Uncovering the Spiritual Roots of Addiction

The Real Root of Addiction: Why Mental Obsession Comes Before Physical Dependence

Most people think addiction only “counts” when someone is physically dependent—drinking every day, taking a drug every day, waking up needing it, or having intense withdrawal symptoms if they don’t.
But that’s not actually where addiction begins.

Addiction starts long before physical dependence ever shows up.
It starts in the mind—with a mental obsession.

If you really want to understand the root of addiction, you have to look at what makes someone go back to a substance or behavior over and over and over again, eventually leading to physical dependence. And that root is almost always tied to psychological or emotional discomfort.

In today’s blog, we’re going one layer deeper than addictive thinking—and uncovering the real reason addiction takes hold in the first place.

Addiction Starts With Mental Obsession—Not Physical Dependence

Mental obsession happens when your mind gets stuck on something that temporarily makes you feel better.
This could be:

• Alcohol

• Pain pills

• Marijuana

• Gambling

• Pornography

• Food

• Any behavior or substance that provides relief

A person doesn’t become addicted because the substance is “too strong.”
They become addicted because something inside them feels wrong—and the substance or behavior seems to fix it.

If you want a deeper dive into this concept, I break it down in my video The Secret to Recognizing Addictive Thinking, but today we’re going even deeper.

What Causes Mental Obsession? The Real Trigger Behind Addiction

Mental obsession almost always begins as self-medication.

Now, when you hear the word “medicate,” it implies something is off—physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

Maybe it’s:

• Grief

• Trauma

• Loneliness

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Adolescence

• Painful transitions

• Divorce

• Job loss

These are the cracks in the armor—the moments in life when you feel disconnected from yourself.

You’re moving through life feeling off, and then suddenly you bump into something that makes you feel better, even if it’s only for a moment.
And your brain remembers that.

This is where the cycle begins.

Most people who drink, gamble, or take a pain pill don’t become addicted.
Addiction happens when someone starts using those things to fix something inside—that deep psychological discomfort.

The “Spiritual Malady”: What AA Meant (Without the Complicated Language)

AA often talks about a “spiritual malady,” which turns a lot of people off because they think it’s religious.
But here’s a simpler way to understand it:

Spirituality = Feeling connected to your true self.

Not a deity.
Not a religion.
Just you—your core values, your real self, your higher self.

Addiction thrives when you’re disconnected from who you really are.

Recovery happens when you reconnect with that inner compass.

How to Heal the Disconnection That Fuels Addiction

People often ask:

• How do I stop cravings?

• How do I get away from addictive thoughts?

• How do I break the mental obsession?

You can attack it from many angles—coping skills, therapy, support groups—but one of the most powerful ways is this:

Start making decisions you like and respect.

It’s deceptively simple, but incredibly effective.

When your actions line up with your values, your “higher self” grows stronger than the mental obsession.

And it doesn’t require anything dramatic.
It looks like:

• Brushing your teeth

• Making your bed

• Cleaning your space

• Showing kindness

• Keeping your word

• Handling problems without running away

These tiny moments rebuild your integrity. They reconnect you to the part of yourself that addiction pushed away.

Every time you choose the next right thing—even when it’s hard—you close the gap where addiction sneaks in.

Why Doing the “Hard Thing” Is Usually the Right Thing

If you ever feel unsure about a decision, ask yourself this:

“What’s the harder thing to do?”

Because in recovery, the hard thing and the right thing are usually the same thing.

And when you consistently choose the right thing, even in tiny ways, you begin to:

• Respect yourself again

• Feel grounded instead of chaotic

• Face life on life’s terms

• Stop running from discomfort

This is the foundation of recovery—not meetings, not programs, not rules (though those can help).
Recovery, at its core, is about becoming the person you know you are deep down.

When Your Behavior Aligns With Your Values, Addiction Loses Power

You don’t have to be religious.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to have everything figured out.

You just need a set of core values—and every single one of us has them.

Maybe they feel buried or blurry right now, but they’re still there.
And every next right decision brings them back into focus.

This is how you heal the mental obsession.
This is how you outgrow the need to self-medicate.
This is how you reconnect with your higher self.

Addiction pulls you away from who you are.
Recovery brings you back home.

Amber Hollingsworth

Want to Go Deeper? Here Are Resources to Help You Break the Cycle

☑️ Work 1:1 With a Specialist
Get personalized strategies for breaking addictive habits or supporting a loved one:
https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations

☑️ Beyond Boundaries
A step-by-step course that teaches you how to create and maintain the kind of boundaries that support long-term recovery:
https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1