It’s Not Just About Willpower: Understanding Addiction Through a New Lens

Addiction is not a failure of willpower. It is not a character flaw.
It is a response to pain—pain that has gone unacknowledged, unseen, or unmet for far too long.

From a trauma-informed perspective, addiction is a coping strategy that once served a purpose. People don’t turn to substances or compulsive behaviors because they’re careless—they do it to survive. When we lack access to safe support, emotional regulation, or a sense of inner worth, we reach for something—anything—that helps us feel okay, even if only for a moment.

Some of the most compassionate, funny, creative, and deeply feeling people I’ve ever met have struggled with addiction. And yet, those very qualities often get buried under layers of guilt and shame—especially in the throes of active use. The deeper the shame, the harder it becomes to ask for help.

But healing is possible. And there is hope.