I definitely understand addiction and needing to take responsibility for it.
I’ve done things I’m ashamed of because of my psychological problems, which of course I am still responsible for.
However, I have found that I set myself up often to be scapegoated, because I don’t feel I deserve to be treated well. It’s another way of hurting myself. So I don’t assert myself, then people walk all over me or harm me and I don’t insist they stop, then when I eventually get very ill physically or psychologically, that’s my way of saying, I have been hurt. But by then, no one is listening.
But-I know people will disagree on this one. But you shouldn’t have to assert yourself to protect yourself against certain things. I think when people behave certain ways, it’s not just accidentally causing harm, it’s showing what type of person they are.
You can assert yourself, but you should also listen to their behavior and distance.