I thought I was “special?”
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!
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!
Powerless over Alcohol
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.
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.
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!)
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!)
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
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
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!
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