Honestly, I think this is your best article yet. It’s right on the nose. I hated myself forever and had to fake love for myself at first, but over time (and a lot of work), I was able to feel great love and even compassion for myself, and it became easier to extend it to others as well. You really have the potential to help so many people with your words, and I hope everyone takes your advice.
This is a great information piece. I especially like the idea of the three questions. I often say, “Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re worth loving, what happens next.” Something about the words “let’s pretend “ releases a powerful energy to know and act differently. Me? Recovery Est. 1999.
From one recovering addict to another, I entered rehab, went to a meeting. Listened to people and thought "yeah right" it dawned on me later that I couldn't be the only right person in the room miserable and the rest of the room in my mind were wrong but smiling ::::the light turns on ::::::
Wow… this hits so hard. The way you break down the lies addiction tells and that core “I deserve this pain” is painfully true. I love the perspective shift acting like someone worth saving, even when you can’t feel it, is such a powerful, practical way to reclaim life.✨
Facing the TRUTH that I CAN’T moderate has been life-changing for me.
I used Internal Family Systems to recover from binge eating disorder in 2003, but it took 23 more years to fully recover from my hard-core sugar addiction.
I have a LOT of trauma to numb!
But happily I’m now completely sugar free and much more stable in my eating since adopting a carnivore diet.
It took a village— trauma therapy, online folks supporting me in the carnivore & sugar-free way of eating, and over 8000 hours of my own IFS parts work, but I’m finally on the other side of this addiction and wow, does it feel good!
I'm not sure. But I think this sort of internal conversation and struggle is why my Love is no longer here. Even "moderate" drinking added to other health challenges ... like heart issues ... can create catostrophic consequenses. ❤️
Cody, this one hits like truth scraped raw. You write from the belly, not the pulpit, and that’s why it lands. You name the lie with the precision of someone who’s bled for it. What I love here is that you don’t romanticize redemption, you make it a muscle, not a miracle. But I’ll tell you this: the lie doesn’t vanish, it just grows quieter when you start to live differently. It will whisper until the day you die, and maybe that’s alright.
Staying awake isn’t about silence, it’s about learning how to walk with the echo and still choose life.
This is an excellent article. Thank you, I think it applies to so many self-destructive beliefs from addiction to depression and anything we identify with as our "truth".
Cody, earlier today, before I read this I emptied out a vodka bottle and said enough. But I have a question. I didn’t feel that vodka was pain, otherwise I wouldn’t have had 2-3 drinks every night. Tonight I will have none and this will be my day 1. I am a trauma survivor, C-PTSD. It was ongoing in my life until my mom passed in April, 2024. So now I am free of the traumatizer. I deserve to not be dependent on alcohol. I know that in my head and I pray that my body will agree. 💕
This is one of the clearest, rawest things I’ve ever read about addiction. The way you break down the lies and the “playlist” hits so hard because it’s exactly how it feels inside the cycle — not just the substances, but the shame underneath.
What really landed with me was how you turned it from “believe you’re worth saving” into “act like someone who might be.” That’s such a powerful, doable shift when belief feels impossible.
Thank you for putting words to the lie so many of us carry (“I deserve this pain”) and showing there’s another way to live even when you don’t feel like you’re worth it. It’s hopeful without being sugar‑coated.
You’re not just telling your story — you’re giving people a blueprint to take their first step. Respect.
Oh this is so good for someone not sure if they really wanna stop. And for me to solidify all the good decisions I made. Recovery is so hard to get to, it was for me anyway. Thank God I'm here now!!
Honestly, I think this is your best article yet. It’s right on the nose. I hated myself forever and had to fake love for myself at first, but over time (and a lot of work), I was able to feel great love and even compassion for myself, and it became easier to extend it to others as well. You really have the potential to help so many people with your words, and I hope everyone takes your advice.
This is a great information piece. I especially like the idea of the three questions. I often say, “Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re worth loving, what happens next.” Something about the words “let’s pretend “ releases a powerful energy to know and act differently. Me? Recovery Est. 1999.
From one recovering addict to another, I entered rehab, went to a meeting. Listened to people and thought "yeah right" it dawned on me later that I couldn't be the only right person in the room miserable and the rest of the room in my mind were wrong but smiling ::::the light turns on ::::::
Wow… this hits so hard. The way you break down the lies addiction tells and that core “I deserve this pain” is painfully true. I love the perspective shift acting like someone worth saving, even when you can’t feel it, is such a powerful, practical way to reclaim life.✨
Epic! So spot on here, Cody.
Facing the TRUTH that I CAN’T moderate has been life-changing for me.
I used Internal Family Systems to recover from binge eating disorder in 2003, but it took 23 more years to fully recover from my hard-core sugar addiction.
I have a LOT of trauma to numb!
But happily I’m now completely sugar free and much more stable in my eating since adopting a carnivore diet.
It took a village— trauma therapy, online folks supporting me in the carnivore & sugar-free way of eating, and over 8000 hours of my own IFS parts work, but I’m finally on the other side of this addiction and wow, does it feel good!
Thank you
I'm not sure. But I think this sort of internal conversation and struggle is why my Love is no longer here. Even "moderate" drinking added to other health challenges ... like heart issues ... can create catostrophic consequenses. ❤️
Cody, this one hits like truth scraped raw. You write from the belly, not the pulpit, and that’s why it lands. You name the lie with the precision of someone who’s bled for it. What I love here is that you don’t romanticize redemption, you make it a muscle, not a miracle. But I’ll tell you this: the lie doesn’t vanish, it just grows quieter when you start to live differently. It will whisper until the day you die, and maybe that’s alright.
Staying awake isn’t about silence, it’s about learning how to walk with the echo and still choose life.
Thank you. This is what I needed today. You have helped me to change with your words.
This is an excellent article. Thank you, I think it applies to so many self-destructive beliefs from addiction to depression and anything we identify with as our "truth".
Good stuff. I am not sure the imposed trauma - others doing one wrong - is necessary to it.
One of the most powerful pieces on addiction from multiple perspectives that I’ve ever read. Love it- thank you.
Cody, earlier today, before I read this I emptied out a vodka bottle and said enough. But I have a question. I didn’t feel that vodka was pain, otherwise I wouldn’t have had 2-3 drinks every night. Tonight I will have none and this will be my day 1. I am a trauma survivor, C-PTSD. It was ongoing in my life until my mom passed in April, 2024. So now I am free of the traumatizer. I deserve to not be dependent on alcohol. I know that in my head and I pray that my body will agree. 💕
This is the article that I’m going to reread every time the lie attempts to trick me again.
Thank you for what you are doing in here.
This is one of the clearest, rawest things I’ve ever read about addiction. The way you break down the lies and the “playlist” hits so hard because it’s exactly how it feels inside the cycle — not just the substances, but the shame underneath.
What really landed with me was how you turned it from “believe you’re worth saving” into “act like someone who might be.” That’s such a powerful, doable shift when belief feels impossible.
Thank you for putting words to the lie so many of us carry (“I deserve this pain”) and showing there’s another way to live even when you don’t feel like you’re worth it. It’s hopeful without being sugar‑coated.
You’re not just telling your story — you’re giving people a blueprint to take their first step. Respect.
Oh this is so good for someone not sure if they really wanna stop. And for me to solidify all the good decisions I made. Recovery is so hard to get to, it was for me anyway. Thank God I'm here now!!