We’re All Addicted to Something: A Psychiatrist’s Honest Take on Addiction
The Hidden Wounds Behind Addiction
Addiction isn’t just about substances like alcohol or drugs. Many destructive addictions fly under the radar, workaholism, perfectionism, codependency, social media, even chronic caretaking or people-pleasing.
As a psychiatrist who has walked alongside many on their healing journey, I’ve come to believe one thing: we’re all addicted to something. No one is immune.
Addiction isn’t about the thing itself. It’s about the role it plays in our lives. Beneath every addiction is an attempt to soothe pain, numb discomfort, or feel a sense of connection we’re missing.
The Root of Addiction
We’re often taught that addiction is a brain disease caused by faulty wiring or chemical imbalances. While biology plays a role, this view overlooks the human story behind addiction.
The common thread I see in my patients, and in myself, is that addiction often begins with unmet emotional needs in childhood. It is a creative survival strategy. While some grow up with overt trauma, many develop addictions from chronic emotional disconnection. We are wired for connection, attunement, and safety. When those needs aren’t met, we adapt to survive.
Sometimes that means becoming invisible to avoid conflict. Or, overachieving to earn love. It could mean self-medicating with substances, food, relationships, money, or constant activity to quiet the ache of loneliness or inadequacy.
These patterns offer temporary relief but create long-term consequences, secrecy, denial, and relational disconnection. Over time, coping behaviors become compulsions, and what began as a substitute for connection becomes an addiction.
Addiction thrives in disconnection from ourselves, from others, and from God. Healing requires the opposite: honest connection, healthy relationships, and learning to sit with discomfort without running from it.
Look for the next blog in this series, where we’ll explore the role of childhood, attachment, and spirituality in shaping addiction and the first steps toward healing.
Dr. Ladan Goble is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience in mental health. She is passionate about helping individuals lead fulfilling lives and provides compassionate care and evidence-based treatment.
Dr. Goble is accepting new patients in her Scottsdale, Arizona office. To schedule an appointment, please call 480.661.3877.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal advice and treatment.