After years of addiction and an equal amount of time in recovery, I stumbled upon something that hit me like a ton of bricks. That we all need human connection and when we can't bond with other people, we bond with our addiction. But what came first? The loneliness or the addiction? Or is isolation the cause of the addiction and the loneliness or is it the result? Or is it just one (never-ending) cycle of all three? Anyhow, for me, it got me thinking and in fact, that I am really not powerless in this entire situation. Definitely not all powerful, but not helpless to change - but not totally responsible either for everything that's happened in my life. Just found it all interesting. And helpful. Wondered what others think.