What Is Addiction and How to Overcome It

From a biblical standpoint, addiction is seen as where a person surrenders their will to some substance, behavior, or desire, making it an idol that controls them.

Types of Addiction

• Substance Use Disorders (SUDs): Involving alcohol, narcotics, etc.
• Behavioral Addictions: Compulsive engagement in activities like gambling, shopping, gaming, etc. Or as a result of things such as anger, lust, pride, or greed.

Key Characteristics

• Compulsive Use: Inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior despite negative effects.
• Craving: Intense desires for the substance or activity.
• Tolerance: Needing more of the substance to get the same effect.
• Withdrawal: Unpleasant physical or psychological symptoms when use stops (e.g., anxiety, irritability, tremors).
• Brain Changes: Altered brain function.

Causes & Risk Factors

• Genetics & Biology: From family history.
• Environment: Stress, trauma, abuse, social influences, family conflict.
• Mental Health: Co-occurring mental health conditions.

Treatment

Addiction is a chronic but manageable disease, not a moral failing or lack of willpower, with treatments like therapy, medication, and support groups.

Addiction is like a hidden time bomb, quietly ticking beneath the surface. Just when success in overcoming it seems within reach, it detonates. If you have an addiction, you may not even recognize what is happening. A condemning voice whispers that failure is inevitable because you do not deserve what you have received.

You begin to believe you are unworthy of unconditional love and acceptance—from God, from others, and even from yourself. You tell yourself that because of the things you have done, you cannot go back to how life was before your addiction.

You may even feel that others only value you for what you can provide, not for who you truly are. And if they really knew you, as you know yourself, they would withdraw their love.

Addiction is a battle, a battle that one cannot and should not try to fight alone. My experience has shown there are two ways to defeat addiction in your life – through God and through the love, help, and support of others. Your end goal should be to accept God’s forgiveness, forgive yourself, and make amends with anyone who has been hurt along the way.

Forgiveness does not mean forgetting mistakes or escaping consequences. It means refusing to weaponize past failures against yourself. Only when we choose to forgive ourselves can our behavior truly change.

For free assistance, come find “Deliverance” Monday evening, at 7PM at CrossRoads Church located at 1851 S. Clyde Morris Blvd.

This program meets in room 304 in the gymnasium building. Come as you are.