Thanks Verdantia - and congrats on 22 months sober
Maudcat, thank you for responding. I know what you mean about people who always have to be surrounded by others -sometimes they just aren't happy in their own skin.
Thanks Anna. I've not read any of her books but love reading and starting to get back into it I've just order the Naked Mind which should arrive this week. I'll get these next, thank you
Madbird- you're right, it is a relief to just be 'me'
Thanks Upstairs. that's a very interesting perspective about self destruction. About 20 years ago an ex boyfriend said I was the most self destructive person he'd ever met. It took me many years and a decent stint of sobriety to understand just what he meant.
Thank you to everyone who responded. Hopefully it helps some of us on here