What if breaking free starts with understanding why we keep returning to the very things that hurt us? When we hear the word addiction, we often immediately think of drugs and alcohol. But addiction can involve much more than substances. People can also develop addictive patterns involving gambling, pornography, shopping, gaming, and other behaviors. We can also become trapped in unhealthy cycles involving relationships, the need for control, validation, or emotional escape—even when those patterns aren’t necessarily clinical addictions. Sometimes we aren’t just chasing pleasure. We’re desperately trying to escape pain. 💜 In our first full lesson of Breaking the Cycle, we’re exploring: ⛓️ How the cycle of addiction develops and repeats 🧠 Why we return to behaviors despite their consequences ❤️ The difference between triggers and underlying wounds 🔥 How temptation, shame, and unhealthy thought patterns keep us stuck ✝️ How biblical truth and practical recovery tools can help us interrupt destructive cycles 🌱 How to begin identifying and changing our own patterns Here’s something I want you to understand: Breaking the cycle isn’t simply about stopping a behavior. It’s about understanding what’s driving it, addressing what needs healing, and learning healthier ways to respond. And while we cannot always control what triggers us, we can learn to recognize our patterns and develop new responses. 📖 Romans 12:2 reminds us that transformation comes through the renewing of our minds. Whether you’re recovering from substance addiction, struggling with compulsive behaviors, or recognizing destructive patterns in your life, this lesson offers a place to begin. ✨ Awareness is the beginning. Healing is a process. Freedom is possible. 👉 Head over to the GRACE Classroom → Breaking the Cycle → Lesson 1: Understanding the Cycle of Addiction. 💜 GRACE — Gratitude for Recovery from Addiction by Christ Encounters Let’s stop repeating the cycle and start understanding how to break it.

Sometimes the substance is gone, but the shame remains. We can find ourselves carrying regret over who we were, what we did, people we hurt, or choices we wish we could undo. But there is a difference between God’s conviction and condemnation. ✨ Conviction calls us to repentance and change. 💜 Grace reminds us that our mistakes are not our identity. ⛓️ Condemnation tells us we’re hopeless and keeps us trapped in shame. In our first full lesson of Breaking Shame & Condemnation, we’re digging into how shame can actually become part of the addiction cycle—and how to begin breaking free without avoiding accountability. We’ll also look at John 8, Romans 8:1, Psalm 51, and Genesis 3 to see how God responds to sin, shame, repentance, and restoration. Your past may be part of your story, but it doesn’t get to define your identity. Head to the Breaking Shame and Condemnation Classroom and check out this lesson.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1KjcAKFY1z/?mibextid=wwXIfr The way I remember the difference is conviction is God’s way of helping a person learn and grow and it does NOT result in shame. Whereas, condemnation is from the devil and is used to try to get a person to shrink and be filled with shame.

I want to give a warm welcome to everyone here. Let’s take some time to introduce ourselves and start to get to know one another. I’m Kaila. I felt led to start this group. Jesus has delivered me from so much, including addiction (various drugs and alcohol) as well as the after effects of abuse. I know first hand, based on my past experiences, what it’s like to be a slave to drug(s), wanting to break free from the bondage, and not knowing how to break out of that cycle. I used to want to stay constantly numb. After all, when numb a person doesn’t think about the bad things that happened to them, nor does the abuse they may be going through seem so bad. I also understand how the enemy (the devil / Satan) uses spiritual warfare in an attempt to keep a person stuck in addiction. Let me be clear there is no “the devil made me do it.” However, the devil will try to tempt someone into doing something that will cause harm and delay in a person’s life. I used to get high off of drugs / alcohol. Now I get a high from the Holy Spirit that is better than any drug / drink could ever offer. The best part is that the high from the Holy Spirit is free and constantly available. Now it’s your turn. Tell us a little about yourself, as much or as little as you like. It can be really simple like your name and your fav animal or time of year.