There’s a reason Step 1 comes first. Until we quit making excuses for our addiction, we will never get well. Dr. Elizabeth Hartney offers seven common justifications for one’s addiction.
- Denial: “It’s not a problem.”
- Minimization: “I have already cut down.”
- Comparisons: “Uncle Ted is worse than I am.”
- Defiance: “I’d rather live a short happy life than a long unhappy one.”
- Rationalization: “I’m not hurting anyone.”
- Lesser of two evils: “It’s better that I use porn than live a frustrated life.”
- Misinformation: “I can quit anytime.”
When we start making excuses for our behavior, we’re in trouble. Agatha Christie was right: “To rush into explanations is always a sign of weakness.”
Try this instead. Repeat after me: “I admit I am powerless over lust, and my life has become unmanageable” (Step 1). Then go to work on the Steps, get into meetings, and read recovery material every day. Be accountable to someone, take your problem seriously, and most of all – quit justifying your addiction.
Recovery Step: The Bible says, “All wrongdoing is sin” (1 John 5:17). Take your addiction seriously. No more excuses.
