If you've ever tried to make room for yourself in an addicts head----its an extremely crowded room.  People from their past, the marching band bass drums going BOOM, BOOM, BOOM full of shame and guilt,  nightmares that carry on to day and this big omnipotent voice telling them---YOU MUST DRINK....it leaves little room for your seemingly now little voice.  Occasionally when they sober up you get a few words in but never for long as the addiction is like this upstairs neighbour thats moved in their head and wont get out.