How To End Addiction http://learntruehealth.com/how-to-end-addiction/ How To End Addiction Through Spiritual Enrichment Learn True Health is about Holistic Health. The podcast aims to develop our health mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and energetically. A lot of times I have doctors on teaching what herbs we can take, what detox is best or how to end addiction. But if we have an unhappy spiritual, emotional or mental body, we're not completely healthy. So we need to address every aspect of our life. My guest today, John Hammer, will help us seek enlightenment, how to heal and how to end addiction so that we can say we are healthy inside and out. Happy Childhood Hammer grew up in a pastor's family. His dad was a drug addict who grew up in Seattle. His father had a miraculous encounter with God when he chanced upon a book called "The Cross and the Switchblade" by David Wilkerson. He went to become a pastor and married Hammer's mom in the process. His earliest memories were going to church multiple times a week and going to a Christian school. He had a great childhood and Hammer's parents were good role models. Dark Secret In middle school, Hammer got exposed to pornography. He lived a double life during his teenage years. Underneath the happy facade, he was dealing with depression during that phase. Pornography was a wonderful drug then. Hammer knew it was bad, but it was an escape. Hammer went to community college after he graduated from a Christian school and just went through the motions. Before his 21st birthday, Hammer went home one night, felt the fear of God and cried. After opening up to his Dad, that was a huge turning point in his life. Hammer's Cope Mechanism On How To End Addiction Later on, Hammer wrote a book on how his addiction affected his body, brain and what it did to him spiritually and emotionally. It also affected his relationships. Once the pornography removed from Hammer's life, anxiety, worry, stress, and depression even intensified for a season. Prayer and counseling helped to set him free and taught him how to end addiction. It's been 15 years now. Hammer also went to Bible College, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies. He is currently working on a Master's Degree at Northwestern University in Missional Leadership. It is like a ministry degree for pastors. Dr. Bernie Siegel was a past guest, and in our episode, he related that he tells high schoolers to write two lists---one list is a suicide note and the second list enumerates why you are worth living. The 'suicide note' pile is always taller than the 'worth living' pile. The teachers hate him for doing it for fear that it would encourage kids to commit suicide. On the contrary, Siegel says when he does it, the suicide rates go down because all the teenagers look at that pile and realize they are not alone. Hence, they open up to each other after that activity. Understanding How To End Addiction When we hear addiction, we always think it's because of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Addiction could be anything else. There are so many things that can cause a chemical dependence. I was addicted to watching TV all day and night when I had depression. It was my numbing agent. You have to feel the wounds to know it's there so you can begin to ask for help. We need to acknowledge ourselves. When you overdo something, stop and ask yourself if there is something you need to heal. We're not alone in our struggles. Young people especially feel alone. But you have to open up about the hard things you are feeling and going through. Don't be so isolated. That's a huge risk. "In my book, I wrote that porn could keep you from healthy relationships and healthy relationships can stop you from porn," said Hammer. "There's some biblical truth in there, and it's what I learned from my experience." Finding Happiness When you are open and transparent, you can put anything in that blank. Fundamentally, we're made for healthy relationships with God.