The Lie We Tell Ourselves: Why We Keep Going Back
A raw and honest reflection on how addiction distorts our thinking—and how recovery begins when we stop chasing the illusion of a better outcome and start facing the truth. This post explores the power of thinking things through and breaking the cycle of relapse.
Dale P.
10/13/20241 min read
The Lie We Tell Ourselves: Why We Keep Going Back
The mind of an addict operates on a different frequency—distorted by obsession, denial, and the lure of false hope. Time and again, we return to the very thing that broke us, convinced that this time will be different. We cling to selective memories, romanticizing the brief high while conveniently forgetting the wreckage that followed.
When addiction speaks, it doesn’t remind us of the nights we cried ourselves to sleep, the people we hurt, or the opportunities we threw away. It whispers about euphoria. It flashes images of escape. It promises relief, never mentioning the cost.
Recovery begins the moment we interrupt that cycle by thinking things through. We pause. We play the tape forward. We see beyond the first drink, pill, or hit—and remember where it really leads: isolation, shame, chaos, or worse.
I had to learn this the hard way. I lost everything—my home, my relationships, my sense of self. I became homeless. But that rock bottom gave me clarity. Facing the truth, instead of the illusion, gave me a fighting chance.
Today, I choose to see the full picture. Not just the high—but the heartbreak. Not just the escape—but the consequences. That shift in thinking is what keeps me clean and sober one day at a time.
If you're caught in the loop, you're not alone. There is a way out—but it starts by telling yourself the truth.