I can only share what I did and the outcome when something very very similar
happened to me at Step 8.
Now I didn't start my steps until I was almost 6 months sober, when my brain
finally started feeling clearer and not so filled with mush and fog.
I was about 13 months sober at Step 8. My sponsor sort of pulled away and I
and her other sponsees noticed it. All I could do, was say "I am here for you Bev
if and when you need someone to just listen." Lo and behold about a week later
she called me wanting to go out for lunch. We went and she opened up to me.
It had nothing (or maybe it did) to do with her wanting to drink or that she and
Hugh might be having problems. She had received some very disconcerting health
news (she had cancer) and was just functioning in a haze. Hugh was very sup-
portive of her but she was literally numb one minute and very fearful the next.
I was able to share with her some of her, giving her back some of the most helpful
words she had shared with me. Yep, she got through it, yep she survived, and
after treatment went into complete remission, and didn't pass away for another
18 years from different causes (her body, heart, etc just gave up).
After the worst of the crisis had passed, she shared with me that of all her sponsees
(she was 17 years sober when she got the diagnosis) I was the only one that asked,
and offered my shoulder. Needless to say this did change our relationship drastically,
and not only was she my sponsor, until she passed when I was 18 1/2 years sober,
she and Hugh were my dear friends, they played "Devil's Advocate" with me many
times and at times were like my siblings, like my parents, like my counselors, and
my very very dear friends!!!!!
So, with the above being said, and based on my own experience, since you seem to
be close to your sponsor (in that you have shared very deeply with her) maybe for
now, put the brakes on (this may be what HP wants for you) and just offer your
friendship and your shoulder to lean on, that you are more than open to just listen-
ing to her and being her outlet to vent. It can't and won't hurt you, but it might
be the support she needs right now.
I hope my experience gives you just a bit of incite.
Love and hugs