How does the church deal with addictions??

[Poppy]

This orthodox priest on the video is talking about addictions, that people are addicted to their passions and basically behaving like spoiled brats when it comes to their passions. It's about 2/3 the way through the video he says it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG_3pZvMQ4g&feature=related

How does the church and the teachings view addictions in general. Like alcohol and food addictions, gambling and addictions to shopping (not street drugs) some of these things are rli serious so does the church have a spiritual way of dealing with them and how successfull is it?? or do ppl have to go to a psychologist or counsellor??

Thanks Poppy

[Cognomen]

Poppy,
I don't know much on the subject, but Fr. Meletios Webber (author of Bread & Water, Wine & Oil, and speaker of the Jottings from a Holy Mountain Podcast) wrote a book called Steps of Transformation: An Orthodox Priest Explores the Twelve Steps (Conciliar Press).

He also has a doctorate in counseling.  I've not thoroughly read the book though. 

Fighting the passions (not specifically "addictions")?  That's kind of Orthodoxy's bread & butter. 

[joasia]

We do need guidance in getting through our "therapy" with our passions so we do have our priests to turn to.  They are our spiritual counsellors.   So, it's not so far off the mark to say that we need counselling.  The addictions are a form of self-indulgences of the flesh.  We know that Christ and the saints taught that we should overcome our indulgences so that we can be freed from the physical influences and therefore move closer to God.  When we come to accept God in our lives, we start to change our ways.  It's a slow process for some and others might make faster changes.  But, the main point is that we do make changes for the better.  The Church and the saints view addictions as a sickness which can be healed.  It's just a matter of the person wanting to take that first step.  These addictions are not part of our true nature.  But, our bodies and minds are so used to them that we need to get spiritual guidance to help us get over them.  It's only successful if you want it to be.  

[Andrew Crook]

So the point is to find a spiritual father that can help with this?  Granted, just because you say in Confession "I keep doing such and such, even when I have tried to stop" is no guarantee that he will counsel you on the matter.

[Asteriktos]

I miss poppy. You jerkoffs ran her off!!!!!!!!!


Asterikos the Convert Issues Forum is an inappropriate forum to bring this up. If you have issues about Poppy please address it to the administrative team. In reviewing her discussions within the Convert Issues Forum she appears to have been dealt fairly and given resources and answers to the questions that she asked or was forwarded to other appropriate O.C.Net forums. My dealings in both public and PM were always cordial, nothing to indicated that we  (Convert Issues Forum) were "jerkoffs " who ran her off.  If such is the case I ask for her forgiveness,

Thomas
Convert Issues Forum Moderator

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