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Sacrificing Your Addiction



Summary/Abstract

Have you ever an unhealthy behavior for something that is more important to you?

Content

Have you ever sacrificed your time, energy, or even your sleep for something that was really important to you? How about sacrificing an unhealthy habit or substance for something that is more important to you?

Sacrificing your unhealthy habit or substance means you are taking an action that demonstrates a letting go of the need to have or use it. 

Sacrificing is a ritual that dates back 20,000 years. Many people from cultures all over the world have sacrificed animals, plants, and even humans to the object of their worship or religious veneration in order to honor or appease a deity, or to make holy their offering. Rituals have their integral place in the human psyche and often hold important meaning for the participant. We have rituals for weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays, religious practices, significant dates and experiences. 
 
 Many years ago I did a sacrificing ritual for something that was more important to me, being HEALTHIER. I drove many miles from home to a deserted area. Once there, I made an altar from rocks, put my cigarettes on the altar and burnt them. As the smoke rose I said, “God, I am sacrificing my addiction to you. Release it from my life. Things that seem impossible for me are not impossible for you.” I left it there and walked away towards a life free of nicotine dependency. 
 
For the past 2 years I have been facilitating weekly addiction workshops. A few weeks ago I had the attendees at my addiction workshop participate in the Sacrifice Your Addiction ritual. I invited each of them to bring something they were dependent on which had caused them negative consequences. They had the option to bring in something that represented their habit or addiction. I suggested that each of them create their own intention, affirmation or prayer to say as they sacrificed their habit, or substance. They could also use the sample sacrifice affirmations or prayer in chapter 20 of my workbook, Good Things Emotional Healing Journal: Addiction. 
 
In the courtyard outside of my office, my assistant and I set up a portable fire pit and rocks for an altar. My assistant was responsible for insuring everyone’s safety. The attendees could choose to burn their addiction or place it on the altar. As we gathered around the fire and altar I explained that sacrificing an unhealthy habit or substance symbolizes releasing the power you have given it in your life.

I demonstrated by going first. I threw a pack of cigarettes (representation of my past nicotine addiction) into the fire and said, “Today I sacrifice nicotine and release it from my life. This is an action taken by me to leave my addiction behind and take steps toward a life that is free of unhealthy dependency.” I stepped away from the fire and Peter* went next. 
 
Peter’s Sacrifice
Peter is a 35 year old who has been sober from alcohol for two years. He has been smoking cigarettes since he was 14. His medical doctor found a spot on his lung and warned Peter to stop smoking. Peter uses the nicotine patch but continues to relapse with cigarettes. Peter has also shared he wants to give up pornography and get a girlfriend.
For his sacrifice Peter threw half a pack of cigarettes into the fire and read the sample sacrifice prayer from chapter 20 of my workbook, “Dear God, today I am asking you to take my cigarette addiction from me. I sacrifice these cigarettes to you and release them from my life. Things that seem impossible for me are not impossible for you.” He stepped away from the fire and Charlotte* went next. 
 
Charlotte’s Sacrifice 
Charlotte is an 18 year old who has struggled with binge eating and bouts of bulimia since age 13. She has also experimented with marijuana. After having a bad experience with alcohol, she has been sober for over a year.
As her sacrifice, Charlotte placed a significant amount of chocolate candy on the altar and read from the sample sacrifice prayer in the workbook, “Today I leave my food addiction on the altar which symbolizes me leaving my food addiction behind to take steps toward a life that is free of unhealthy dependency. I thank you in advance for taking this addiction from me. Amen. It is done.” She stepped away from the altar and Kevin* went next. 
 
Kevin’s Sacrifice 
Kevin is 24 years old. When he was 17 he was beat up by several guys and ended up in the hospital with serious eye damage. His doctor wrote him a prescription for Percocet when he was released from the hospital and Kevin became addicted. In an attempt to get off the Percocet, he tried Suboxone which worked temporarily. He then began using heroin. Currently, Kevin visits a Methadone clinic every day.
Kevin threw a Percocet into the fire and said, “Today I sacrifice Percocet and move forward to a life free of Percocet addiction.” He stood there for a minute or two and then stepped away from the fire and Lacy* went next. 
 
Lacy’s Sacrifice 
Lacy is 30 years old. Eighteen months ago she was involved in a three month relationship with Marco* before he moved overseas with the military. She fell in love and became obsessed with Marco. She wrote letters and text-ed him, but he did not respond. When he came back to town on leave six months ago, she was hopeful they would reconnect, but he did not visit her. Her love/relationship addiction caused her many tears and blocked her from moving forward with other relationships. Lacy brought a piece of paper with Marco’s name on it to sacrifice. She stood in front of the altar and started crying. She said, “I thought I was ready to let go of Marco, but I’m not. I’m afraid to let go.” She slowly stepped away from the altar. 
 
When we were all ready we went back inside to share how the ritual went for each person. I asked them, “What do you hope that sacrificing your addiction will do for your recovery long -term?”
Kevin replied he had never done this before, and it was a good experience. He said it would have been better if he had brought his needle to sacrifice.

Peter said he felt a strong release and felt he was not only going to give up cigarettes but the patch too!
Charlotte commented that the ritual went really well, and she felt very much like she was in a “circle of non-judgment.” She shared openly about her past struggle with bulimia and her unhealthy choices with food.
Lacy was tearful and did not share. I reassured her that “It’s okay, sometimes we think we are ready to release and let go of something, but we realize we are not.” 
 
A week after the sacrificing your addiction ritual, the attendees came back for the next addiction workshop. I briefly checked in with them to see how their week went. Peter said, he had not smoked or used the patch in four days! Charlotte said she had not participated with bulimia and was making better food choices. Kevin reported that his long-time friend who was in recovery with him overdosed on heroin 6 days ago. He went on to say that he also relapsed, but was sober for the past two days. Lacy did not show up. 
 
When you are successful at sacrificing or giving up something that is really difficult to do, it is important that you reward yourself for the accomplishment. This helps maintain your motivation to continue. You can take the money you saved from no longer participating with the unhealthy habit or substance and put it towards a healthy reward for yourself. Some examples may include a massage, a movie, a mini vacation, a nice dinner, a new outfit, or a new music video. 
 
If you happen to relapse, you can sacrifice your addiction more than once to reinforce the letting go process. This ritual is one of many strategies that support recovery. Recovery is about progress, not perfection. It is about giving those who struggle with unhealthy dependencies helpful information, coping skills and support that strengthens them toward reaching their personal goals.

Fears may arise when you consider giving up your unhealthy dependency to a substance or habit. Fears like what will I do to cope with difficulties? Or how will I distract myself from things I feel are overwhelming to deal with? What will I do when I get a craving?
It is important to seek the answers to all your fears of addiction free living. 

 These answers can be found in many forms.
• Reading self-help and recovery books.
 • Interviewing people who have overcome addictions. 
• Working with a good counselor.
 • Building a support system with people who encourage your progress and never shame you for setbacks.
• Asking questions in meditation and listening in the stillness
 • Journaling your thoughts and feelings for deeper self-discovery. 
 Above all be gentle with yourself. Remind yourself that you come equipped to deal with all that life presents to you as you journey through recovery. 
 Written by Elisabeth Davies, MC 
Author of Good Things Emotional Healing Journal: Addiction
Illustration by Bryan Marshall
*All names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals mentioned in this article 
 
About the Author

Elisabeth Davies, MC Elisabeth Davies holds a masters degree in counseling and has counseled thousands of clients since 1989. She opened up her private practice, Bright Alternatives Inc. in 1993 and continues to offer counseling and educational workshops. She was voted “Best in Counseling Services” by the U.S. Commerce Association, City of Peoria, Arizona in 2009 and 2010.

 

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