Addiction is not a Moral Issue

Shame, Guilt and Remorse Accompany Addiction

You fed your addiction and now you’re feeling the shame, remorse, and guilt.It might be just the fact that you drank or used again last night. You’ve been trying to quit but the temptation was too much for you to withstand. Or maybe you did something that you really regret: You "drank and dialed," spent money you couldn't afford to, or need to apologize to people for whatever you did. The fact that you don’t even remember how you got home or you had to look out the window to see how your car is parked – or if it’s even there, makes things even worse! You're mortified. Whatever it was that happened, you lost control and now you’re beating yourself up. Despite what you may believe, addiction is not a moral issue.

Why am I a bad person?

What is wrong with me? Why am I such a bad person? You wonder.

The answer is, you are not a bad person. You are a sick person.Addiction is a mental illness that needs treatment because it changes your brain chemistry and you prioritize your hierarchy of needs differently. All you can think about is getting and using your drug of choice, therefore you’re unable to control your compulsion to drink or use a drug on your own. Giving in to your addiction only makes the pain go away for a little while. Nothing is so bad a drink won’t make it worse.Your addiction may lead you to do immoral or bad things, but you, fundamentally, are not a bad person. You need help, just like someone with diabetes, ALS, or any other chronic disease.Shaming beliefs about addiction create barriers to treatmentYou must stop beating yourself up, since shaming beliefs about substance abuse create barriers to treatment. This means that even if you know you need help, chances are you’re talking yourself out of getting it because you feel embarrassed, disgraced, or humiliated. You are not alone: Plenty of others have walked the same path.