We often get asked the question, “Why does believing in God or a Higher Power, important in recovery.”
We had a passage from a book emailed to us from a member of our 30 Day Learning System. I thought it was a good way to answer this question. I wanted to share it with everyone.
Envisioning an authoritarian or critical entity– be it another person or God — will activate the limbic ares of the brain that generate fear and anger…However, when you perceive God as a benevolent force, a different part of the brain is stimulated in the prefrontal cortex. Loving, compassionate images, faces, or thoughts activate a circuit that involves a tiny area in the front part of your brain called the anterior cingulate. It conveniently sits between the limbic and prefrontal structures, and when stimulated, it suppresses the impulse to get angry or frightened… The anterior cingulate reduces anxiety, fear guilt, and anger, and is involved in learning, memory, and focused attention. The anterior cingulate is strengthened by meditation.
Had my bishop turned me to this instead of Innergold I can guarantee with 100% surety that I would likely be worse off today than I was 3-4 years ago. I may have had some success and found some tools but this scares me to see these kind of unrealistic promises. It breaks my heart that individuals can go through a program giving so much motivation and hope just to set themselves up for future failure when they have a slip. The mind set of overcoming porn addiction as a short culmination event is ridiculous. I would like to say that something is better than nothing but the wrong kind of program can lead to failure and deeper depression when the slips happen. Their site is about a couple of rich well meaning individuals/doctors putting some money into a program that they probably truly believe will do good. The problem is that although some of their content is good they are very wrong in the overall goals and playing into the addictive behaviors of “wanting a cure” to push sales. This is wrong in my opinion.
There may be a handful who get the concept of the brain through their program and stay sober long term, but to say that in 6 weeks they can “transform” the chemical structure of ones brain is ludicrous. I am sure their intentions are sound and that they have helped a few people.
“Many recovery programs promise a cure in 2-8 weeks. These kind of promises are not only unrealistic but set the addict up for future failure. Gordon, you wish as much as anyone that there was a magic cure to make this addiction just go away. Promising a time sensitive cure will only set the addict up for future failure. Sobriety and freedom from pornography and sexual addiction is not an event but a process, just like becoming an addict is not a one time event. Most programs claim that the cycle of addiction can simply be cured. The Innergold Program promises to give individuals the tools, that if followed, will help one stay sober for a lifetime. Some individuals have never looked back after day one of starting the Innergold program, others have taken more time in gaining sobriety. Each individual brain and level of addiction is different. You were there to help each individual gain sobriety and have developed a process rather than just a few weeks of promise. The Innergold program is tailored to work with the addict in realistic and life changing ways. You were there to say that becoming sober is possible and hundreds have done it through the Innergold program. Setting a goal to be “cured” after just a few weeks is like saying that one can be cured from wanting food, sleep, or air. The addicted brain has wanted so badly to find a “cure” that when other programs promise the cure the addict dives in head first. We warn addicts to be careful in choosing programs of treatment that play into your addiction and promise results that only few can realistically achieve. Any program promising a timed cure will not be your long-term solution. The Innergold program teaches the addict to live soberly for their lifetime without setting up unrealistic expectations that make one feel they are a failure. Most addicts have been enveloped by their addictions for years and as such, the tools Innergold offers are not just a 6 week promise but rather a system that if used long-term will offer the addict sobriety and progression for a lifetime.”
- Thanks for developing the program -
This client summed up everything so beautifully we are putting this on our site as what makes us different.
Thank you for reading
On a forum I participate in someone mentioned how tired they were of dealing with the deep guilt they felt for their addiction. Another person mentioned that so many ecclesiastical institutions preach in a way that brings guilt whether intentional or unintentional. Although I agree that one should feel some forms of guilt for undesirable behaviors, hope is more productive in healing.
Most pornography addicts have become habitually addicted to the cycle of guilt and shame that comes with the practice. Understanding, tools for recovery, and positive hope should be used before strict punishment and guilt are brought to the table. Many leaders in today’s churches struggle to know how to help those coming to them with sexual or pornography addictions. Many use strict punishments thinking that will help “break” the addiction. More often than not I feel that instead of “breaking” the addiction, the individual seeking help most often gets “broken.”
Addicts seeking help want answers and hope. They want to know they aren’t alone and can find solutions to their plaguing addictions. They want someone who they can communicate with who will not be judgmental. Those seeking help are often scared knowing that bringing to light their addiction may hurt others around them. Understanding that becoming sober in sexual addictions is a process rather than a one time event is vital. Purposeful consequence can be helpful in situations of the non-penitent or those who may need some time to gain understanding of the blessings they have. Any consequence should have a positive focus with achievable goals affixed. Understanding this process will help those in spiritual authority likely lean towards mercy and positive progression as their means to help porn addicts rather than strict punishment.
