That’s because humans can satisfy their physical needs — things like food, shelter, and resources — without a true and personal connection to love.

Survival is one thing, and I don’t mean to make it sound like it’s nothing. But if survival was everything? I think we’d both know a lot more people who were happy, secure, and fulfilled… …instead of feeling empty, anxious, or lonely.

As a therapist, I can tell you that behind closed doors, there are an awful lot of people with seemingly perfect lives who are secretly battling mental illness, chronic pain, dysfunctional relationships…. And, of course, addiction.

These are people who are deeply unhappy. They resent their jobs. Their circumstances! The religion or God they grew up with. And, even, their families. But in my experience, there’s a deeper cause at the root of depression, anxiety, and addiction.

It’s because they’re unhappy with themselves.

Guilt. Shame. Anger. Regret. And remorse… They’re struggling with feelings, memories, or circumstances they’re just dying to forget about. The problem is, those feelings just never seem to go away.

But I think the most negative feeling of all isn’t really a feeling, per se. It’s a lack of feeling — specifically, a lack of love. Whether people know it or not, feeling a lack of love inside is the reason they reach out therapists like me.

I don’t do treatment gimmicks. I don’t play expert academic. And I’m not some hypocritical ego trip, talking down to you from some phony perch of personal perfection. The reason I’m here is to do my part to help connect you to love. True Love — in the form of Your True Self.

My name is Emily Sussman, and I’m an addiction therapist, a recovery author and coach, and a recovering addict myself. And I believe that love isn’t just the way out of the darkness. Love is the key to a free and joyful existence.

That’s why my approach to thriving in a life of love from the ashes of addiction is simple. One hundred percent True Love. ❤️

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For more, visit theaddictsguidetotheuniverse.com.

Sent with True Love from the Universe ❤️💫