Biblical Principle:

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created.”

I have heard these are the most powerful words ever written.  It has been said if you believe this the rest of the bible is easy to believe.  It took a while for me to understand this passage but clearly there is a great deal said in just a few words.  God is mentioned in this passage and introduced really only as “the creator.” We learn more about this God the more we read but this all the introduction we really get. We each have our own beginning in our lives. We have the beginning of our life, our first job and even the onset of addiction.

My Relative Truth:

At the age of 16 I had only peripherally heard of anxiety and depression.  In the late 90’s mental health issues had such a social stigma that many people probably were never diagnosed due to the social repercussions they may face.  Of course, I had no idea if my issues were just those of a teenager or if I actually had a more serious form of anxiety and depression. I thought it was normal to experience very regular feelings of inadequacy, suicide ideation and regular social isolation. 

One summer night I was driving a friend home after a baseball game.  He invited me into the house to eat.  No 16-year-old in their right mind would turn down food so of course I ate.  I don’t recall what I had for breakfast today but I remember exactly what I ate that night.  It was plate of homemade enchiladas there were very spicy and delicious.  My friend offered me drink in the now infamous solo cup. He did warn me in all fairness what it was, day old keg beer. To this day I have no idea why I said yes. There was no pressure to drink as it was just he and I. He seemed at ease having a beer so I decided to give it a dry.

My drive home was about 10 minutes. It was a two-lane road but really was best suited for one car.  As I drove along the river that night I began to more and more intoxicated and I loved it!  I should have been scared out of mind for what I had done because my parents would have been very upset if the knew what I had done.  Oddly enough I felt pure joy and relief. It was the panacea I had dreamed about.  Alcohol seemingly cured my mental health even if it was for just a short while.   It was a feeling that eating, sleeping and exercise could not even come close too producing.

I felt “true” happiness for the first time in my life. No guilt, no shame, no fear, and even better no hate.  I made a promise that night, save this silver bullet for when you really need it.  I knew I had something special, some powerful and I didn’t want to waste it just yet.  It would be some time before I would ever drink again.  

Application:

In the beginning I found alcohol as innocently and effortlessly as anyone could.  What I didn’t expect was to find the cure for mental illness.  Have you ever traced back your “beginning.”  Was it willful?  I had that moment like most people do on whether or not I should drink but the curiosity won out over what little spirituality I had. In a future blog this will be a key in a discussion of “being a believer.”   Reviewing this time in my life is constant reminder how quickly and simply we can slip into addiction, in all honestly it is really scary. 

I believe the mind is naturally addictive.  It seems most people deal with an addiction at some level.  The key is to ask yourself why.  I have been in constant sobriety for 8-years.  Do I still have anxiety and depression, yes of course I do. The difference is I answered my why and found tools that were more practical thank alcohol to deal with the toughest moments in my life.  The periods of depression and anxiety are very short-lived now.  I work very hard to be grateful for my emotions whether good or bad and try to remember to turn to God for his guidance.

If we continue our read through Genesis we find that man was created in the image of God.  Once I accepted that “God created” me I had a much easier time dealing with my mental health, please note, this is easier said than done.  Addiction is sometimes a quick onset and can be lifetime of recovery but it is absolutely worth the fix.

Resource:

I have countless resources for addiction.  You can call a pastor or mental health therapist and confront your addiction which is a key step. Accountability is really at the heart of this issue.  Once I held myself accountable the help I needed quickly appeared.  You cannot do this alone, get help.  I can’t stress that enough!

I wish you all the best in your journey.

Your brother in faith,

Felipe