White knuckling Versus No Matter What
In addiction recovery meetings, there is a term widely used i.e. ‘white knuckling’. As the term implies it is used to describe the experience of an addict who is abstaining from drugs and fighting the urge to use it with all his strength and willpower. It also implies that an addict is doing it all on his own without any help.
White knuckling is considering in a negative way and used to describe that an addict is not following his/her recovery plan or recovering in the right way. Recovery Experts believe that addicts who are trying to recover on their own will certainly fail at one point or another, making the relapse inevitable.
On the other hand, there is another term i.e. ‘No Matter What’. An addict who is undergoing recovery will be advised that when everything else fails, he/she just have to focus on abstaining drugs. They are advised to not use drugs, no matter what.
The advice is strong considering that your brain starts healings once you stop using drugs.
Difference between White Knuckling and No Matter What:
Although both are implying the same thing, there is a major difference between ‘white knuckling’ and ‘no matter what’.
The implication of no matter what is that you have to stay clean through your willpower but in this case, you are also going to meetings and have a sponsor.
White Knuckling is the same thing in every way but in this case, you are doing it on your own, with no help.
When connected with 12-step programs, some addicts think that it is the best and probably the only way to overcome addiction and live a sober life.
On the alternate side, few addicts think that 12-step is a sort of ‘keep-the-person-occupied-centers’, to keep the addict busy in different lively activities while working on staying clean.
The Third Element to Kicking an Addiction?
What is the third element to consider?
The third element strikes at the heart of the matter. The heart of the matter is the human soul. The human living soul has the following functions.
- Intellect
- Consciousness
- Imagination
- Will
- Memory
- Emotions
These are the functions of the human living soul mind. The mind can be a slave to the physical addictions of the body. Alternatively, the mind can be in control over the physical flesh of the physical body.
The mind works in the spiritual realm. The Physical body addictions are in conflict with the spiritual realm of the mind.
How to be more in tune with the spiritual?
There are many right answers to the above question. One way to be more in tune with the spiritual is to spend time in the natural environment. Contemplating the beauty of the natural environment. To be mindful of the beautiful life that is everywhere in the natural environment, where there is a healthy life to be observed.
The second way to be spiritual is to read the Holy Scriptures. To read the Bible and to meditate on the meaning of the scriptures does provide guidance to what should be priorities in life. E.g.
Proverbs 8:13 New International Version (NIV)
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.”
Here are some of the common physical addictions listed.
Pornography, fornication, alcohol, drunkenness, weed smoking, stealing, willful lying, willful cursing, homosexuality, clubbing, covetousness, hate, envy, anger, murder and more.
It is important to acknowledge the difference between spiritual values and physical addictions. Physical addictions corrode the self-control over the physical body. The lusts of the flesh attempt to take control and rule the roost. It is a matter for decision making, to take steps towards the right and the higher priorities in life, as in spiritual priorities.
The Reason to deny the lust of the flesh, and not to go there is vital.
By making small steps, and also praying to the Creator of Life (God), can enable the spirit to be stronger over the physical addictions of the flesh.
Physical addictions do not just happen overnight, they are fed with imaginations, fantasies, flirtations, pornographic images and also often with alcohol and drugs.
Alcohol and drugs indulge the lusts of the flesh. People lose their self-control when they indulge in alcohol and drugs much faster than they would under normal life healthy lifestyle.
Which is more effective for recovery – White Knuckling or No Matter What?
When we talk about recovery we are actually referring to staying clean from drugs/alcohol and healing our brain.
In recovery programs, you have a sponsor who will guide you through every step of how to handle your drug cravings. You are often advised and motivated to never use drugs, no matter what.
And this requires a lot of willpower. Same willpower can be used in white knuckling also. Like we said earlier, you can call ‘white knuckling’ is doing the ‘no matter what’ without any recovery program or sponsor.
The Outcomes of Both Programs:
The outcomes of both the programs – ‘white knuckling’ or ‘no matter what’ remains the same.
If you are suffering from addiction and undergoing the 12-step program, you will be advised and motivated to never use drugs no matter what. This is actually good advice for your health and life.
On the other hand, if you are not going to any program and recovering on your own and if you managed to avoid drugs by yourself only, then you should understand that you are still achieving success towards sobriety.
With time and proper care, your addictive behaviors and cravings will start dissipating and your brain will start to function normally again. But remember, that addiction is a chronic disease and a person always possesses chances to relapse even after staying clean for a long time.
You must remain cautious about situations, people, places that can act as strong triggers for relapse.
What possess greater chances of Relapse – ‘White Knuckling’ or ‘No Matter What’?
Relapse occurs when a person’s need to use drugs overshadows his/her willpower to stay clean.
Although during recovery, both possess a chance to relapse but as in ‘white knuckling’ the individual is alone and trying to quit on his own, it possesses a greater chance of relapse.
In ‘no matter what’ your sponsor will be by your side, motivate you every day, teach you great ways to stay busy and be cautious about triggers.
Conclusion:
Both programs offer a solid approach to overcome addiction, but everyone must understand that every person is different. There are multiple paths to recovery and require different methods, techniques and willpower levels. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to addiction recovery. Therefore it is suggested that every individual should find a way that suits his/her needs for lifetime sobriety.
Five Questions
But today we focus on verse 31: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.’” And I have five questions that this verse raises — all are crucial for your life:
What does it mean to “truly be Jesus’s disciples”? (“You are truly my disciples.”)
What is Jesus referring to by the phrase “my word”? (“If you abide in my word. . . .”)
What does it mean to be “in” that word? (“If you abide in my word. . . .”)
What does it mean to “abide” there? (“If you abide in my word. . . .”)
What’s the relationship between abiding in his word and truly being his disciple? (“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”)
Read the entire article at this Desiring God link.
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/if-you-abide-in-my-word-you-are-truly-my-disciples