I completely agree with you that shame plays a big roll in feeding addiction. And all those things are true, studies show a correlation between genetic factors and addiction, abuse and addiction, going to war and addiction, and stress and addiction.

And, everyone plays the blame game, including me! Why am I depressed? Because, mom and dad didn't love me, because my boyfriend lied to me vs. Why am I depressed? Because some part of me is still holding onto depression. That is the interesting part, but we don't want to see that. We don't want to see ourselves holding onto the depression, that is uncomfortable, and even unfathomable by some people I suppose because it's often an unconscious process. Counter-intuitively, I also think you can get addicted to feeling depressed just as much if not more so than drugs.

Ultimately I think sobriety is a great gift and any person who exerts that level of self control should applaud themselves. It is virtuous to do something painful and scary for the benefit of you and society! I just wish people in AA would celebrate this virtue, nurture this virtue vs. the blame and the explanation of why for everything non-virtue. Too many of us get bogged down in shame and the things of the past, but really all we have is this moment and we just need to get this donkey out of the ditch. I am telling you, this world is full of donkeys in ditches, it is very sad, so if you are out of the ditch do a dance and celebrate that virtue in you. It's hard to blame from out of the ditch isn't it?... Anyways, I think you should celebrate your sobriety accomplishment, not to be a conceited prick, but because it will help you to develop and cherish the good and the virtuous more and more. I think you were the higher power over your own thoughts when you chose sobriety. My favorite line from AA is "progress not perfection." I am, so totally, a big work in progress... LOL.