The dictionary defines anxiety as a state of uneasiness or
tension caused by apprehension of possible future misfortune, danger,
etc; worry. Anxiety is a normal part of addiction and drug
rehabilitation and often feeds our addictions in a number of ways. For
many of us we have never been taught how to cope with the events in life
and the unknowns we face. Our addiction usually tells us we need a pill
or a drink for the cure but you have found that this is a deceptive
fallacy.
Spiritual interventions can help us to learn to cope with
anxiety and this reading may give you some examples that might help you
cope in a healthy way during drug rehabilitation. Another definition of
anxiety states it arises from a fear of not being able to cope with a
future event. Many of our anxieties are of this nature and so I will
address some ways to put the unknowns in our life in order.
The
practice of spiritual disciplines may be new to some but their
simplicity may make it easier for us to adopt some practices that work.
Step three tells us that we need to come to a decision to turn our lives
and will over to the care of God as we have come to understand Him. The
surrender of step three is not just for us but we can also turn our
fears, worries and anxieties over to God as well. Here are some ways
that work for me.
Use of the God Box

The God box is one way of turning over those things we are worried
about, those things we have no power over, to God. For some who have
never used this, it may seem strange and pointless to put a slip of
paper into a box. But consider what might happen if we practice some
willingness in this process of drug rehabilitation. The idea of the God
Box is that you take your worry to God and place it into a box and leave
it there with God to deal with and we step away from it with some faith
that God could help. In surrendering this to God we ask Him for His
intervention and help. In doing so we give Him an opportunity to work in
our lives and the results may surprise you. As He begins to intervene
in your life, you may realize you are not alone and have someone working
for you in more powerful ways than you imagined. Done on a daily basis
you may find a peace in knowing that and the things you were once
anxious over may seem easier to handle.
Letter writing to God If
you have ever written a journal you may have found that it is a great
way to vent and express feelings you may have bottled up during the day.
Writing letters to God may be similar but potentially more powerful. In
writing letters to God, take the opportunity to relate to God how your
day went. Tell Him what happened that is puzzling you. Tell Him how you
might have done something wrong and ask for forgiveness. Tell Him what
has been happening in your life and the struggles with drug
rehabilitation you have had that might still be plaguing you today. But
rather than just a complaint letter, ask Him for help in those areas of
your life you struggle with. Letter writing helps us get those things
out of our heads and surrendered to God. It turns those things over for
His help and intervention. It may also improve our prayer lives and
personal devotion to God. When my son left for the Army, I would write
him letters every day and as I wrote, I felt as if I was talking to him
directly and didn't feel the pain of missing him so much. Perhaps the
same can happen to you as you spend those moments with God.
I take
the example of Adam and Eve in the Garden when God asked them where
they were, as they were hiding. When they responded that they were naked
and afraid, the dialogue continued. I like to think Adam was given the
opportunity to tell his story to God and find some healing afterward. It
helps us to get it out of our heads and to turn that "thing" over to
God. It gets Him involved in our lives in more direct ways and when that
happens we just might get some peace from it as we see God moving in
our lives as never before.
Taking a mental vacation

At times during the day you might want to take a mental vacation.
Have you ever visited a place where it was just beautiful and you never
wanted to leave? Maybe it was a vacation spot the family went to and the
memories easily flood the mind with peace and good feelings. You may
want to visit that place with your minds eye and re-experience those
moments. Remember the smells, sounds, the colors and views. The laughter
and joy that accompanied those moments may bring back those feelings
once again. For me thinking of my heavenly home that is promised to me
is a nice escape as I imagine the home I get to build as well as the
mansion God is preparing for me. I've gone over those plans many times
in my head and the peace I get from that no one can take away.
God moment journal

Often we go through life completely unaware of the way God has been
working in our lives and we miss the opportunity to build our faith.
Most of us can look back at our lives and remember those times we were
spared a tragedy or a need was met inexplicably. We may have even said,
"thank you God!!", but soon dismissed it afterwards. Maybe it was a
possible wreck we recovered from. Maybe it was a bill that someone paid
for us because they felt impressed to help. Maybe it was drug
rehabilitation or an illness that should have done us in. It could be a
number of different things. It would be a good practice to begin writing
those things down and reviewing those things once in a while. God
moments give us the opportunity to see that our God is an intimate God
who is concerned with our lives. One that can intervene, helps,
transcends time and space and becomes involved in personal ways to help
us. Often we face times when our faith is tried and it is easy to forget
those moments so a small note book with those moments written down and
kept by our sides can be a tool to remind us that we are not alone.
Fortified with those memories and experiences they can help us find the
peace in the midst of the storms that come upon us.
Finally. Our
prayer life of surrender to God, practiced daily is the most powerful
way to find peace. It is an acknowledgment, an invitation to God that He
can be a part of your life just for today. Tomorrow you can do the
same, but for today invite Him into your day. Give your problems over to
Him daily. Take your petitions to your God and as you do you will see
just how easy life becomes because you have the creator of the universe
in your corner. The serenity prayer challenges us to accept the things
we cannot change. In that acceptance we acknowledge that God has to
change those things and so we surrender those things to Him. The more we
do that the less complicated our lives can become and we find peace.
These
are just a few things you can begin doing. You will develop a lifestyle
of peace and serenity. Let me challenge you to practice these things
even when the times are good. Establish principles daily so that when
the anxious moments come you are prepared and fortified. Let's stop
doing the 911 prayers and develop that healthy relationship of trust and
hope that our Higher Power is with us. My prayer is that you might find
that peace from God that no one can take from you because it is God
sent.



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