Page 132 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

Study Section 17: Addiction
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is
weak. Matthew 26:41

17.1 Connect

Read the following story of addiction: “It was so different to the early days of my drinking. I
think I was a pretty ordinary sort of kid, not a lot of confidence but reasonably bright and
friendly. Then I found alcohol. With alcohol, I had boundless confidence. I became loud, jovial
and found everything and everyone great fun. I was what some people describe as a plateau
drinker. I didn’t need to wipe myself out each time I drank. I just needed enough to get on a
high and then I’d coast along on that till I went to bed. For several years there were few problems apart
from hangovers. The first problem that emerged was I became dependent on alcohol to get me to sleep
at night. If I didn’t have a drink last thing at night, it was difficult to sleep. I would toss and turn and feel
terribly uncomfortable. A little nightcap always worked its magic.” 196

The next problem to occur was the shakes. [Trembling occurs when the brain gets accustom to lower
levels of stimulation due to frequent alcohol consumption and when discontinued, it gets flooded with
hyperactivity, resulting in shakes. 197 This started as just a slight tremor in the mornings. But then
someone noticed it. I was terribly embarrassed and from then on tried hard to stop my hands shaking.
The trouble is, the harder you try to stop them shaking, the worse they shake. If I had to sign something
in front of people, my hands would go completely out of control and I couldn’t even hold the pen. By
age 26 this had become a serious impediment to normal life. It was really freaky. At a semi-conscious
level, I knew alcohol was responsible for my problems but that was an idea that I kept the lid on very
firmly.” 198

17.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to define addiction.

2. The student should be able to list 8 steps that occur in an addiction cycle.

3. The student should be able to provide scripture references focused on addiction.

4. The student should be able to explain how they would help someone struggling with addiction.

17.3 Addiction
Addiction is another topic that we could spend an entire course on. This is another topic that
is fascinating to learn the biology and psychology behind addiction. We could also have a
nature/nurture discussion and debate on addiction. However, this study section will instead
focus on two articles that will help us understand addiction while also giving us guiding
support from the Bible.

196 “Personal Stories,” p. 1, 2020
197 Monico & Stein, 2020
198 “Personal Stories,” p. 1, 2020

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