Addictive Thinking: Understanding Self-Deception

by Abraham J. Twerski

I have not yet come across any chemically dependent people who did not have feelings of inferiority that antedated their chemical use. Sometimes they feel inadequate or unworthy in every facet of their lives, and sometimes they may feel very competent in their particular area of expertise, but inadequate and unworthy as a human being, a spouse, a partner, or a parent. Some people react to feelings of low self-esteem by escaping from life’s challenges and distresses into chemicals, and some may find a redeeming feeling of worth and adequacy by being the sober and controlling or suffering significant other of a chemically dependent person.