It derives from Latin spiritus meaning “breath”, and spirare meaning “breathe”. Greater than the mind is reason; and greater than reason is He – the spirit in man and in all. “The principles of the programme of Alcoholics Anonymous are scientific and closely follow all the helping therapies which lead people to emotional well-being. I believe we can unwittingly complicate our treatment of alcoholism by believing we have other conditions we see as distinct from alcoholism but which are in fact part of this Sober House condition called alcoholism. It shows the areas of behaviour and attitudes that can be treated by working the steps. It shows us how our approach to life can possibly be transformed for the better. I have for several years wondered if the spiritual malady described in the Big Book adequate or accurate enough in describing what I suffer from. The psychology and neuropsychology of alcoholism, addictive behaviour and recovery. Unfortunately, the snapshot of consciousness taken of them in 1938 didn’t last.
2016 in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine linked increases in forgiveness with decreases in stress over time. In addition, the study found that decreases in mental health symptoms also occurred as forgiveness levels increased. Living with resentments when the spiritual malady is overcome and being chronically angry puts the body under enormous ongoing stress. When the body is under this kind of ongoing stress or living in the ‘fight or flight mode’, there is an increased risk for conditions such as depression and heart disease.
What is a spiritual malady?
Here at Tikvah Lake, we can offer an introduction to the Twelve Steps. We also ensure everybody who stays with us has one-to-one therapy every day as we’ve found this to give the most effective help. AA provides many ways of becoming more emotionally well, which ultimately means more emotionally mature. My affective disorder via various neural and cognitive – affective mechanisms leads to chronic substance use and dependency of these substances. It is the always wanting one more that makes my affective disorder that of addiction and not another disorder. I also think the issues are complicate because alcoholism have some many similarities to GAD, MDD, OCD, and so on. The list of emotional difficulties continues throughout the Big book’s first 164 pages. This emotional immaturity is referenced throughout the Big Book I believe. It is interesting that a common definition of “spiritual” as it relates to AA, is a sense of connection with others. It was 80 years ago, so our knowledge base has moved on greatly from when the Big Book was written.
What are examples of resentments?
She bore bitter feelings of resentment toward her ex-husband. He's filled with resentment at his boss. He expressed his resentment of the new policies.
I am so grateful to have found AA and find it treats me better than doctors or psychologists because I believe the spiritual teachings are what i need. Unhappiness to us and others, discontent, and, frequently, mental and bodily ill health are the direct results of Sin. Part of the problem may lie in not being specific enough about what alcoholism is. For example, false pride, intolerance, impatience, arrogance, shame, lust, gluttony, greed. There is one decision that we make, that leads to a continuous unfolding of decision-less choices on the path of life.
Addiction and Resentments: Letting Go
Relying on 45 years of experience in the treatment industry, MARR identifies each individual’s underlying issues and uses clinically proven techniques to treat them. Suppose spirituality is about being willing to be open to something new. In that case, the words “God” and “prayer” have much more to do with an attitude and posture of humility. They become less about the content of the person’s belief system and more about the openness to a new experience. In other words, the spirituality we encourage at MARR is not a dogmatic set of beliefs.
How do you pray for self control?
- Dear God,
- I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in me, I can guard the minutes + hours you've given me.
- I pray for self-discipline.
- And I pray that you would do more with my minutes + hours than I, alone can.
What is important though is that we strive to be a little better every single day and never give up on our spiritual journey in recovery. Our spiritual malady never just goes away and stays away on its own, it requires a constant spiritual connectivity and effort on our parts in our programs to keep it and the subsequent alcohol and drug abuse at bay. So long as we make an active effort to address our spiritual malady every day, we will find relief from it, one day at a time. You are merely instructed to be open to the idea that you are not the end all be all, that there exists out in the universe something that is greater or more powerful than yourself. Whatever you designate that power to be is up to you. However, you choose to interact with that higher power is also up to you. Whether you seek to engage in formal prayer, informal mental conversations, or merely by doing good and putting positive energy into the universe, there is no right or wrong way to pray to your higher power. Once you open up to this idea and implement that spiritual connection, you will experience your long-awaited spiritual awakening, the answer to that pesky spiritual malady we suffer from as alcoholics. We have found that these problems no longer exist for us when we begin living by spiritual principles and improving our conscious contact with our higher power. There are many men and women who felt the same way and have been able to overcome the malady by maintaining spiritual fitness and practicing the principles of AA in all of their affairs.
Or it is as with Star Wars creator George Lucas who was inspired to come up with the name and concept of the metaphysical and ubiquitous power known as The Force. This arose from a conversation between artificial intelligence pioneer Warren S. McCulloch and cinematographer Roman Kroitor. In therapy, it’s often possible – without even speaking much or despite what someone might be saying – to pick up on the internal state of someone. If they are suffering from inner pain and despair inside it can usually be spotted because how we are on the outside is a reflection of what’s going on inside. Interestingly, the word “psychiatrist” derives from the Greek words psukhe meaning “breath, life, soul, spirit” and iatros meaning “healer”. “Psychiatrist” actually means “breath, life, soul or spirit healer”. Know him therefore who is above reason; and let his peace give thee peace. Be a warrior and slay desire, the powerful enemy of the soul. What Power is it that drives a man to act sinfully, even unwillingly, as if powerlessly.
It is disturbing their lives and holding them back from full peace and security. The bottom line, a true alcoholic or addict has no power to stop, avoid, or control their drinking. Often people like us have some of the strongest will power that exists. Imagine the worst feeling you have ever had, and then add in the fact that in that moment you also felt utterly alone in the universe, and you have the general feeling of a spiritual malady.
