Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.
When people in general have a serious problem, they generally do all that they can to hide it so that others don't know about it. It turns into their secret life and that life in turn, changes a person. They learn to lie, cheat, steal, choose deception, and make up all manner of excuses, just to prevent others from knowing about this new secret life of theirs. They think that if no one finds out, then they are not hurting anyone, including themselves.
A woman who was a wonderful wife and mother, had a serious surgery and was in need of painkillers to move on from her surgery. Over time, innocently she became addicted to the pain killers and the painkillers or drugs began to rule her life. She changed and began her secret life. She did everything she could to get her drugs but thought that no one would find out. She went from doctor to doctor to get perscriptions of her drugs, but once the doctors stopped writing them she had to resort to other ways of getting the drugs she felt she needed. She even resorted to bringing her own children into her secret life, and take them to doctors and she was able to get drugs for herself that supposedly were for the treatment of her children. She also found out that if she could pay the price, she could get her drugs off the internet. She also resorted to get her drugs by raiding the medecine cabinets of her friends, but once she was caught, and not only lost her drug store supply from the medecine cabinet, but lost her friend.
Soon she felt she needed to expand her horizons and sought out other women in her same addicted state, thinking that working together they could get what they needed. These women lied, deceived, and did unthinkable things to get their drugs and traded them back and forth with each other. One time when they went to get them off the street, one of the women got caught, and was almost killed, and the other women's lives were also put in jepordy. Credit cards were ordered, and charges added up into the thousands, putting their families into grave financial debt. They came up with great ways and amazingly believable excuses to justify or hide these charges from their husbands. They were living a lie, and their need for drugs changed them, affected themselves, their relationships with all those who loved them.
Where does it stop? Well this particular story didn't stop here, but went on to destroy families and marriages. Satan doesnt' stop his efforts to destroy the family. If he can find a tiny crack and like a noxious week, squeeze into it. Once he does and once he is in, the crack doesn't stay small, and like the weed it grows and grows until it enlarges develops into a full blown habbit. At this point, Satan won his prize and that prize is you, your family, and all of those those your devious actions have hurt.
The story I just told is true and didn't end where I stopped telling it. Gratefully in time, this story had a happy ending, but not before lives were damaged, family were torn apart and put into financial disaster, and drastic reparation had to be made. This true story is not isolated. If you see yourself in any way shape or form mirrored in this story or you suspect or are willing to admit that you are addicted, then I urge to to do something about it now. Take the first step. Admitting that you have a problem and seeking to do something about it is the first step. Locate an LDS 12 step program in your area and go to it. (you can find the links on this blog) Do it for yourself, and do it for those you love, but just do it, and do it now. If you are reading this, it is obviously time or you wouldn't have sought out this blog. Help yourself and get help now. Don't let more destruction happen.. break the pattern now and get help!
PRAYER, FAITH AND PATIENCE ARE NECESSARY TO OVERCOME ADDICTION In the 24th chapter of Mosiah, the king of the Lamanites appointed Amulon, leader of the priests of King Noah, to be king and ruler over his people. Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his people, gave them difficult tasks and brought them under bondage. Amulon knew that Alma had believed the words of the Prophet Abinadi, and in his anger sought retribution against Alma.
The afflictions and suffering of the people of Alma were so great that “they began to cry mightily to God. And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.” Alma and his people ceased praying in public and out loud to God. They were truly captive and enslaved.
But Alma and his people continued to pray silently in their hearts, and the Lord “did know the thoughts of their hearts. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders.”
The burdens that were placed upon the shoulders of the people of Alma were made light and the Lord “did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.”
“Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together. And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep. And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness.”
I believe that addicts find themselves in a situation very similar to that of Alma and his people. They are captives and enslaved to their addiction and need the comfort and help of the Lord to be rescued. But before being led out of captivity, they must pray always in secret and in their hearts and demonstrate much faith and patience. I know that our Savior lives, and is ready to rescue us and free us.
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