Addiction is usually a symptom of pain or trauma. An attempt to reach for something that makes us feel safe or normal or free from pain. The desire to escape distress doesn’t make us bad people. If we’ve done harm, the shame is not proof we are monsters, it’s proof we care about harming others. One day at a time. As gently and softly and kindly as we can. Most of us have a deeply wounded inner child that we might need to comfort and support right now. What does that vulnerable place in us need to know right now to get through this?