Addictions. Whether manifested in an activity, substance, object, or behavior, if it has become the central focus of your life, and that focus is now harming you and those around you in social, mental and physical ways, you've ventured into addictive behavior.

We here at Adventist Today have heard and learned of personal stories from Adventists where drugs, alcohol, pornography and psychological dependence to activities such as compulsive gambling, sex, work, running, shopping, or eating disorders dominate and destroy lives. Some can't control unhealthy and obsessive desires to please everyone around them. Others are perfectionists and legalists. These issues are as prevalent in Adventist communities as any other denomination.

In addition, these issues are still taboo territory. For many brave souls who try to bring it our in the open for discussion, well, it's just not up for discussion! We don't have that problem here, you may hear at your church. We're Adventists! To the contrary of our squeaky clean, vegetarian image are painful occurrences of abuse, dysfunction, and addiction by people sitting in your pew on Sabbath. Shame, guilt, fear of reprimand and reprisal are typical reasons for keeping our dirty laundry in the closet. Pastors who struggle with porn addiction fear the authoritative hammer of Conference directors striking down if they admit to that unpardonable "sin." It's a disease not yet fully understood and not supported in the ranks. The church doesn't need that kind of bad publicity. Keep it in the closet.

It is times such as these that we need to dig deep down and speak honestly about needing a Power greater than ourselves to restore us.

Admitting there's a problem is the first step to recovery. By acknowledging unmanageability and powerlessness over your own addiction, as pastor Bernie Anderson has courageously done in his book Breaking the Silence: A Pastor Goes Public about His Battle with Pornography has opened up doors for others to come out of hiding. Many *churches now offer 12 Step programs and "Celebrate Recovery" support groups for their members and their local communities (* see this page on the Collegedale SDA Church website).

We at Adventist Today decided to make our own contribution. We have created a new advice blog moderated by our own mental health expert. Our aim is to help readers struggling with addictions and compulsive behaviors as well as relationship and interpersonal issues.

Beginning in mid-March, writer, speaker, and licensed psychotherapist Noelle Schwantes, LPC-MHSP, NCC will be a featured blogger on the Adventist Today website. Noelle's clinical experiences include directing eating disorder and drug/alcohol treatment programs in Tennessee. She has participated in group and individual work with people struggling with issues from codependency to sex addiction. Noelle is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she received a Masters of Education in Human Development and Counseling. Her continuing education has focused on trauma recovery and experiential therapies.  She is currently a Ph.D candidate preparing to study Somatic Psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.

Adventist Today got a chance to speak to Noelle about her hopes for this blog. 

I see a wide range of issues impacting our church in terms of struggles and addictions.  Alcohol, drugs, perfectionism rather than relationship with Christ, issues of sexuality, the list could go on.  Being Adventist doesn't exempt us from many of the same struggles the world has.  Given our faith beliefs though, sometimes the circumstances around those struggles are unique.  What I hope to offer is a scriptural and science based response to issues that impact us.  To call people to sharing their struggles and obtaining help.  If we begin to be known as people who enjoy abundant life, not because everything goes well, but because we have learned to trust God to truly save us from the things that haunt us, what a witness that would be!  We would no longer have to worry about our church dying in this country.

Q:  What is your ultimate hope for this advice column/blog?

To offer people a window into something they may not have thought of previously.  To call them out of pain and suffering and move them toward hope and healing.  To laugh at some of our foibles and most of all direct people to The Healer.

Q:  What personal experiences and testimonies may help your readers identify with and draw themselves to your blog regularly?

I felt from the beginning of my practice as a therapist that it was important not to ask people to address things that I had not been willing to address in my own life.  I come from a family that worked in the Adventist system and along with that came a good portion of baggage.  I am lucky to be in a family that addressed their issues and I gained the benefits of that professionally and personally. 

Beyond that in terms of my personal life, I've had enough bumps and bruises to know what I'm talking about when I tell people it doesn't have to be the way it has always been.  Christ came to offer us abundant life.  In my own history I've seen that I've usually been the biggest obstacle to my own abundant life.  This is the good news though, when we heal and get out of the way, the sky is the limit!  In terms of my professional background, I've had the honor to work with several issues: drug and alcohol addiction, codependency, sexual addiction, and eating disorders.  Education has been important to me as well.  I wanted to be good at what I do.  It is important work and I have seen people harmed by therapists without the proper training.  I have been blessed by incredible mentors and teachers.  Most of what I offer others is something that was first passed on to me; sometimes in a classroom and sometimes in a dark moment where I had lost my way.  Either way, utilizing the tools I've learned has transformed my life and the lives of others.  I'm excited about the chance to share it.

Editor's comment: Noelle Schwantes is now taking your questions and letters. Send them by email to atoday@atoday.com with "Noelle's blog" on the subject line. Letters chosen will be published (anonymously) on the AT website and may be subject to editing for length.