Very interesting post desirae, and i have to say, i agree with what u r saying, as well as Amerika's points.i realize this may offend some ppl and probably isn't too pleasant for ppl still battling self-destructive behaviour to hear, so if u think u may be really offended don't read the rest of this! i have never had a drug or alcohol addiction, but i have had problems with anorexia and self-harm in the past and i believe the rationale behind these problems is much the same. nobody ever made me starve myself or hurt myself. i was not under duress when i did either, nor was i in a state of dissociation when self-harming. i was told (by a doctor) that i was going to die from anorexia. when she said this i laughed in her face and told her there was no way that would happen. i had a bmi of around 14 at the time, but after that statement i decided that i was going to pull myself out of this. i did within a matter of months. i did the same the around a year ago with self-harm - i decided that i was going to quit and on my first serious attempt lasted three weeks without it, after having been doing it on a daily basis. when i slipped up it was a conscious choice not to come back to reality and deal with the problem at hand, but to go for instant relief via self-harm. i no longer self-harm and although the urge is there occasionally i consciously choose not to. i'm not saying it's easy, but it can be done and i think too many ppl hide behind their diagnoses or blame other people, rather than doing something about their problem. i wasted my time waiting for some knight in shining armour to save me. if only ppl would realize there's no such thing as a magic wand! in the end u can make u better, others simply help along the way. ur only powerless if u choose to be.