Often addicts are taken in by their own thinking, actually deceiving themselves. Especially in the early stages of addiction, an addict’s perspective and account of what is happening may look reasonable on the surface. As discussed, many people are naturally taken in by addictive reasoning. Thus, an addict’s family may see things the “addictive thinking way” for a long time. The addict may sound convincing to friends, pastor, employer, doctor, or even to a psychotherapist. Each statement the addict makes appears to hold up; long accounts of events may even appear valid.

