tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29205162.post416656084255417355..comments2024-01-13T01:45:45.724+00:00Comments on Recovery Archive: The difference between 'hiding' and self restraintAn Irish Friend of Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781376087404079818noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29205162.post-17471308717516792252007-04-08T21:39:00.000+01:002007-04-08T21:39:00.000+01:00when I first heard act as if I was confused since ...when I first heard act as if I was confused since I thought I'd never been able to be myself before, how was this helpful<BR/><BR/>But bring the body the mind follows<BR/>and take the action the feelings follow--these worked best for me<BR/><BR/>Happy EasterMama Dukeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992385949990636622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29205162.post-54571795143583230792007-04-08T18:58:00.000+01:002007-04-08T18:58:00.000+01:00Pretense for me was all about not appearing to be ...Pretense for me was all about not appearing to be weak because then I would be less than perfect. It was about putting on a brave face when I felt shattered inside. Before Al-Anon, I didn't let down my guard to reveal how bad I felt. Even in therapy, I would only go so far. It was just too painful to go back and dig around in the necrotic soul. <BR/><BR/>After getting a sponsor who I could relate to and working on step four, I let go. It was like flushing a toilet. I'm not afraid now to say that I feel bad or that I'm having a bad day. I know that I will never be close to perfect. I have flushed the past away and let myself be open and honest. No more pretending to be other than what you see. I do reserve the right as you say to not relate all my experiences to others but only to a few in the fellowship. Not everyone needs the gory details. Those outside the fellowship just don't understand. For them, I just provide an absract and not the full dissertation.Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.com