exercise for your mind. Psychologist Daniel Goleman wrote a book on focus and its benefits, and prayer and meditation improve your ability to focus. Being able to detach from your thoughts is a useful skill for someone who obsessively thinks about drugs or alcohol.

Like creating any habit, as actions are repeated over and over, it becomes easier to engage in them as an alternative to other behaviours. This can make prayer and meditation powerful tools for self-control.

When babies are upset, what do parents do? They tend to their needs, sing lullabies, give them a soother, or attempt to distract them. We're not much different as adults. We don't have parents around to calm down our emotional brain so we develop our own skills to do exactly that in adulthood. It is a sign of emotional maturity to refrain from disproportionate outbursts. When people haven’t developed a healthy set of coping tools to manage their emotions, they become susceptible to addiction.

One of the common themes that I have noticed in people who become addicted is the feeling of not belonging. Connection, community, purpose, hope and powerful focusing techniques can all help with that. It's clear why spirituality is so important to many people when quitting drugs and alcohol. The positive takeaway is that everyone can grow in these areas of life. It doesn't require you to be religious, or spiritual. Keeping an open mind and working on developing coping skills for your life will improve your chances of quitting. And it might just make you happier along the way.

If you are interested in taking the next step for your mental health, please contact me, or book an appointment here for in-person counselling in Victoria, BC, and online counselling anywhere in British Columbia.