Hi Alicia,

Thanks for sharing this - it takes real courage to 'come out' about addiction... even in a permissive society, where it's socially acceptable to get drunk and where many leading public figures admit to having 'tried' various other drugs (I include alcohol as a drug, as it's a mind-altering substance).

I agree with what you say about addiction as an illness.  Many perceive it as a strong allergic reaction to a drug - something is triggered inside which sets off a very strong biochemical reaction in the addict. Perhaps there was some faulty wiring which means the addict responds in an altogether different way to a particular drug than to a non-addict?  What I do know is that recovery is a long and arduous journey, beginning with re-laying our faulty foundations and involves a complete life overhaul - as you say, changing area, friends, work etc - leaving everything you know and learning a new way of life.  We become strangers in a strange land... the land of the 'normal', ie what we're told is 'normal'.

Most of those I've met in recovery have been ultra-sensitive people - they feel pain (emotional/physical) much more deeply than many but, as in the rest of life, there are exceptions, of course so I shall avoid generalisations :)

I now work with women in recovery - many of whom are addicted to unhealthy relationships (as I was also).  I remain vigilant about my own recovery, knowing - as you so rightly point out - that I'm only one drink/drug/unhealthy relationship away from the downward dizzying spiral of an addictive cycle. But I'm glad to say that I've had a series of days, which have grown into years, because self-care has become the most important part of my life - in fact, a healthy obsession...if that's not an oxymoron!.