Originally Posted by
soberlicious 
Do you mean when you were addicted to substances? I don't believe anyone can be truly authentic when they are using substances. Manipulating the brain clouds clarity. When I was addicted I was often unsure of reality, I had no decision making abilities.
For sure then, and yet I've learned reality is also what we make it out to be to certain limits of course. My past experiences pushed me beyond what I considered reality, and so I've gained a whole surreal appreciation now that can't be readily undone, even in sobriety. I can't become unaware of my experiences now unless I'm drunk, and that hasn't happened in more than 30 years, so my inner reality is white hot and powerfully intact. This is actually troublesome on some levels for me...