Unveiling Addiction: Biblical Insights on Complex Trauma and Recovery

1. Addiction and Complex Trauma

2. Is Complex Trauma in the Bible? • 3 Parts to the Problem • The physical component • The psychological component • The spiritual component • Genesis 1-4 shows all 3 • Also shows 12 needs that God created us with • Physical, emotional, spiritual and relational • It also shows what happens when those needs aren’t met • Spiritual consequences as well as psychological and relational consequences

3. Dangerous misread of the Bible • Ch 3 – Adam and Eve eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil • Shows that the root of humanity’s problem is spiritual – we thought were smarter than God; that we knew what was best for us better than God • Many stop there and conclude the only issue is spiritual. They miss chapter 4-5 • Result of people turning against God – they hurt each other – they create Complex Trauma

4. Pleasure (Avoid Pain) • Food, Water, Shelter • Sex, Procreation • Relationships – belonging, connection, intimacy • Love, Nurture, Acceptance, Respect • Safety, Security - Boundaries, Consistency, Justice, Fair • Purpose, Significance – Vocation, Service • Rest, Relaxation • Beauty • Wow!, Awe, Worship • Spiritual

5. All of these appetites provide us the ingredients of a healthy, meaningful life • If all 11 drives exist in balance, we will feel contentment and wholeness • If one of these ingredients is missing, then we do not feel whole or complete • That creates in us a final drive • Wholeness, Contentment, Satisfaction, Joy • Note: our brain cannot tolerate pain. It cannot relax until it has found a solution

6. Observations • A person is set up for addiction when one or more of these basic needs/drives is not consistently met in a healthy way • It creates a “hole in the heart” • Usually happens at a subconscious level • Twoways addicts try to feel whole • Overindulgeone pleasurable appetite • Indulge a pleasurable gift/need outside of God’s design - Food; Sex; Adrenalin rush; Hassle-free life; Relationships

7. Try to find wholeness by meeting any of these legitimate needs/drives with the wrong thing – food = Comfort; sex = connection (trying to meet them in a way other than the way God designed for them to be met). The wires in the brain get crossed • Like salt water – seems to satisfy, but leaves person thirstier • Recovery happens when a person learns to meet each of the 11 God-given appetites in the way God designed them to be met

8. True Recovery isn’t ultimately about not using drugs, it’s about getting healthy in all areas of my life • Joy vs Happiness • Happiness – based on “happenings” – external circumstances • Leads to, “If only I had …., I would be happy” • Joy is based on internal world being healthy – emotionally, spiritually, relationally

9. Loving God with all your heart is the necessary place to begin • Umbilical cord • The need that seems least important is most important • Earthly desires function as signposts to make us aware of the same desires in our soul • Hunger – spiritual hunger • Sex, procreation – intimacy, reproducing spiritually • Awe – worship of something infinite that never becomes commonplace • Rest - heaven