Posting on the Miracles in progress forum has for me been a very relaxed and balanced affair. It hasn't been that in the past when I have tried to be a part of an internet recovery forum though. I was a member of another internet forum and I found I got really compulsive. I was posting topics on anything and everything just to post and subscribing to all the topics and receiving email updates when someone replied to the topics I started . It actually got really sick for me and out of balance and I was ignoring my family alot, obsessing alot about the internet forum.
John Bradshaw states in his literature that an addiction is a, mood altering pathological relationship to any experience, be it something I swallow or an activity I take part in that has life damaging consequences. I've been focussed alot lately on the core of addiction, and think thats where the meat and potatoes recovery is for me, in the balanced middle ground. I don't know if I agree with everything in moderation for my journey because I couldn't drink moderately but certainly getting the right balance of abstinence with some things moderation with others in the way I live life for me is essential.
I thought compulsive posting on forums would be a good topic because it happened to me once before and when someone pointed it out as something to watch out for it gifted me with awareness, which is the first step in recovery of any issue .
It's been nice and healthy for me to post on this site in a detached and balanced way, sometimes I feel like I'm not as supportive or active as I could be on this site but I love all the peoples shares that post regularly and feel safe here too which is huge for me , feeling safe makes me want to share more and more. Thanks so much for all the members on here making this such a great recovery tool.
Jamie :)
-- Edited by Jamie D on Friday 22nd of April 2011 01:27:47 AM
Posting on the Miracles in progress forum has for me been a very relaxed and balanced affair. It hasn't been that in the past when I have tried to be a part of an internet recovery forum though. I was a member of another internet forum and I found I got really compulsive. I was posting topics on anything and everything just to post and subscribing to all the topics and receiving email updates when someone replied to the topics I started . It actually got really sick for me and out of balance and I was ignoring my family alot, obsessing alot about the internet forum.
John Bradshaw states in his literature that an addiction is a, mood altering pathological relationship to any experience, be it something I swallow or an activity I take part in that has life damaging consequences. I've been focussed alot lately on the core of addiction, and think thats where the meat and potatoes recovery is for me, in the balanced middle ground. I don't know if I agree with everything in moderation for my journey because I couldn't drink moderately but certainly getting the right balance of abstinence with some things moderation with others in the way I live life for me is essential.
I thought compulsive posting on forums would be a good topic because it happened to me once before and when someone pointed it out as something to watch out for it gifted me with awareness, which is the first step in recovery of any issue .
It's been nice and healthy for me to post on this site in a detached and balanced way, sometimes I feel like I'm not as supportive or active as I could be on this site but I love all the peoples shares that post regularly and feel safe here too which is huge for me , feeling safe makes me want to share more and more. Thanks so much for all the members on here making this such a great recovery tool.
Jamie :)
-- Edited by Jamie D on Friday 22nd of April 2011 01:27:47 AM
You're right...We must stay connected...not disconnected. That reminds me...I have to get up early -family reasons. God bless
As we get to "know" a little of others, just like ourselves, our stories will all be unique to each one of us individually but identification to the illness is prevalent. The help we take from hearing how others have weathered their storm of life in particular situations,without picking up is therapeutic beyond compare.I know for me personally I always remained aloof and isolated. For me, it is truly a blessing knowing I am not alone , and even though I try and remain spiritually connected I always need to remind myself I am not the great "I am" and that I serve that Power that is...and that Power ,whom I choose to call God has directed me to our program, to my support groups,(for example MIP) and to others for the help I need .You see I am much better but I still ain't "that well" A day at a time, sharing honestly ,whats going on with me, always seeking the solution and trying to relate to a process of recovery, keeps this Work in Progress moving forward,giving God the glory and seeking to serve to best of my ability. Each one ,reach one, to teach one and MIP certainly is a good spot for that.....WE do this together.. Thanks Jamie always good to identify something that could be lurking(compulsions/obsesssions oh yeah!!!
__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
I think it is healthier than some other obsessions we could have, but anything that becomes compulsive and detracts from our family time or self-care can be unhealthy. Early in recovery I was in a relationship with someone who I considered to be a social networking addict...this man seemed to get a "high" from collecting more friends and getting lots of attention to his posts (especially flirting attention from the ladies). Because of this and many other reasons, the relationship did not work out. He actually ended up cheating on me with one of the women he was instant messaging on a social networking site, and "sexting" on his i phone. Not good!
I'm not saying this would happen with you or happens to everyone, but there are people who can and will abuse almost any situation and turn it into a deviation... and I just happen to attract such people unfortunately! :/
Found myself avoidinq this thread lol. I do spend a little too much time on messaqe boards, but it's buts it's waninq. Balance is the key, takinq care of myself in all aspects of my life is the test of whether an obsessinq is makinq me dysfunctional.
Balance is a big part of the AA program for me and a growth area for most of us, I used to think it was one of those hearsay topics in the rooms until I went back a read "The Family Afterwards". It mentions that we will likely be unbalanced at first, and talks of the issues of chasing $$, attention to wife family, realistic spirtitual life, religion, health and even sex. The chapter ends with our 3 mottos:
First things first
Easy does it
Live and let live
If the family cooperates, dad will soon see that he is suffering from a distortion of values. He will perceive that his spiritual growth is lopsided, that for an average man like himself, a spiritual life which does not include his family obligations may not be so perfect after all. If the family will appreciate that dad's current behavior is but a phase of his development, all will be well. In the midst of an understanding and sympathetic family, these vagaries of dad's spiritual infancy will quickly disappear. (AA Big Book page 129).
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Yep. I identify. I go through periods with this board and now the Alanon one that are too much and unhealthy. Especially trying to be Ann Landers advice giver....
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Thanks Jamie always good to identify something that could be lurking(compulsions/obsesssions oh yeah!!!