From above a spring looks like a circle. From the side it looks like a spiral.
Life cycles are similar. When it feels like we are going in circles and repeating patterns, we are looking at the spring from above. Back in addiction treatment, back in that difficult relationship pattern, etcetera….
But! If we change our perspective, and look from a side view, we see that we are not going in a circle, but in a spiral.
We experience similar themes, but at a different level of consciousness. We always grow and learn from treatment, even if a re-occurrence of use happens.