Day 6 and I am still improving all round. Shot this video this morning and my family arrived up from Melbourne a little bit after that. We were all very excited to be reunited. My little boy, Ji, has been a bit upset with daddy this week for leaving him for so long and refused to talk to me on Skype yesterday but it's all good now I'm pleased to report. As I write this I have a real urge to have a glass or three of wine as bedtime with the kids is not going according to plan and, naturally, my automatic/learned and indulged past behaviour has been to just smooth the annoyance with a drink . . . I guess I'll do this instead.
I may, from time to time, take the liberty of indulging in a rant or two (on topic naturally) such as the following (I can feel those that know me well rolling their eyes - I'll try to keep it to a minimum, honest).
Anyway, here's the, oh . . . hang on, I also need to provide a Language Warning with this video as I do use a profane word. So, if your easily offended please hang on, it's going to get a lot bumpier than this I would imagine . . .
I love your journey and the fact that it is soooo wholistic and you are taking such displined steps to rejuvinate. I think we can't just deal with one issue. Our bodies are so linked together in so many ways all dependent on the other. We can have one thing bad in our lives and everything starts to get off kilter and I love the way you are readjusting all aspects back to the path that you desire for your life.
I have done a lot of work with addictions in the past year and gone to many AA type meetings for different things and have learned a lot. I think they typically have reached rock bottom and said 'oh crap look at my life it really is controlled by this substance and I want to change' so they realise they are powerless because all the ways they have tried before did not work so they are there reaching out to their Higher Power - God or the group or whatever to help them do something they couldn't do on their own. I am so glad you have such a great support group around you. The 12 steps if done properly can have profound changes wholistically on a person - seeking forgiveness and working on character issues. The 12 steps work for all types of addictions chemical or process - people who are addicted - workaholics, shopaholics, all addictions lead to death they are a real problem when left unchecked because they are only masking a problem and it slowly spirals out of control unless you deal with the root issues. Sooooo all this general info leads me to two points. Totally just my thoughts and opinions.
1. The root of most addictions is because of co-cependency which is taught through our well meaning families - co-dependency is an inability to deal with certain emotions so we use a substance or process to dull the pain. So if we learn to become more in touch with our emotions we get more able to have deep intimacy with ourselves, others and your spiritual Higher Power. Become more in touch with our emotions = less likely need to use substances.
2. The disease of Alcoholism as explained to me - some people do have a chemical reaction to alcohol that can be genetic - not sure if it can be learned? The chemicals trigger a craving response that is not quenched by a drink but exponentially enlarged so the more you drink the more you crave till you pass out. Some people when they take a drink are alcoholics. Others when they take a drink are not alcoholics and can drink whenever they want and it is not a problem - they can control it. Others may drink co-dependently - as a coping mechanism and because their life is out of control they are drinking in excess to cope. It looks the same as an alcholic but is not the same chemically. True alcholics with the disease - the only way to ever stop is to never take a drink again as this would chemically lead to getting drunk. And if they don't drink and learn to avoid emotional trauma that would cause them to need to drink can lead beautiful healthy lives. There are great principles to be learned in AA - one is H.E.A.T. check if you are hungry emotional angry tired and take care of yourself so you are less likly to drink.
My point. Well not sure. I know that I have some process addictions that have been helped by the AA principles so they really do work. I am healing my self too - slowly and becoming less co-dependent (as every single person is in some ways) by learning how to fully be alive with all my wonderful God given emotions. So thanks for listening to my share and thanks for sharing your journey. Bless you as you take one day at a time!
Thanks for your support Nicky. I must say I differ in some ways to your views and the views held by AA. I know a number of people who have tried AA and unfortunately for them it worked for none.
As I stated I have no intention of burdening myself with such disabling ideas as the ones AA holds. And I also notice that in all your descriptions of "alcoholics" it didn't really define my case very well or the number of other people I know who could be classed as either "problem" drinkers or at least borderline alcohol abusers.
I am aiming at regaining a balance in my life. I am aiming at eliminating the conditions that facilitated my problem. But I am aiming for control and choice. The ability to have a glass of wine with a meal and be satisfied. That is were I will be fully realising my power and potential. When I make decisions consciously and with full awareness. That, to me, is the only way I can claim to actually be free.
Hi Glenn
ReplyDeleteI love your journey and the fact that it is soooo wholistic and you are taking such displined steps to rejuvinate. I think we can't just deal with one issue. Our bodies are so linked together in so many ways all dependent on the other. We can have one thing bad in our lives and everything starts to get off kilter and I love the way you are readjusting all aspects back to the path that you desire for your life.
I have done a lot of work with addictions in the past year and gone to many AA type meetings for different things and have learned a lot. I think they typically have reached rock bottom and said 'oh crap look at my life it really is controlled by this substance and I want to change' so they realise they are powerless because all the ways they have tried before did not work so they are there reaching out to their Higher Power - God or the group or whatever to help them do something they couldn't do on their own. I am so glad you have such a great support group around you. The 12 steps if done properly can have profound changes wholistically on a person - seeking forgiveness and working on character issues. The 12 steps work for all types of addictions chemical or process - people who are addicted - workaholics, shopaholics, all addictions lead to death they are a real problem when left unchecked because they are only masking a problem and it slowly spirals out of control unless you deal with the root issues. Sooooo all this general info leads me to two points. Totally just my thoughts and opinions.
1. The root of most addictions is because of co-cependency which is taught through our well meaning families - co-dependency is an inability to deal with certain emotions so we use a substance or process to dull the pain. So if we learn to become more in touch with our emotions we get more able to have deep intimacy with ourselves, others and your spiritual Higher Power. Become more in touch with our emotions = less likely need to use substances.
2. The disease of Alcoholism as explained to me - some people do have a chemical reaction to alcohol that can be genetic - not sure if it can be learned? The chemicals trigger a craving response that is not quenched by a drink but exponentially enlarged so the more you drink the more you crave till you pass out. Some people when they take a drink are alcoholics. Others when they take a drink are not alcoholics and can drink whenever they want and it is not a problem - they can control it. Others may drink co-dependently - as a coping mechanism and because their life is out of control they are drinking in excess to cope. It looks the same as an alcholic but is not the same chemically. True alcholics with the disease - the only way to ever stop is to never take a drink again as this would chemically lead to getting drunk. And if they don't drink and learn to avoid emotional trauma that would cause them to need to drink can lead beautiful healthy lives. There are great principles to be learned in AA - one is H.E.A.T. check if you are hungry emotional angry tired and take care of yourself so you are less likly to drink.
My point. Well not sure. I know that I have some process addictions that have been helped by the AA principles so they really do work. I am healing my self too - slowly and becoming less co-dependent (as every single person is in some ways) by learning how to fully be alive with all my wonderful God given emotions. So thanks for listening to my share and thanks for sharing your journey. Bless you as you take one day at a time!
Thanks for your support Nicky. I must say I differ in some ways to your views and the views held by AA. I know a number of people who have tried AA and unfortunately for them it worked for none.
ReplyDeleteAs I stated I have no intention of burdening myself with such disabling ideas as the ones AA holds. And I also notice that in all your descriptions of "alcoholics" it didn't really define my case very well or the number of other people I know who could be classed as either "problem" drinkers or at least borderline alcohol abusers.
I am aiming at regaining a balance in my life. I am aiming at eliminating the conditions that facilitated my problem. But I am aiming for control and choice. The ability to have a glass of wine with a meal and be satisfied. That is were I will be fully realising my power and potential. When I make decisions consciously and with full awareness. That, to me, is the only way I can claim to actually be free.