Surrendered19

I'm living in Day 40 sober. In that short amount of time, the relationships in my life have begun to change dramatically. I was of course unable to look at my relationships objectively and I had very few healthy relationships. Mostly my fault.

But become sober and show some vulnerability and, WOW, do you find out quickly which relationships were real, two-way relationships and which ones really never existed at all. I've had some friends and family already move on and leave me behind, which does hurt my ego some. But the people who I really love and respect, and who I know love and respect me, have been incredible.

I'm already seeing how much better it is to have fewer relationships but to have those relationships be real and meaningful and two-ways. It feels so much more authentic and honest to live that way.

Atlast9999

Sushiroll

Great post. I can so relate to this.
I'm in the process of setting boundaries myself.
It's been a long time coming.
Alcohol distorts everything.

Auchieshuggle

I can identify with what you have written, Surrendered19. I have struggled a bit and it's amazing who has come and visited me, and who hasn't.

I have discovered over the years that certain people are essentially parasitic, and their strategy is simply to milk people for all they're worth. It's a component of psychopathy/sociopathy. I think in my younger days I was more insecure and worried about offending people, but I won't let people take advantage of me like I once did.

HeadEast

I can relate also. I think it is better to have fewer close relationships. If you think about it, how many close relationships can a person have? I would think not that many because you couldn't sustain them.