Addictions
Are there “habits” in your life that are used to escape emotional hurts?
Does alcohol numb your pain? Or add party fun to your life?
Are drugs a way to feel good?
Do you find yourself sleeping with strangers to feel loved?
Are you working so hard that you have no time to think about how you feel?
Are you so focused on exercising that you do nothing else?
“I used alcohol, drugs, and relative strangers to “help me” to feel better about myself. I partied as a way to add happiness to my life. The problem was that there was no true joy. I did not feel loved for who I truly am; only my party persona. When I gave my life to Jesus, I stopped the party life. The illusion of fun was dissolved by the Truth. The problem was that I still worked and exercised like there was nothing else in life. I still needed to mask the pain and hurt of my past. I have come to know myself, through God, His Word, and the Choose Freedom Support Group. I am truly loved by the One who gave His life for me; in spite of my shortcomings. He has healed me. I have true joy in Him. I have been set free.“
Eileen Kopsaftis
Lives can be devastated or lost due to the addictions resulting from abuse. Addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, money, over working, or extreme exercising can be ways to escape or run away from the pain and the memories. Some of us may not see something as an addiction because it does not affect our jobs or keep us from fulfilling our responsibilities. We simply use these things as a way to manage our pain.
Eating Disorders
Others use an addiction to food, or an addiction to going without food, as a response to the trauma and emotional needs.
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are serious, life threatening eating disorders. Anorexia is an excessive weight loss due to not eating enough to maintain a normal weight. Anorexia is often coupled with extreme exercising, also to lose weight. Bulimia involves a cycle of bingeing and purging. This means eating a large amount of food in a short period of time and then expelling the food through self-induced vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercising.
While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food. There are many reasons why abuse victims become trapped in eating disorders.
Here are a few that you may recognize:
- Eating or not eating is something you can control in an uncontrollable world
- Feeling that your body is “dirty” or “worthless” because of abuse, especially sexual abuse
- Feeling that somehow you caused your abuse by your appearance, either too fat or too enticing or tempting
- Wanting to die - suicidal motivation
- Reacting to unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger toward your abuser or God
- Having depression and anxiety from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
And the list goes on and on.
In addition to eating disorders, many abuse victims have to deal with obesity. Eating to pacify, comfort or appease hurting emotions can result in a battle with excessive weight gain that can’t be won.
The struggles battling the trap or bondage of eating disorders and obesity are both psychological and spiritual. Christian psychologists or psychiatrists have been trained in this area and know many methods of treatment that will help, but only God can truly, permanently heal the heart wounded by abuse.
With God’s help, through prayer and Scripture, and with the support of others, such as in CAMEO’s Choose Freedom Support Group, healing is attainable.
Choose to be obedient to God and submit to the Lordship of Jesus.
Face your abuse and your addiction and bring it out into the light.
God promises never to give us more than we, with His help, can handle. God will give you the strength and courage to deal with your abuse and your addiction. This will require endurance and determination to fight through but you won’t be doing it alone or trying in your own strength.
You're invited...
Please join us on a 15 week journey of healing.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory. Isaiah 61:3
God desires for you to have a victorious life!
Scripture References
John 8:12
Jesus said…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Proverbs 24:16
For a righteous man may fall 7 times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
1 Corinthians 10:13
…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 6: 9, 20
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Lamentations 3: 22-24
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3: 55-57
“I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit…You drew near…and said, “Do not fear!”
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
2 Corinthians 4:8
When I am pressed on every side by troubles, I am not crushed and broken. When I am perplexed because I don’t know why things happen as they do, I don’t give up and quit.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
