AIO: Religion Addiction.

My brother (27M) is a recovering drug addict who recently celebrated one year of sobriety, something I’m incredibly proud of and deeply grateful for. That said, I’ve been struggling with the way his recovery has unfolded. Over the past year, he joined an evangelical church, and it’s started to feel like he’s replaced his addiction with religion. He goes to church twice a week; every Sunday and Wednesday and shares lengthy, elaborate prayers every morning in our family group chat. His apartment is filled with Christian decor, (he’s even created a sort of Jesus shrine in the corner of his bedroom), and his values have changed drastically.

What’s been hard to process is that before his addiction, he wasn’t religious at all and we weren’t raised in a religious household. This sudden transformation has taken me by surprise. I want to be supportive, and I am glad that he’s found something that gives him structure and purpose. But at times, it feels obsessive. If you replaced religion with any other fixation, it would probably raise some red flags.The rest of our family doesn’t seem bothered. They’re just relieved that he’s sober and honestly, so am I. I’d always choose this version of him over the one who was struggling with addiction. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that if something were to make him question his faith, he might spiral again. It feels like his recovery is fragile like it hinges entirely on this belief system.

Am I overthinking this? Being too paranoid? I feel guilty for even questioning it like I’m not giving him enough credit. I love my brother so much, and I am truly happy that he’s sober and healthy. I just can’t help but worry that he hasn’t fully healed, but rather shifted his dependency from one thing to another.