Whether you are going through
recovery yourself or you are supporting a loved one who is recovering from an
addiction, you may find that you are discovering some new feelings and emotions.
You’ve been understandably stressed and worried and now it’s time to start
showing unconditional love in recovery.
recovery yourself or you are supporting a loved one who is recovering from an
addiction, you may find that you are discovering some new feelings and emotions.
You’ve been understandably stressed and worried and now it’s time to start
showing unconditional love in recovery.
What is Unconditional Love?
Very simply, unconditional love is
shared with no
strings attached. You offer it freely, expecting nothing in return and placing
no restrictions or requirements on the other person. Often referred to as agape
love, unconditional love is selfless. The word agape comes from the Greek and
means brotherly love or charity. In Ecclesiastical use, it refers to the love
of God for man and of man for God.
Very simply, unconditional love is
shared with no
strings attached. You offer it freely, expecting nothing in return and placing
no restrictions or requirements on the other person. Often referred to as agape
love, unconditional love is selfless. The word agape comes from the Greek and
means brotherly love or charity. In Ecclesiastical use, it refers to the love
of God for man and of man for God.
Reaching Out to Others
When you are the one in addiction
treatment, showing unconditional love in recovery can mean reaching out to
others that you may have hurt or that you want to reconnect with in a more meaningful
and positive way. In addiction, you probably damaged a lot of important
relationships in your life. The effort
of reaching out to others can benefit you in recovery as you develop a sense of
selfless concern for those around you and work to rebuild those relationships.
If you have a loved one who has been
addicted and is now in recovery, showing
them unconditional love can help them tremendously as they work on their
treatment program. Let the person know you love and care about them, regardless
of what they may have done when they were addicted. Unconditional does not mean,
of course, that you should let them get away with things they should no longer
be doing. What it does mean is that you are reassuring them that you will
continue to love and forgive them for what they have done in the past and that
you support them as they move forward with their life.
The Connection to Addiction
If your family member or friend is
struggling to overcome their addiction, know that your unconditional love for
them is the only thing that is more powerful
in their life. An individual who is addicted to drugs or alcohol may have low
self-esteem, most likely because they are often seen simply as someone who has
made wrong choices. In truth, though, their addiction is a disease and they
need your unconditional love to help them deal with the symptoms of that
disease as they progress through recovery.
Selfless, loving kindness can be
instrumental in helping people suffering from substance use issues. Empathy and
compassion are important elements of unconditional love and can help individuals
undergoing treatment as they work to understand their own feelings and to
become more self-aware.
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Research has actually determined that
when someone is a recipient of unconditional love, it can produce positive
feelings for them. One study explored how the regions of the brain were
affected when someone reached out and showed unconditional love. The result was
that many areas of the brain’s reward system were activated.
Other studies showed that receiving
unconditional love can make a difference in an individual’s emotional
well-being. Participants exhibited greater resilience and fewer mental health symptoms.
A study of children supported the idea that giving them unconditional love improved
their lifelong health and well-being.
Christ’s Unconditional Love
The highest
example we have of unconditional love comes from God himself. In a Christian-based
addiction treatment setting, it is important to remember the love of Christ as He
guides you through your recovery. For the person going through addiction
treatment and for their family and friends, there are several helpful verses to
help remind you of God’s unconditional love.
“Your faithful love is priceless,
God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.” — Psalm 36:7
“Let them thank the Lord for his faithful
love and his wondrous works for all people, because God satisfied the one who
was parched with thirst, and he filled up the hungry with good things!” — Psalm
107:8-9
“Give thanks to the Lord because he
is good, because his faithful love endures forever.” — 1 Chronicles 16:34
“I ask that you’ll have the power to
grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I
ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you
will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:18-19
California Faith-Based Drug Addiction
Treatment
To get help overcoming drug
addiction, please contact Celebrate
Hope to learn more about our faith-based addiction treatment program. Our team
helps men and women break the cycle of addiction and begin anew. We rely on the
teachings of Jesus Christ, along with evidence-based therapies to get individuals
on the path of recovery.
