At the bottom of the addiction tree is the soil and seeds of addiction, which consists of emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual neglect or abuse. These are combined with innate hereditary factors. This unhealthy foundation for life creates the tree’s roots – the very painful feelings of toxic shame and the resulting fear, anger, grief, and loneliness of the lost and rejected self.
The trunk of the addiction tree is the wounded psyche or self, and our sense of emptiness and isolation which we yearn to fulfil. The branches of the tree, our addictions, are an attempt to escape our painful feelings of shame, fear, anger, depression and sadness.
Spiritually, we are also trying to become whole again – attempting to mend our broken heart. These are the components of addiction in its many forms, and why it’s often described as an illness of the mind, body, and soul.