by Peg O'Connor | Sep 9, 2026 | Internal Conflicts
Key points There are various forms of self-deception in addiction that can extend to recovery. Perfectionism and procrastination are two unusual forms of self-deception. In seeking self-knowledge, we may encounter distortions that are like fun house mirrors....
by Peg O'Connor | Aug 18, 2026 | Different Paths to Recovery
Key points People who struggle with addiction are often not regarded as reliable reporters on their own experiences. Questions about addicts’ abilities to be honest create a dangerous set of twinned stereotypes. People in recovery may never be taken or respected...
by Peg O'Connor | May 27, 2026 | Self-deception
Key points All of us assume roles in our lives; it is part of what it means to be a social creature. Some roles reduce our complexity to just one dimension. “Bad faith” is a term from existential philosophy that captures the loss of an unique identity to a role. There...
by Peg O'Connor | Apr 29, 2026 | Internal Conflicts
The decision to change our relationships to alcohol, other drugs, and addictive behaviors is not an easy one to reach. No one wants to admit that their behaviors have become deeply troubling and unhealthy, but that is where many of us landed. Our immediate goal may be...
by Peg O'Connor | Apr 2, 2026 | Self-deception
If it ever happens that you turn outward to want to please another, certainly you have lost your plan of life—Epictetus (c 50 CE-130 CE) There is something quite right in what Epictetus claims. When you become too much of a people pleaser and too much of what you do...
