What if Everything You've Been Told About Addiction Is Wrong?
Addiction Is Normal offers a revolutionary framework for understanding why we develop addictive behaviors and how to heal without shame or labels. This is not another 12-step program or clinical approach—it's a fundamental shift in how we understand human behavior.
The Core Thesis: Addiction Is a Normal Human Response
Addiction is not a disease. It's not a moral failing. It's not a character defect. Addiction is a normal human response to disconnection, trauma, and unmet needs.
When we understand addiction through this lens, recovery becomes about connection rather than abstinence, understanding rather than shame, and healing rather than lifelong labeling.
The High Performer Cycle: Why Successful People Struggle
High achievers and driven individuals often struggle with addiction in unique ways. The same traits that make you successful—perfectionism, drive, the need to excel—can fuel destructive cycles of behavior.
You might use substances or behaviors to cope with pressure, then use more achievement to compensate for the shame, creating an escalating cycle. Understanding this pattern is the first step to breaking free while keeping your edge.
Recovery Without Labels: You Don't Have to Call Yourself an Addict
Traditional recovery demands you adopt a lifelong identity: "I am an addict." But what if that label itself becomes a barrier to healing?
Our approach focuses on understanding the underlying needs your behaviors are trying to meet and finding healthier ways to meet those needs through genuine human connection—without the stigma of permanent labels.
Join Our Free Community on Skool
Connect with others who understand. The Addiction Is Normal community on Skool offers:
- Judgment-free support from people on similar journeys
- Real conversations about addiction and recovery
- Access to Sean Reddaway's framework and insights
- A shame-free space to explore your relationship with addictive behaviors
Not Sure Where to Start? Talk to the AI Coach
Try a conversation with Sean's AI coach—trained on the Addiction Is Normal framework. Get 10 free messages daily to explore your situation in a judgment-free environment.
About Sean Reddaway
Sean Reddaway is the founder of Addiction Is Normal. Through personal experience and extensive research, he developed this framework to help others understand and overcome their addictive behaviors without the stigma of traditional approaches.
His work bridges the gap between clinical addiction treatment and the lived experience of people struggling with compulsive behaviors—offering a more compassionate, effective path to healing.