Why do people move from extreme drug abuse to fanatical religion? I’m looking for a psychological pattern.
August 24th, 2010
Though I respect the role of religion in recovery, I am worried about my friend’s new and extreme evangelical Christianity. He was heavily addicted to meth, went into a year long rehab in an evangelical Christian center, and has never been the same. When he got out, he spoke much of Christ. That was fine, since he found a guiding light, if you will. But he went back into the drugs. Now he’s been off of them again for a month. He’s broken up with the mother of his child, is convinced she’s possessed by demons, see’s thing in zealous and fanatical terms…I worry that he’s suffered permanent damage from the drug. He attributes certain psychological states to receiving the Holy Spirit (not that I don’t think that such experiences are unreal; rather, I think his is a sign of some extreme chemical imbalances).
Please, I’m not looking for any lecture on the way of God. I’m looking for some clues from someone with psychological knowledge who can point me in a direction to researc
It basically comes down to life is hard, many people cant deal with it so they turn to drugs. Once they remove the drugs people find out life is still hard and they still cant deal so they “give” there weakness up to a higher power. “religion is the opiate of the masses”
He basically is hopping from one extreme to another. Its hard for him to find that middle ground. I guess the thing to ask is why did he start using to start off with. There are a lot of issues he might need to deal with before he gets clean.
When people are addicted to something like drugs often the only way to give up one addiction is take up a new one. I seem to remember that it has been suggested ‘religion is the opium of the people’ Extreme religion is a type of addiction.
they can’t stand alone, they need a crutch and anything within reach will do for them. They are followers in life, they cannot lead because they haven’t been taught to depend on themselves, so they look up to someone or something to pull them thru. Maybe lack of self-confidence plays a big part, but also ego. They need direction.and a reason for being.
Some things if you weren’t taught as a child you may struggle with your whole life, other things you can’t learn no matter how hard the person tries. Find out which it is and see if you can reach them on some level.
The chemical imbalances are entirely possible. In the brain of a drug addict (methamphetimines especially) there are areas of the brain that are oxygen depraived. This could be causing him to act the way he does. As for the extreme Christian beliefs, it may be because he was at a weak point in his life and easly influenced by what his recovery counselers were telling him.
You should talk to your local mental health counselers (making sure it is not a religious-run establishment) and tell them about your friend.
It sounds to me like he is trying to keep up a Christian facade to show that he has changed and is trying too hard to cover up what he has done in the past by becoming a fanatic christian.
Each of these new aspects of your friends life are attempts to escape from the early childhood abuses that were inflicted upon him. These abuses are in all forms> sexual, verbal, mental, spiritual and physical.The evangelical swing is just another form of escapism. This way he thinks he is better ( better than) but it is just a different “drug” so he does not have to be personally responsible. This way he can blame and judge and not look at the cause of his issues. the world is our mirror. That which we do not want to recognize with in is shown externally so we may heal it by loving and forgiving ourselves.Then and only then can we love and forgive outside of ourselves. However denial and avoidance are running the show. Preaching and paying money to get to heaven does not work. Heaven and hell are states of being here on this world it is all a matter of perception. We all need to take responsiblity for our own lives and live with impecable integerty. Religion is not personal responsiblity it is giving our power away so we can have someone else be responsible for our actions. Does not work that way. There is a huge cover up to make us beleive in this fear based control system so “they ” can become rich and feel as though they have power. Well as they say their day is coming and it is very soon.
Judge not for ye shall be judged. I am not my brothers keeper. Know thyself, to thine own self be true. John 13-34 11 th commandmant “love one another as I so love you.”
Freewill of choice is all of our birth right and for any one to tell us how we need to make our choices is an infringment on the Truth. Live and let Live.
The drugs have carved a neurological moat of deceit around his logical thinking. When we are connected to our hearts we can think The Truth. Otherwise we are in our heads and lies come cheap as they only appease the wounded child within.
There’s a reason religion was once called “the opium of the people.” Its because you can literally raise your serotonin levels to “get high” off of it. That’s correct, any thing that you can believe in enough to “feel great about” that move’s you in ways that nothing else can, will get you high. Why? Because serotonin can literally plug itself into our neuro-transmitters and tell our brain and body that there is no difference between drug intake and the high you get from collecting that new stamp. Its all a matter of degree. HOW MUCH does collecting get you off? Have you see the people in the front row of a concert, they are not even on drugs but they still act stoned and most likely are riding a high of brain chemicals.
Another reason is that some people are just “needy” in some ways. That is, they need something in their lives to ‘get them through.’ Whether it be a fix, high or snort, it doesn’t matter. When they decide to quit drugs, God will fit in that VOID quite nicely. Anything will as long as they have s-o-m-e-t-h-i-n-g in their lives to take its place. And believe me, church, god and religion can get you high. Anyone who’s been to a Pentecostal Church can tell you that. I have seen perfectly ‘straight’ people in church run around shouting in what they claim is tongues and slam themselves full body into walls! No joke. Also, anyone who “dedicates” their lives to God has then given themselves a ‘reason to live’ and this makes them feel needed in return. So, its all in our minds. We’re simply trading one addiction for another.
HOWEVER, that said, wouldn’t God be a safer high than drugs?
Life its not easy my yahoo friend. And it is never black and white. It is something in between.
My opinion aobut this: drug is something like a pill…you don’t use it quite often but when you have a headache then you know that pill will make it go away.The same is with the drug, once you have tried, eventhough u don’t get adicted at first…but you know that when you feel bad, or can’t deal with something, than you take drugs and its far away worse than just a headache pill. I hope your friend will have a power to stand up and not to take drug. whatever it happenes just stand by him…if you can help him, that would be great…but if you can’t ( unfortunately you can’t help him that feeling is stronger than every conciounus advice), you just pray for him to get better and in god’s path.
good luck.
Your friend has no control over his life. Kind of like driving down a road that has nothing on eather side to look at, 4 days.
its caused by transferance. people transfer the great feeling of getting over addiction to the thing that helped them get over the addiction- religion