Thanks for the quote Mike
That quote is exactly right. Addicts have to be stronger, especially in order to come clean, by necessity.
Some (many) average Joe's (Mary's) go through life with the normal problems of life, which can be trying (death in the family, unemployment, lost loves, etc.), but the addict faces so much more, and must be so much stronger.
That is exactly why I admire so many people on this forum. Not only do they go through the hell of withdrawal, anxiety, depression, doubt, guilt ..but...they share their hearts on this forum. I'm not real religious, but this reminds me of the prodigal son in the Bible, when the "good" son asked God why God was heaping so much praise on the prodigal son who returned after much sin, when he, the good son, had always been faithful. I don't exactly remember God's reply but it was something about the wayward son being special mostly because he sinned and came back. Thats how I feel about the people on this forum, special because they are fighting so hard to get back.
Friend999