In my experience addicts who are not ready to admit they are concerned about being addicts will instead talk about “concerns” they have about other aspects of using because they do not want to admit they have a problem. (Source: I am a recovering addict.)
So we say, oh I don’t have an addiction I can go months between shooting up I just worry that I spend a lot of money on it/it is isolating me from my social circle/my job and life is perfectly stable I just need a pick me up occasionally but I am just depressed it has to be this pick me up.
Unscientific but true rule of thumb: Everyone I have ever met who admitted to “dabbling” with heroin but believed they were the miraculous exception who could handle it and keep a job/marriage/life was lying. I was one of those people.
I found this bit in particular a textbook example, was exactly something I would have said 10 years ago:
I’ve just come out of a period of using – I actually feel good, although full of angst about it all. I feel this is happening to someone else, not me.
That feeling of disconnection happens because the monkey is in control, not us. This person is in trouble, hope they get help.
