Why is it so difficult to stay sober for some? Do they perceive much more pain? Is it sense of failure? Or is it something else?

I’ve struggled with addiction for about 5 years now, but I have struggled with mental illness for far longer than that, have had to live with ptsd and ocd for as long as I can remember.

I never received any professional help, so I spent most of my time searching for something that would shut everything out, even for just a little while. By the time I got help and wanted to stop, it felt as if it was too late.