Authentic Truths in Addiction

As a parent of children battling addiction for over a decade, I understand the tremendous pain and difficulty we experience. I have been from one end to the other in addiction behaviors. Their choices and consequences have led to the guardianship of grandkids, legal issues, homelessness, and different dangerous situations. Yet, we have witnessed and taken part in sobriety, relapse, and recovery.

The story of Spiritual Battles and addiction. Where we were and where we remain today. 

For all those who have lost a loved one to addiction, we take a moment for you.

You are loved. In your mess, in your darkest moment, in your sin. You are loved and wanted. This episode talks about sin and our redemption- it talks about never being so far from God that He can't reach you. Addiction is powerful, I get it, but it still doesn't touch the power of God. So, give me a moment to explain why God loves people like you.

Today's episode is a discussion of lost faith in the battle of recurrent trauma caused by addiction. Realigning our hope and heart with God and letting go can ignite our faith even though the situation doesn't change. Living in peace through the warzone of addiction is possible when we hold on to Jesus and let go of the world. 

Co-dependency is hard to distinguish for parents. What we see as normal parenting can become something we need to feel worthy and to function. Fear from addiction leads us to become people pleasers who lack proper boundaries and want to fix our loved ones. Without realizing it, we follow our children into their addiction and become dependent on bailing them out of multiple situations. In becoming co-dependent, we tend to lose ourselves to an addiction we never had. Breaking this cycle will allow your children to endure their consequences and release them to gain self-dependence (not always in positive ways but separate from you.) The hope is that eventual growth will lead our loved ones into recovery, independence, confidence, and the ability to cope and handle their lives and emotions outside of addiction.

I head back to a day when my son was still in the grips of his addiction and what that looked like- the odd behavior, the confusing talks, the constant motion from his high. We are so thankful that the 'guy we used to know' has returned, and is living well in his recovery today!