Question for all you recovered PA's out there...

[SEBoK]

For those of you who have conquered (or almost conquered) PA, would you have been able to do so if it weren't for religion? I read a story somewhere on TroubledWith: TroubledWith Index ("Heading in a New Direction") about a physician who was non-religious with a Christian wife, and apparently there was no way he was able to better his PA (he had previously contemplated suicide) until he reluctantly agreed to go to church with his wife and eventually convert to Christianity.

I want to fully recover from PA without joining or converting to any religion of any sort. I am not saying this to put anybody down or say that you should not be religious either; you guys are, IMO, free to pursue PA recovery under your respective religions if you truly wish to do so. Rather, I just want to state that religion will not work for me personally, and I want to do this however secularly I can. However, this might be hard considering not much other than religion can give you direct answers in life when you need them the most.

So, what do you think? To use a somewhat tired Christian PA cliché, is "walking the pathway out of Hell" easier, harder, or just as hard with a religion than without? What are your thoughts on this?

I will also post this in the "general discussion" forum to get a wider variety of answers.

[Benedict]

SEBoK, there are people of all religions and no religions here trying to solve their problems with PF. I can't say I have conquered it yet, and so can't speak from that perspective. However, my sense is that each of us needs to find a plan and set of strategies that work for us. There are some core strategies that are probably important for most people, but people differ in what works for them. Religious people probably find strategies and mindsets rooted in their faîth a very important tool. Non-religious people need also to find strategies that work for them with their beliefs or non-beliefs. It needs to fit you.

Personally, I think an important strategy which fits with all religious and philosophical views is to become very mindful of the urges, the internal thought processes, the beliefs (and the little voices that whisper to you) that justify the addictive behaviour, and then to choose (using your own-power or God-power as you wish) to act differently in response to the feelings, urges, triggers etc.

[Vorlan]

Hey SEBok,

I consider myself a recovered PA. I've been clean for over a year and a half now. I've been agnostic throughout that time and I can definately tell you that no, religion is not neccessary for recovery.

I think that the strongest benifit to religion in dealing with addiction as true belief can help you to believe that you can beat PA and regular religious sessions like church for example help to focus you and keep you on the straight and narrow.

However this self belief and support can be found outside of religion and I've personally found that quitting without religion has been really great for my confidence and determination as a person.

In a nutshell religion is not required, belief in yourself, determination and ideally support from friends, family and TTF are. I'd also agree with what Benedict is saying about mindfulness and choice.

Together we can suceed!

Best wishes,

Ben

[aswaswas]

I'm just starting down my road,Ithink as long as you can find away to get rid of the urges you may not. I choose to get saved so I had someone or something to talk(that dependes on your beliefs)I wanted to get closer to my wife and kids.I hope going this way my wife will be more accepting and want to help me get over my addiction. Alot like you I have never belived in god as far as having to pray or go to church.It's only been a week for me but I have prayed sevral times and to my shock and dismay it has really help me. look at it this way you always have someone to talk to. Believe me I' not pushing it it has to be right for you