Chapter 39

Perhaps the greatest literature ever written on the process of recovery from alcohol (and drugs) is the great book Alcoholics Anonymous. One teaching from the book explains that alcoholism (which is a form of addiction) is but a symptom of many deeper lying issues. It also popularized the disease concept of addiction (which was a topic already being seriously discussed among medical professionals at the time), and it helped pave the way for millions to recover. (*special note* If one reads this book through the lens of Christianity, all of its contents open up clearly –and it can function as highly effective witnessing tool used to lead others to an understanding of salvation through faith in God with the subsequent pursuit of spiritual ideals.)

On the matter of symptoms: In the realm of psychology, it is understood that symptoms are chosen without conscious realization on the part of the sufferer; similarly, the symptom would lose its compelling value and significance as an alibi or excuse if truly exposed, understood, and treated. It is important to note here that true and effective understanding of the correlation between cause and symptom will elude an addict in the absence of total and brutal honesty. The symptom (alcohol and drug abuse) as a physical behavior is part of the addict’s general procession of life movement consistent with his unconscious (or conscious) striving toward a subjectively conceived goal, and often he is unaware of it being a faulty guiding characteristic.

We all have the same types of problems: how to earn a living, how to make and keep friends, how to find mates, how to cope with loss… And each of us has a solution to these problems that we answer according to our own perspective and notions. In recovery, we learn how to address and change our faulty solutions. An addict must understand that his symptom (alcohol or drug use) has served as a personal solution to what was perceived as an unsolvable problem. Once the addict understands that his symptom is his own creation that has functioned as a faulty solution, he is free to reconsider, reorient his life, and retrain himself according to known, proven, spiritual principles.

A tremendous feeling of relief may be felt once the addict is permitted to realize that his symptom no longer functions as a necessity or purpose in the pursuit of his new life-plan. He is now liberated to choose and act according to God’s revealed plan for his life. But this is only the beginning.