Isolation is truly a selfish behavior that keeps our addictions active by inhibiting our normal behaviors.There are many reasons people choose to isolate. Guilt and shame are a few of the reasons behind our not wanting to associate with other people while we are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The fear of what others will think of our behaviors shames us into staying in self imposed prisons. Living with dark secrets keeps us from enjoying the company of others.

Many people suffering from active addictions choose only to be around other suffering addicts. Like attracts like whether negative or positive. Even while living in despair and suffering negative consequences we live with the choices we make. For far too many people, jails, institutions and death are the only means to interrupt the way they have been living. The freedom of making positive choices eludes them due to their addiction. They remain slaves to their negative choices.

One thing is certain for all corrupted by addiction, when the road is heading downhill the bottoms get deeper and the pain of living grows in proportion to the denial being practiced. Loss of family, friends, careers and self respect fail to bring aboutr changes to the obsession and compulsion which has taken over life.

Only by admitting to oneself the powerlessness of our condition can awareness to finding help become even a possibility. By finding a twelve step program and listening to others who have come to a healing can we come to believe in the freedom that is possible. Identifying our own hopelessness by listening to others who come out of suffering into wholenes we can begin to realize the programs can work for us. When we stop using because we know it has made our life unmanageable we then become able to enjoy the freedom from our addictions.

Each meeting we attend strengthens our resolve to stay in recovery. The new friends and acquaintances we make in the meeting rooms increases our appreciation of no longer needing to be alone. the habit of isolation is no longer a drain upon our life.