Was Rabbi AJ Twerski Right , the core of addiction is low self esteem?

I’m actually starting to see the self esteem angle

I think it also has to do with, bad habits. For example, if I’m surrounded by gluttony, that’s all I know. So habits, stability, exercise, fixing the diet, even healing the gut (bad gut bacteria, I believe can be the root cause for cravings, even sugar cravings)
Something in that person’s life might also be missing,
Sometimes it’s coming from a want, and a habit that formed, drugs being something extremely difficult to stop using, so once the habit is formed I don’t know if it’s self asteem anymore.
If a person lacks stability let’s say, they might try to control their envirment, or become neorotic.
If a person is keeping a neorotic lifestyle they may become OCD or have high anxiety. Thoughts and beliefs are also habit forming. And getting to the root of the problem will help get to underlying issue.
Alot of times people blame the habit but it’s not always the habit itself.
If a person is too comfortable, they might have an inflated ego, and then they will act controlling.
A person who has zero accountability and is used to getting their way will justify their behavours no matter what they are.
I can’t see that it’s always one thing as everybody’s life circumstances are generally very unique to them.

Zanvil “enjoyable” is a more accurate word
Also food cravings which is actually connected to servival is sometimes because your body needs a certain nutrient. So let say someone loves savery, it’s cuz thier body needs those cleansing nutrients. The enjoyment is nature’s way of keeping you alive.
When it comes to self soothing, that’s also a servival mechanism as someone probably trying to regulate their nervous system
I don’t neccisarily think people want to be self destructive. But again you cant categorize enjoyment and say it’s all self destructive when it’s not.
Also another point if someone is doing destructive habits to fill a need, the habit is not the problem the need is. Fix the root problem and then they can focus on productive living

Always ask questions again your demonizing and carpamentalizing what being human is.
Your point is strong. Doing good equal good feeling for a long time.
That’s a powerful message
But the overall underhanded argument is that enjoying life and not taking life so serious all the time is “wrong” I feel like people do that when they sacrificed too much of themselves for a belief system and just like they are never allowed to let loose no one can either
This is cognitive dissonance talking, control from fear talking.
And what it’s reflecting is a belief system that doesn’t have true balance from the foundation
If we went back to being real people and being human instead of fitting into some strict ideal shoved down our throats by a system that lacks human forgiveness, we would never be trying to justify ourselves

I confess alot of the comments are too deep for me. But the way I read it, you are all syaing that low self esteem could be a reason or siman why one is addicted. I agree. But I think its way overused. I think we say that because then we feel we have a cure for it, (fix the low self esteem). On the other hand, its very possible a perosn just started it bec it was cool at the time. Their firedns were doing it and it was aw ay to have fun or let loose (smoking is very much that especially in HS). Now they are just addicted to the fix. In other words tavious are addcitive in it of itself and not because of a low self esteem. I think people don’t like saying that because then whats the cure to fix that? We like to think we have a solution to every problem. sadly we don’t

AAQ> explain this message and rewrite in normative english:
AI> Rewritten in Normative English
Always question rigid assumptions. You are vilifying and oversimplifying the human experience.
Your point is valid: doing good leads to lasting fulfillment, and that is a powerful message. However, the subtle underlying argument—that enjoying life and not taking things too seriously is somehow wrong—is flawed. This perspective often comes from individuals who have sacrificed too much of themselves for a strict belief system. Because they feel forbidden from relaxing, they believe no one else should be allowed to either.
This reaction stems from cognitive dissonance and fear-driven control. It reflects a worldview that lacks fundamental balance. If we returned to being genuine human beings—rather than trying to fit into rigid ideals imposed by an unforgiving system—we would no longer feel the need to constantly justify our existence.

Explanation of the Message

The writer is criticizing a rigid, overly strict moral or ideological worldview. Their argument breaks down into five key points:

Categorization vs. Humanity: They argue that judging or strictly categorizing human behavior (“demonizing and compartmentalizing”) strips away the complexity of what it actually means to be human.

Critique of Self-Righteousness: While acknowledging the power of doing good, they object to the implicit message that simple enjoyment or relaxing is inherently wrong or sinful.

Projection of Sacrifice: They suggest that people who demand total strictness often do so because they themselves have sacrificed too much for a belief system. Out of resentment or fear, they feel no one else should be allowed to enjoy life either.

Fear and Lack of Balance: They diagnose this mindset as cognitive dissonance and fear-based control, arguing that any belief system requiring such rigidity lacks true foundational balance.

Loss of Forgiveness: Finally, they contend that society has replaced natural human empathy and forgiveness with artificial, unyielding ideals pushed by institutional systems, forcing people to constantly defend and justify their existence.