What do you do if you think you or your spouse may have an addiction? How do you know if it’s truly an addiction or just a bad habit? Understanding the difference between an addiction, a struggle, an unhealthy habit, or sin can be challenging. You might ask yourself, “Am I overreacting? Is this behavior normal?” Or maybe someone has suggested to you, “I think you or your spouse has a problem.”

Recognizing the Signs of Addiction

To help clarify the situation, here are some questions you can ask yourself or pose to your spouse:

• Is there anything in my life that I am addicted to, compulsive about, or obsessed over?
• Is there something consuming most of my time and energy?
• Is there anything I cannot live without?
• Do I spend time and money on something to the exclusion of other important things?
• Is there anything I feel the need to hide or sneak around to do?

Understanding Addiction Beyond Substances

Many people believe addiction only involves illicit drugs or alcohol, but the truth is, people can be addicted to many different things: other people, cars, boats, adrenaline, experiences, food, shopping, TV, pornography, exercise, not being alone, church, serving others, work, money. Addiction doesn’t discriminate—it affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles.

Why Do We Become Addicted?

You may wonder why you or your spouse are addicted. The reasons can be as varied as the addictions themselves. At the core, we are all born with a God-shaped hole in our hearts—basic needs that only God can fill. When we remove God from our lives, we often try to fill these voids with outside things, leading us down the path of addiction.

Numbing Pain and Avoiding Emotions

Another reason for addiction can be an attempt to numb the pain from past traumas, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, abuse, neglect, or health problems. Instead of dealing with these emotions, we may turn to addictive behaviors to avoid feeling them. This is why it’s crucial to recognize when we are putting something before God and making it an idol in our lives.

The First Step Toward Healing

The first step toward healing is to admit that you or your spouse has a problem. It’s impossible to change what you don’t acknowledge. Satan uses what we keep in the dark against us, but God heals what is brought to the light. (Ephesians 5:8-14) Freedom from the bondage of addiction is possible, thanks to the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. When we choose to be 100% dependent on Him to fill our needs and heal our hearts, we will experience true freedom.

Seeking Help for Addiction

If you believe you or your spouse may be struggling with an addiction, here are some resources to help you start the journey to recovery:

• A Christ-centered 12-step recovery program: Consider Celebrate Recovery or rerecovery.
• Your pastor: Seek guidance from your church leader.
• A small group leader at your church: Connect with someone who can provide support and accountability.
• A counselor or trained mentor: Professional help can provide tools for overcoming addiction.
• Your primary care doctor: Medical professionals can offer additional resources and referrals.
• In/outpatient rehabilitation programs: For more intensive support, consider a rehabilitation program.