Addiction is a lonely thing

Turn your face towards the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.

As active addicts, we tend to choose addictive substances and behaviors over others as coping mechanisms because, for us, unresolved childhood trauma has poisoned the well of attachment. Others can (and often do) hurt us, let us down, and make us feel abandoned, unloved, or violated. As a result, we feel fearful and insecure about emotional intimacy, and we resist asking others, even loved ones, for help when we’re stuck or feeling down. Instead, we self-soothe by numbing ourselves with addictive substances or behaviors. As a result, many clinicians and long-term recovering addicts say the antidote to addiction lies not in willpower or sobriety but in connection with compassionate, supportive others.

today’s task
Ask yourself if your addict friend is a true friend or just an addict.