How Addiction Destroys Your Self Worth (& How to Rebuild It!)

Posted on 10/06/2026
07:40 | 7 views

Addiction of any type can cause a lot of damage in a person’s life. One of the major ways that it hurts them is by destroying their sense of self-worth. As they try and fail to stop again and again, they can become stuck in a cycle of shame, discouragement, and self-defeating thoughts. Over time, they may withdraw from healthy relationships, stop doing activities they once enjoyed, and give more of their time and energy to the addiction.

Psychologist Dr. Doug Weiss explains the detrimental effects that addiction has on a person emotionally, morally, and mentally, and why rebuilding your life is an important part of addiction recovery. He also shares practical ways to restore your self esteem and reconnect with the parts of your life that addiction has taken away.

When you’re stuck in addiction, you end up abandoning yourself and the life you once valued. However, you don’t have to stay trapped in that cycle. Healing from addiction is possible, and by reaching out to others for help, support, and accountability, you can break free and rebuild your sense of worth.

For counseling and support, contact Heart to Heart Counseling Center at 719-278-3708 or email heart2heart@xc.org to connect with a certified therapist who can help you start your healing journey. For accelerated recovery, book a 3-Day or 5-Day Intensive to get a lot of specialized help in a short amount of time.

Get the Worthy series download here: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/self-worth-worthy-video-and-workbook-download-set/

For information and resources for sex addiction, check out https://www.sexaddict.com/

To learn more about our counseling services, visit: https://www.drdougweiss.com/relationship-and-addiction-counseling/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrDougWeiss

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdougweiss

To join one of our many support groups, visit the following links:
Phone Groups: https://www.drdougweiss.com/groups/
Free Facebook Groups: https://www.drdougweiss.com/facebook-groups/

Visit the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy to find a certified therapist and other helpful resources: https://aasat.org/

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