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Can Religion Or Hobby Help Overcome Substance Abuse?

Some humans seemingly need to fill in a gap when they are recovering from substance abuse and often turn to religion or a hobby as a way to engage their thoughts in something productive. Do you feel this is a good way to start only or is it a life long replacement for former addictions?

Abuse Substance Overcome Hobby Religion Can

I am not aware of the hobby aspect, but as for the religious side, I think many people are so addicted that they can't recover on their own. They need God's help. To be politically correct, many organizations refer to God as a "Higher Power," but still, they recognize that one needs divine or supernatural assistance, often in kicking an addiction and successfully remaining off the substance(s).

In such cases, I would call this need a life long one.

Now, perhaps the hobby is just one way of replacing the "bad" addiction with a "good" addiction. Although, in reality, no true addiction is good. It could be a matter of channelling their energy for a while into some hobby or other distractive activity.

Can Religion Or Hobby Help Overcome Substance Abuse? Health & Special Psychology

Well, I don't necessarily believe that God or a Higher Power truly helps the person, but belief is everything. The belief that something or someone bigger than themselves is looking out for them is all that is needed at times. If people believe that they aren't doing something alone, then they can break free with the 'help' of the higher power. However, people with addictions often have a personality that leads to easier addictions. Thus they need something to supplant the addiction that is not bad for them. Religion and or hobbys are decidedly better than drug, alcohol, or sexual addiction. While religion is a start, it may be necessary to keep that in place for the rest of the persons life.

Abuse Substance Overcome Hobby Religion Can

From my own perspective and observations, it seems that many people turn to "religion" when in recovery (and often in jail). Personally, I think it is a wonderful thing, provided it is sincere. Some certainly may do it only in order to fill in the "gap" that abstinence creates, or perhaps to find a new circle of friends to make their lifestyle completely change. I believe some of these may eventually fall away from whatever church they've joined. If, on the other hand, they truly give their lives to God, rather than just practice a religion, then I believe for those folks it's a lifelong change -- and I believe they have a more solid recovery.

A very close family member has turned to different hobbies to fill his time. He tools leather (surprisingly well), researches about fishing of all types, and experiments with making fishing lures. It seems to fill his time and keep his head and hands busy. I'm sure others find that this is a way to move on with their lives.

Abuse Substance Overcome Hobby Religion Can

Religion seemed to work well for a few of my friends. I think partly because the AA program lead them down that route. I had two friends terribly addicted to pain pills and alcohol and they both went through AA together and helped eachother out along the way. Much respect to them, since they have still kept away from all temptations for the past two years. I also think that the person has to truly want to change, no matter the new activities they take on.

Can Religion Or Hobby Help Overcome Substance Abuse?

I believe that religion does help a lot, mainly because without God you really can't do anything. Humans are weak, emotionally, physically and mentally. We can train ourselves, but normally those with addictions don't care to train themselves out of it. They lack the strength and initiative to get started. The discipline required in a belief and relationship with God starts the road to recovery, with His healing it smooths it out as time goes on.

Hobbies can help, at first. But like funbikerchick said,

She is quite correct. It can turn into an addiction which can lead to the person getting hooked on yet another thing that can bring them to destruction. My friend is struggling with an addiction that started as a distraction from another addiction. He can't stop playing his games, he has no desire to do anything with his life and when the game was taken away he literally lost all desire to live because he felt that he had nothing.

Can Religion Hobby Overcome Substance Abuse

I don't agree that all addictions are bad. Certainly substance abuse is a bad addiction but a hobby is not necessarily such a bad thing.

I believe that people use religion or a hobby to fill the void of boredom, or purpose that often exists when they have reformed.

You need something to keep your mind occupied, a purpose to live. And often people who are addicted to a drug or alcohol live for those demons.

This is actually one way religion is a really good thing because people become involved in a healthy, clean belief that nourishes their mind.

Can Religion Hobby Overcome Substance Abuse Psychology Special & Health

Religious rhetoric not helpful in anti-alcohol messages


Does including a religious message in a public service announcement warning of the dangers of alcohol use make a difference to the viewer, especially if that person lives in a Middle Eastern country in which the predominate religion is Muslim? While one might think it would help sway an opinion, recent research indicates that's not necessarily the case. Ref. Source 6b.