What Fuels Your Addiction?

Why does addiction feel like an unstoppable river, sweeping you or someone you love further downstream?

As part of our “Dealing With Your Addictions” series, hosts Austin Conner and John Tinnin explore the streams that fuel addiction by combining their years of ministry and counseling experience to help you navigate the invisible forces at work in your life. 

They identify 5 streams that contribute to the addictive cycle:

• Genetics
• Upbringing/attachment
• Choice
• Cultural influences
• Cosmic/spiritual forces

Then they explain how shame is a hidden undercurrent that runs beneath this powerful river and intensifies the struggle with feelings of unworthiness and isolation. Addiction drowns out God’s love and presence, but there are important takeaways from this conversation that you can put into practice: 

First, map your personal "rivers"—assess which streams in your life contribute to your struggle and journal their influence. 

Second, embrace your agency, however small, and ask yourself, “Am I ready to change?”

Third, seek connection over isolation. No matter how hard you try, you can’t do it alone.

Finally, rest in Scripture’s promises—Romans 8:1 (there is no condemnation for those in Christ), 1 John 2:1 (Jesus is your advocate), and Matthew 11:28 (Jesus offers rest for those who are exhausted by the struggle)—and pray for God’s strength, knowing he’s already there with you in the weeds.

Our hope and prayer is that when you listen to this episode, you will leave with a desire to show others (and yourself) compassion, a greater sense of humility given the complexity of addiction, and tangible reminders of hope that health and healing are possible. 

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