I Know You Are, But What Am I?

Addiction is not the problem. It is the mirror. In I Know You Are, But What Am I?, Book Four of The Void in Addiction series, Michael Celso examines the deeply human tendency to project pain outward—onto substances, behaviors, relationships, and identities—rather than confront the fractured self beneath. Blending lived experience with trauma-informed psychology, neuroscience, and depth-oriented reflection, this book explores how addiction emerges when the ego loses its footing and the self becomes divided. Projection, blame, comparison, and reactivity are revealed not as character flaws, but as survival strategies formed in response to unresolved trauma and inner emptiness. This volume explores: Projection as a psychological defense Identity fragmentation and ego distortion Trauma, shame, and reactive behavior The illusion of control and externalization Reclaiming responsibility without self-blame Rather than asking readers to "fix" themselves, I Know You Are, But What Am I? invites a deeper reckoning: to recognize how we assign our pain to others, and how recovery begins when ownership replaces projection. Written with clarity, compassion, and unflinching honesty, this book is for students, clinicians, people in recovery, and anyone seeking to understand addiction beyond diagnosis and stigma. It does not offer slogans or shortcuts. It offers awareness—and awareness is the doorway to change. Healing begins when we stop asking who is wrong and start asking what is unresolved.