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Is Addiction Linked to Low Self-Esteem?

2 Dec 2024 · 1 min

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Amber Hollingsworth introduces the topic by framing the relationship between addiction and self-esteem as complex and intertwined: neither simple selfishness nor only low self-worth explains addiction. She suggests many people with substance problems have low self-esteem but may also act selfishly; the issue is often a mix of both.

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Addiction and self esteem is a tricky, intertwined, complicated issue. And it's easy to get wrong. Some people look at addiction and they think people have addictions, they're just really selfish. Other people look at addictions and people struggling with addictions and they think, oh, they just don't have any self esteem, they're just self medicating. But as always, it's not as simple as one or the other. It's complicated, it's really mixed up. And honestly, it's a little bit of both. A lot of people with substance abuse problems have a real low sense of self worth. But on the other hand, they may also display very selfish or self absorbed behaviors. And it's really the combination of two things.