“Drugs are not being taken for any other reason than that people cannot face their reality, yet drugs take them to non-reality. At that moment give them survival, that’s all. Every stimulant, every drug, every love, every relationship is based on affirmation of non-reality.” – Yogi Bhajan on alcohol and drugs

Trying to Kick Behaviors Through Spirituality

While I was never diagnosed with any form of addiction, I felt trapped by compulsions in the past. Behaviors that were detrimental to my health and well-being. I was doing things consistently that weren’t good for me despite consequences. This past year, I was fully committed to my Kundalini yoga practice. I would do the same kriya for 40 days straight (just as Yogi Bhajan had instructed.) I would work on my root chakra for 40 days and then onto my sacral chakra. I must have gone through the 40 day cycle at least 7 times throughout 2019. I was heavily relying on this commitment to change my life. The thing is, I kept doing the same things outside of my spiritual work. My compulsive behaviors didn’t change.

I didn’t suffer as badly mentally or physically from my compulsions because I was doing so much Kundalini, which includes a lot of mindfulness meditation. I dealt with a lot of my pain but continued to incur pain on myself through my behaviors. The people around me were confused and so was I. How could I be doing so much spiritual work and being in my body and then treating that body so badly all in the same day?

Incorporating Behavioral Change Therapy

I was told by quite a few people that I should go to therapy. While I had highly activated upper chakras, the lower chakras were still suffering. There was something missing with my efforts to live a better life. I moved to a new place where I didn’t know anybody. This was a good step in the right direction, to step away from where all the temptations existed. From there, I signed up for a challenge that was designed to change my mindset. There was an online support group where we could all talk about the challenges of this new life path we were on. These steps seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for me.

As my health and mental state began to improve, I could so clearly see the benefits. This transcended into my Kundalini practice and I began to realize just how powerful the practice was for healing. This motivated me to stay the course and continue learning more about changing my mindset and behaviors. I not only did my Kundalini but I went for long walks, ate a healthy diet and listened to Osho while doing Yin Yoga before bed. I learned how to replace negative behaviors with positive behaviors. This quickly became a snowball effect that finally allowed me to get out of the lifestyle I had struggled with for so long.

The Facets of Addiction Recovery

There are scientifically proven methods that are used in addiction recovery. There is no replacement for these methods but in many cases, spiritual practices can be used as an aid. If you sense you’re struggling with substance abuse, don’t depend on yoga to fix this problem. Simply put, if you’re compulsively drinking a glass or bottle of wine while maintaining your spiritual practice, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem.

There are addiction programs out there that heavily rely on the use of spiritual tools. If you look to Alcoholics Anonymous, it talks about the higher power and how you can use it to help you. When we have destroyed our bodies and minds, sometimes we have to reach out to the only thing unspoiled. The soul. This for some, is an integral part of getting past addiction. Dr. Gabor Mate created an addiction program that uses Kundalini as a source of getting over addiction. As a psychologist, he also uses other essential ingredients that are used in rehabilitation programs for addiction. However, it’s important to note that to take the program, you will have had to already been sober for 40 days. So, all of the real behavioral changes will have had to take place.

Rehabilitation and How Spirituality Fits In

Recovering from addiction can involve detox. It is the act of abstaining from the substance of abuse. It sucks and you may go through withdrawal symptoms that leave you second guessing your choice to quit. Detox can either be medical or holistic. There are some poses in yoga that massage your internal organs, which can contribute in bringing the body back to health. However, if you truly have an addiction, you should be monitored and given the essential nutrients or medication to help you get the toxins out of your body safely.

Rehab is where you dive into the reasons you became addicted in the first place. There are a few different therapy treatments that help you change behaviors. Of course, mindfulness is extremely powerful and will play a huge part on whether you take another drink or do another line. However, it’s important to learn how to think in a different way about the lifestyle that didn’t work for you.

When you’re going through recovery, you’ll experience triggers. Memories from the past that would usually make you use drugs or drink. The depth in which your mind depended on substances daily will surface. This is where relapse is a risk. Deep yogic breathing and taking a sacred pause during these emergency moments of your recovery can make all the difference.

Scientifically Proven Methods in Addiction

It’s important not to take addiction lightly. The proven methods used in rehab programs will involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and support from other people going through what you’re going through. It’s essential that you recognize what puts you at risk of abusing substance and learn how to avoid the situations. Having motivation to keep on going is also a huge part of a successful recovery. Support through group therapy will help you to see that your story is not unique and that others are suffering too.

Tonglen is a type of meditation used that allows us to reach out to the world so that we may understand we aren’t alone in our suffering. In Tibetan, it means, “giving and taking.” In many ways, these group therapy sessions allow our minds to work in the same way. We can feel compassion for others and also for ourselves. It is perhaps easier to really let this sink in when you’re in a group as opposed to attempting Tonglen meditation on your own.

Replacing Negative Habits With Positive Habits

Starting a spiritual practice fills up the extra time you have now that you won’t be seeking, using, or dealing with hangover of a substance. In addiction recovery, they will always tell you to find new positive habits to replace the old habits. Discovering the higher self within can make you unwavering about your sobriety when practiced enough. The ego plays a huge part in addiction. When we learn how to witness what the mind says and live from a higher sense of self, the more spiritual aspects, we are far less likely to feed into the ego mind. The part of us that desires a quick fix for life’s problems and uncomfortable emotions.

The Full Spectrum of Addiction Recovery

While there is a lot of evidence that different kinds of spiritual practice help with addiction recovery, addiction is a multi-faceted illness. Some statistics have said that entering a residential rehab for a 28-day program can increase chances of recovery success by 60%. To get to that point, it takes more than a daily yoga routine. While yoga is now a part of most programs for addiction, it touches upon just one aspect of addiction.

There are indirect ways that yoga, meditation, and energy work can help with addiction. Some poses reduce anxiety, which is one of the main reasons people abuse substances. The beginning phases of addiction recovery should involve the more psychological approach of changing the behavior. The education that allows you to understand your addiction and get to the bottom of why it happened to you. Incorporating spiritual practice allows you to get out of your own head and feel the greater part of yourself. In the long run, this is an excellent way to “level up” and maintain sobriety.