Those with addiction sometimes separate their alcohol or substance use from the rest of their identity. For example, a patient might talk about their alcoholism and later argue that having a few drinks with friends the night before wasn’t bad. But compartmentalizing can create a limited perspective. Acknowledging and confronting addiction does not mean that a person will be defined by it; there are many pieces to an individual’s identity, and integrating them can be key to recovery.
For more, see Addiction.