Crafting a personal brand that feels truly you
Rated 5 stars
★★★★★
Ideologists Anonymous (IA)
Introduction
Welcome to Ideologists Anonymous (IA). This is a 12 Step program for those seeking to recover from addiction to an ideology. It focuses on admitting our “powerlessness” over confusing ideals and repairing relationships damaged by our senseless behaviors. Based on established recovery principles, the program seeks to replace misplaced zeal with humility, self-awareness and support from others.
While this program can be useful for anyone recovering from addiction, it is presented primarily from a Christian worldview and contains biblical scriptures and references.
The Problem
Every addiction is ultimately self-destructive. Addiction to an ideology is a “behavioral” or “process” addiction which can progressively consume a person over time. It is important to understand that regardless of the type of addiction (Cocaine, gambling, power, ideology, etc.) the result is always the same. Every addiction produces the neurotransmitter Dopamine which is essential for the brain to function properly. It acts as a "reward" chemical, reinforcing behaviors necessary for our neurological survival, but usually with harmful side-effects.
Dopamine deficiency can result in hopelessness, moodiness and a lack of purpose. Addiction develops when substances or behaviors "hijack" the brain, causing dopamine surges many times higher than natural rewards. These intense, artificial surges teach the brain to prioritize the addictive substance or behavior over healthy, essential activities. It can result in unreasonable behavior patterns that bring temporary relief but are detrimental in the long term.
Subconscious regions hidden deep inside the brain are fooled into believing the addiction is the “solution” to the problems caused by a lack of dopamine. These areas are driven mostly by primitive instinct and lack logical and reasoning power. Due to brain structure and function, these parts can also “ignore” attempts by the conscious brain to talk them out of the addiction. Will power also has little or no effect on them.
In other words, once addiction develops, we may be “powerless” to stop it on our own. It is now increasingly believed that addiction is not a “moral failure” but a flawed brain condition. Admitting our powerlessness is not a sign of weakness, but an act of humility and a courageous step towards recovery. Conversely, even though addiction is fundamentally not our “fault”, it is still our responsibility to seek out the help we desperately need.
The Symptoms
Common indicators of process (or behavioral) addiction can help identify the problem. The following are a few key indicators:
· Preoccupation: Constantly thinking about, planning, or daydreaming about the ideology.
· Tolerance: Needing to increase the frequency or intensity of the behavior to achieve the same "high".
· Withdrawal: Experiencing distress such as anxiety and restlessness when unable to engage in the activity.
· Escapism: Using the behavior to cope with difficult emotions, stress, and to improve our mood.
· Denial: Hiding or minimizing the extent of the problem and not being honest with loved ones.
· Failure to Stop: Repeatedly trying to quit without success (or relapsing).
The Solution
The well known 12 Step model used widely in the global recovery movement were designed to address the complex issue of powerlessness. The 12 Steps provide a structured and gradual process for recovery. They work by helping change thoughts, behaviours and relationships related to addiction. They are not linear but rather provide a flexible framework for regaining clarity. Step One is the most important of them all and should be practiced one hundred percent. Work through the rest of the steps to the best of your ability.
The same principles have been implemented from a biblical viewpoint in many Christian recovery programs. The following is an adaptation of the 12-steps from The Life Recovery Bible.
The 12 Steps of Ideologists Anonymous (IA)
Step 1 (Admission): We admitted we were powerless over this ideology - that our lives and relationships had become unmanageable.
“I know that nothing good lives in me… I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” - Romans 7:18
Step 2 (Hope): Came to believe that a power greater than our own chaotic thinking could restore us to intellectual and emotional sanity.
“God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” - Philippians 2:13
Step 3 (Surrender): Made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
Step 4 (Inventory): Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of how this ideology has harmed us and others.
“Let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40
Step 5 (Confession): Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” - James 5:16
Step 6 (Readiness): Became entirely ready to have our faulty beliefs and ideals to be removed.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" - Ezekiel 36:26
Step 7 (Humility): Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
“If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all sin.” - 1 John 1:9
Step 8 (Amends): Tried to understand how we had harmed or alienated others through our ideological fervor and became willing to make amends to them all.
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” - Luke 6:31
Step 9 (Amends): Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would harm them or others.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” - Romans 12:18
Step 10 (Vigilance): Continued to take personal inventory of our thoughts and when we became obsessed, promptly admitted it.
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” - 1 Corinthians 10:12
Step 11 (Reflection): Sought through prayer and reflection to draw closer to Christ, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” - Colossians 4:2
Step 12 (Service): Having found new insight and fresh vision as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message of recovery to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” - Galatians 6:1
While we must learn to apply these steps to our own situation, it is always wise to get support from others. Our brains trick us into giving what it “believes” it needs and left to our own devices we can easily relapse into familiar patterns of fruitless behavior.
The 12 Traditions of Ideologists Anonymous (IA)
The 12 Traditions provide guidelines for effective functioning of our support groups. They were developed to foster understanding and help resolve conflicts in many areas.
1. Our common welfare should come first - personal recovery depends upon IA unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He expresses Himself through our Lord Jesus. Those who lead a group are trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for participating in IA is a desire to become free of an unhealthy ideology.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or IA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the ideologist who still suffers.
6. An IA group should never endorse, finance, or lend the IA name to any outside enterprise, in case problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every Ideologists Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. We should never charge fees for IA meetings or services, but an offering may be taken.
9. IA groups do not need much organisation - rotating leadership at meetings is recommended.
10. IA avoids having opinions on outside issues, except when it is necessary for the recovery process. The IA name should not be drawn into public controversy.
11. We always need to maintain personal anonymity, protecting the identities of other IA members.
12. Humility is the foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Key Components for Success
Recovering from an addiction takes courage and perseverance. It can be challenging at first because our brains revolt against the loss of an artificial supply of dopamine. The brain also needs time to create new neurological pathways to accommodate fresh ways of thinking. The following guidelines can be helpful in staying on course:
· Support Groups: Find peer-based support and attend IA meetings regularly to share experiences, focusing on mutual help rather than advice-giving. Don’t try to do this alone!
· Identify Triggers: Remove or limit exposure to echo chambers, polarizing media, and online rabbit holes.
· Embrace Community: Reconnect with people outside of the ideology to rebuild trust and perspective.
· Find a “Sponsor”: Connect with someone further along in the recovery process to get help with living out the 12 Steps.
Note: A Meeting Outline is provided in printable PDF format.
Sincere Acknowledgements:
We wish to express our deepest gratitude to all the organizations, support groups and countless members who have contributed to the global 12-step recovery movement which began in the mid 1930’s. Without their wisdom and insight, this program simply would not have been possible. The 12-steps and 12-traditions used in this program are adaptations of the original lists. The meeting format used here was also inspired by these groups. While we wish to acknowledge those groups by name, we have refrained from doing so out of respect for their policy of anonymity and confidentiality.
References:
Understanding Addiction - How Addiction Hijacks the Brain:
https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/addiction/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain
The 12 Steps of the Life Recovery Bible:
https://newlife.com/wp-content/uploads/TS379_The_12_Steps_of_Life_Recovery.pdf
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/commit/202411/the-emotion-wheel
https://www.brainframe-kids.com/emotions/printables/b-emotion-wheel-older.htm
Suggested Google searches:
“Addiction to an ideology”
“Neuroscience behind addiction”
“Christian origins of the 12 steps”
Thoughts for Reflection
“We are driven by subconscious impulses that cannot be resisted easily by will power or choice. If you find this hard to understand, try observing yourself carefully over time and develop awareness.”
“The problem is not out there; it is inside of us. If our brains were able to produce sufficient dopamine naturally, we may not be so attracted to this ideology.”
“When we feel our addiction couldn’t possibly make us act senselessly, we should consider those who “borrow” from their children’s savings to feed their gambling habit. Are we already involved in things we never dreamed we would?”
-------------------------------
Scriptures Web Page
“There is therefore now no condemnation..
“If my people who are called by my name…
Points to include:
Know exactly what addiction is “shooting in the dark”
No Cross talk
Keep focus on yourself
Not here to fix others
I surrender all
Craving
Both are process additions where the process…
We can’t trust our own brains too much
Why is dopamine so important?
Withdrawal symptoms
Addiction is chronic and progressive
The serenity prayer full
-------------------------------------
Sample Prayer for those affected by addiction to ideology
“Dear Lord Jesus,
Not one of them will be snatched out of your hands.
If my people…