Notices

I thought I was “special?”

Old 08-06-2012, 06:28 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
I looked like that holdin beer
Thread Starter
 
MetalChick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 627
I thought I was “special?”

I think this is the right forum for this, and I am a newbie with newbie ideas.

From 12 stupid Things that Mess up Recovery,

Stupid thing 5: “Feeling special and unique. Humility is the spiritual foundation of recovery. In order to feel worthy, we do not need to be unique. People who do best in recovery are those who surrender and follow suggestions.”

I find that very helpful. I know that one of the things that causes me to be disconnected from my recovery is when I feel “unique.” and “special.” I am humbled and glad that I was proven completely wrong in my thinking on that.

For example, I thought that my anxiety was so bad in certain situations that I had to drink to control it, and that nothing else would work. I gave myself a pass on drinking in that situation (I had to drink). People told me that it would get better if I quit drinking, but I was a “special” case. I did get a lot less anxious when I stopped drinking, BTY. That is just one example out of many. Even though I am a stubborn lady/knucklehead, I am learning to stop the excuses, surrender, and give suggestions a honest effort. Gettin' over myself- Ha!
MetalChick is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 06:30 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
tomsteve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
always good to read the progress yer makin. keep it up!!!
tomsteve is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 06:53 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
I looked like that holdin beer
Thread Starter
 
MetalChick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 627
TY Tom, I never thought I would be workin' the 12 steps. TY for the suggestion! *winks*
MetalChick is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 06:54 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
I looked like that holdin beer
Thread Starter
 
MetalChick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 627
I mean the 12 steps in AA that is. The 12 stupid things are a good ad on to recovery
MetalChick is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 07:04 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Re-Member
 
Itchy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 7,583
Good reminder. We are all unique, just like everyone else!
Itchy is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 07:05 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,040
I think most of us felt special MC...and we are LOL...but when our uniqueness keeps us in a bad situation, it's a problem

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 08:03 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Powerless over Alcohol
 
IndaMiricale's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Trudging the Road to Happy Destiny!
Posts: 4,018
Awesome

I never thought I would be in AA , let alone working the step either. Couldnt be more content now that I have fully surrurenderd and look forward to just being able to make it to the 13th step(the orgianl meaning not what it has become ). Not in a hurry for it that for sure, but sure beats living eternity with a hangover.

Stay on the Beam.
IndaMiricale is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 08:07 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
~sb
 
sugarbear1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,951
"But, you don't understand"

"I'm not like them"

"It's not like that"

"I'm special!"

Yeah, some things I've heard many alkies say, including me!!!
sugarbear1 is offline  
Old 08-07-2012, 06:59 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
foodie1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,348
Great post MC, that feeling kept me drinking for a long time. Grateful for the humble surrender and the peace it's brought!
foodie1 is offline  
Old 08-07-2012, 07:55 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
 
MrsKing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,145
Thanks for sharing.

I relate to this so much. I think I only realise that I do now (now that I'm over it) because before I would have read this and thought THEY STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND. I've accepted that the things I experience and feel are things that millions experience and feel, and I've realised since sober that absolutely nothing is unchangeable... I am in control, not 'fate' - if I feel unique in some negative way, like I'm hard done by because I'm anxious or stressed and NOBODY UNDERSTANDS, I remind myself that I'm the one getting myself into that situation and I'm the one who is going to get myself out of it... taking responsibility for feelings/actions/situations has come hand in hand with sobriety. I no longer feel helpless over 'unique' traits... I overcome them.

(PS - what it is with us alcoholics and stubbornness?! I'm still working on that one!)
MrsKing is offline  
Old 08-07-2012, 02:30 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
hypochondriac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 5,678
Excellent post MetalChick

Whenever I get those feelings of 'but no one is like me' I remind myself that it is those exact thoughts that stopped me getting help and isolated me. Once I accepted that no, actually lots of people have this problem and recover from it everyday, it stops me feeling like I'm the centre of the universe x
hypochondriac is offline  
Old 08-07-2012, 03:16 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
 
Zencat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,680
I'm just little ole me. Whatever the heck that is ...LOL.
Zencat is offline  
Old 08-07-2012, 05:00 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
I looked like that holdin beer
Thread Starter
 
MetalChick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 627
In Zencat's case, he is special. I mean that in a sweet way
MetalChick is offline  
Old 08-08-2012, 03:56 AM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Hellertown, PA
Posts: 33
Wow, I totally know what you mean about the anxiety thing being kind of a "free pass". I also have pretty severe anxiety, and I've been guilty many times of using that as my excuse to drink. How could anyone argue with that, right? Ha!
ljames103 is offline  
Old 08-08-2012, 04:34 AM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Merritt Island, Fl
Posts: 1,164
"Terminally Unique" was my thing. But gettin sober ruined a perfectly good case of depression and anxiety. Great work.
stugotz is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:41 AM.