Just a thought to which I frequently return – AA, NA “meetings,” the “12 Steps,” &c., – the lessons “we” learn in “recovery” seem to be lessons needed most by those who are not addicted or dependent on any substances. Everyone is “addicted” to something, and very often “addicts” are people who are both incredibly intelligent and incredibly reflective. It is a difficult world to live in when you know yourself and you know how others behave and you see the disconnect between action and thought. I see how “working the steps” works for “addicts,” but in my mind, those who need the most help are those who do not allow their minds to delve that deeply – they are those who don’t need to cover up the intense emotions they feel and the deep thoughts they think with external stimuli – because they don’t go that far. These are the people who need the help the most. At least in my opinion….
Addiction
Published by Beth Poste
I have been living with chronic illness since I was 2 months old. My first "formal" chronic illness diagnosis was Behçet's Disease - I was 17 at the time. I was later diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency (I more or less led the doctors to that diagnosis - that story is for another time!) and those have been my "primary" two illnesses. I have many other "secondary" diagnoses such as seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chiari 1 Malformation (a result, I believe, of the Behçet's causing aseptic meningitis time and again since it had never appeared in brain scans before I was about 24-25), osteoporosis, compression fractures of the thoracic spine, and many others. I know what it is like to feel as if you have lost years of your life that you can never recover from illness and the many restrictions it places upon you in your everyday life. I just want you to know that I know what it is like and I have been there through every period of my life - you are NOT ALONE! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you ever need someone to talk with or someone just to listen to you - I am always here! Thank you for taking the time to read this and my other posts and I hope you are having a happy and healthy day no matter where you are in the world! Take care. View all posts by Beth Poste
Living with Chronic Illness - Thoughts on Life and Life Advice from a Spoonie's Perspective 