Time changes nothing

When I was in college I made a series of bad decisions.
But after every bad decision I would talk it out with my girlfriends, cry and mope around for a few days, while being anxious about it. Then one day out of the blue I would wake up, pick my self up, dust my self off and say that it is okay as long as I don't do it again. 

Here I am six years since my series of bad decisions, and it feels like no time has past at all. I have made the same mistakes again.  

In counseling a very popular saying is "people wont come in until they hit rock bottom". And that is very true.  At our rock bottom we are at our very worst and need support.  But then we get better, and rock bottom gets further and further away.  Time comes and goes, and although you know how bad it is you start out saying "but it was good when". Before you know it. You're hooked and back where you started. But this time is going to be different, until you hit your rock bottom again. 

I find this cycle to be very scary, but very accurate with most things. Being in an unhealthy relationship, romantic or not. Alcohol abuse, toxic friends, emotional eating, binge watching tv shows... it goes on.

I find that time goes by and people come and go but somehow we stay the same.  We find ourselves in the same situations.  I always used to say that people can change. But I am starting to believe that people can fool themselves or others for a little while.. but will at their core always be the same. 

I have always found this quote to be a genuinely great quote, but what happens when you start to think that you are the harmful one?

Tell Me: Do you think people can change?