Breaking the Chains of Addiction

Breaking the Chains of Addiction by Victor Mihailoff is an Orthodox Christian guide to overcoming addictions and bad habits, for Church members who want to be free of smoking, alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating disorders, anger and other harmful patterns.

Addiction affects us not only in body and mind but also in spirit. Some today reduce people to their physical side alone; others try to treat every illness as purely spiritual. Both can do harm. Overcoming addiction needs both: spiritual struggle alongside medical and psychological help from professionals.

The early Church Fathers saw the human person as body, soul and spirit, and knew that when one suffers, the whole person suffers. The author presents their wisdom on controlling the passions of the soul and applies it to overcoming addiction of every kind, not only to substances.

The book grew from the author's own life. He grew up in a home without Bibles or prayer books, though there was an icon in almost every room, and he prayed only in emergencies. He could not quit his six addictions and bad habits until he took up the spiritual weapons of confession and spiritual reading, along with the other weapons described here. After that, he no longer craved them.

The book is full of Bible quotes, since many readers may never have read the New Testament, giving a foretaste of the healing power of God's Word. It is a practical introduction, not a complete study, and it does not replace medical or psychological help; it is meant to work alongside it.

Book details

• Author: Victor Mihailoff
• Format: Printed book
• Pages: 164
• Published: 2022, St Shenouda Press
• ISBN: 9780645554335