Low self-esteem can be one of the contributing factors that lead to drug and alcohol abuse, and it can also be caused by the disease. Addicts never have a positive self-image or healthy level of confidence. It’s likely that they didn’t even before they developed an addiction. The stigma associated with this disease and the harmful things they have done to loved ones because of it contribute to these feelings. In the worst parts of an addiction, the person will do virtually anything to get drugs and alcohol. They will continue substance abuse regardless of the negative consequences it creates in their life and for the people they love. This happens to anyone with this disease, no matter how kind and moral they were in the past. This is one of the things that make the addict feel badly about themselves, because they realize on some level what they are doing to other people. It is one of the contributing factors of depression and even self-hatred that are common. They begin to see what they have done more even more clearly after drug and alcohol detox when they are in a rehab center. A quality addiction treatment program will help the individual work through these feelings and build healthy self-esteem. This is one of the most important parts of treatment, because continuing to deal with low self-esteem will make relapse more likely after they go home. Counseling can help the patient realize that what they did was a result of their drug and alcohol abuse. These feelings must be dealt with because living in guilt and shame can continue to create more problems in the future. The patient needs to realize that they can rebuild the character traits of being honest, loving, kind, trustworthy, ambitious, organized, and respectful. These things have not been lost. They’ve just been overridden for a while by addiction.

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