Dr. Curl completed the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Howard University in Washington DC and participated as a RAM Scholar (Research in Addiction Medicine). While part of the fellowship, Dr. Curl pursued research investigating the barriers to expanding and improving medication for opioid use disorder. Following his fellowship, Dr. Curl spearheaded the Opiate Use Disorder outpatient clinic and worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the Howard University Hospital. In 2023, Dr. Curl completed his Board Certification in Addiction Medicine.

Understanding the ‘Three-Fold Illness’

According to AA beliefs, addiction is, at its core, a spiritual disorder, disease, or ailment. Also, the DSM-V classifies addiction as a mental health condition called substance use disorder. This doesn’t mean it’s “better” or “worse.” It’s a different perspective that may be useful for some people struggling with alcoholism. My troubles are of my own making and arise out my living a life run on self-will. I must be God centered instead of self centered and God directed rather than self directed . The specific directions in the first 102 pages of the book  Alcoholic Anonymous.

Addiction Categories

Is describing, essentially is referring to a stark void in our lives that we constantly attempt to fill with outside things such as drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, or anything we can think to try to feel better. It is the emptiness we feel on such a deep level that we turn to self-medication in order to alleviate the sadness and spiritual malady definition despair that go hand in hand with. But in our quest to fill this void with any and everything we can think of, we completely miss that the only thing that can actually fulfill us a spiritual connectedness to something greater than ourselves. As we continue to grapple with the complex issue of addiction in our society, it’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient.

Heal from Addiction and Learn More at First Steps Recovery

Finding purpose and meaning in life is a deeply personal and ongoing process. It requires introspection, exploration, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. By connecting with our values, passions, and aspirations, we can cultivate a sense of purpose that guides our actions and brings fulfillment.

• It’s the work of emotional cleanup and ongoing self-awareness of spiritual maladies that helps someone not just get sober, but stay that way.
• Whether you’re at the beginning of your recovery or looking for deeper healing after relapse, First Steps Recovery is here to support your path to wellness.
• This does not necessarily meaning God, a Higher Power, religion or any other traditional aspect of spirituality but instead looking at spirituality as connectivity, relationships, love and purpose.
• It is a call to address not just the physical and mental aspects of addiction but the spiritual disconnection that lies at its core.
• During such times, support and understanding are essential life rafts.

Spiritual Model of Addiction: A Holistic Approach to Recovery and Healing

• Perhaps the most well-known application is in 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and their offshoots.
• One way to think of a Higher Power is simply as a force that is greater than yourself.
• It is important that when we embark upon this quest to alleviate our spiritual malady that we are not too harsh on ourselves.
• By focusing on spiritual healing, we can begin to alleviate this mental compulsion and find peace.

Page 64 simply refers to this “inward unmanageability” as “the spiritual malady.” Integrated treatment programs provide holistic care by amalgamating medical detox, therapy, and spiritual counseling. These programs are designed to address the whole person, providing both medical and psychological support to facilitate recovery. Detox specialists can provide guidance on the best treatment options, ensuring that both physical and spiritual aspects of addiction are addressed. Walking meditation, using labyrinths, and mandalas are also effective methods for finding peace and clarity.

Addiction Treatment Program

The Big Book of AA identifies these difficulties, or “bedevilments,” as clear indicators of spiritual malady. The sense of loneliness and isolation that comes with spiritual disconnection can exacerbate these challenges, making it even harder for us to maintain healthy relationships and find true solace. Practicing prayer and meditation helps us be mindful of our surroundings and gain consciousness of our spirituality by bringing us closer to our higher power. Strengthening this relationship with a spiritual being brought us hope that we can recover from the mental and physical Drug rehabilitation suffering of alcoholism.

Our holistic treatment programs treat the whole person in recovery. In other words, the mental and physical https://deportivaradio.com/2021/03/25/alcoholic-nose-symptoms-causes-and-treatment/ factors of addictive and compulsive behaviors are put into remission AFTER the “spiritual malady” is overcome. The 12 Steps of AA are formulated to tackle and rectify spiritual malady, fostering spiritual awakening and recovery. The foundation of the 12-Step Program involves implementing a higher power in our lives, emphasizing the spiritual aspect of addiction recovery.