“Addicts are misunderstood by society. It’s not a ‘party’ to be an addict. We are not bad people trying to get good. We are sick people trying to get well.” --Lisa Jo Barr

I’m grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Lisa Jo Barr, a fellow addict and pursuer of joyful recovery.  Lisa Jo has overcome a lot in her life and she’s done so with an abiding faith in God and adherence to 12-step recovery.  I am proud to have the opportunity to amplify her message and relate it to this website’s mission of providing guidance to struggling addicts through principles of philosophic study.

Lisa Jo's point is well-taken.  End-stage addiction is not a party.  It is not a good time.  It is also not indicative of lack of willpower or moral failing.  Addiction is a complex medical/psychological issue that ensnares its sufferers.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca once discussed the dichotomy between afflictions of the body and afflictions of the soul:

“A slight ague deceives us, but when it has increased and a genuine fever has begun to burn, it forces even a hardy man, who can endure much suffering to admit that he is ill…The opposite holds true of diseases of the soul; the worse one is, the less one perceives it.”

In Seneca’s estimation, we are moved to seek treatment for a physical malady more the worse it gets.  With a spiritual malady, however, the worse we are, the less we even perceive that we are afflicted.

I would characterize addiction as closer to the latter, as being an affliction of the soul.  While there is certainly a medical/physical element to substance-use disorders, recovery through faith and 12-step work demonstrate that abstinence from our drug of choice is only really the starting-off point of getting better.  Once the haze of active intoxication has worn off, we have the clarity to inspect the underlying causes and conditions—the defects of character—that are hiding under the surface of our disease.  A hallmark of substance abuse and addiction is the frequent denial of the problem altogether.  Even when the problem is recognized, many feel too beaten down by their disease to even attempt to recover.  It’s an unfortunate death spiral in which we frequently find ourselves.

Lisa Jo has achieved admirable sobriety and clarity and now pursues her mission to share her experience, strength, and hope with her readers.  Her upcoming book, “The Pit of Despair, How God, Prayer and the 12 Steps Saved my Life from Addiction is available for pre-order now at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pit-of-despair-lisa-jo-barr/1144036665

Lisa Jo is a founder of Hell to Happiness Coaching and you can get a complimentary 20-minute coaching session by signing up at calendly.com lisajobarr.  You’re welcome to check out her website, www.lisajobarr.com.

 She’s also available on X as @bylisajobarr.

Dear Reader, I hope you will listen to another sound voice in the recovery space.  Lisa Jo's experience could very well help you along with your sobriety journey.