Trauma shames

The drivenness in any addicitons is about the ruptured self, ther belief that one is flawed as a person. The content of the addiciton, whether it be an ingestive addiction or any activity addiction (like work, buying or gambling) is an attempt at an intimate realtionship. The workaholic with his work, or the alcoholic with his booze, are having a love affair. Each one mood alters to avoid the feeling of loneliness and hurt in the underbelly of shame.

…addicts can't love themselves. They are an object of scorn to themselves. This deep internalized shame gives rise to distorted thinking. The distorted thinking can be reduced to the belief that I'll be okay if I drink, eat, have sex, get more money, work harder, etc. The shame turns one into … a “human doing” rather than a “Human being.”