I’ve created a Rapid Cycling Facebook Page. Feel free to stop on by to pick up some healthy tips and tricks to building a better life I’ll be sharing things on 12 Step Recovery, Codependency, Sex, Love & Fantasy Addiction, Co-Addiction, Mental Health, Inner Child, Adult Children of Alcoholics and other Dysfunctional Families and some [...]
Archive for the ‘12 Step’ Category
Follow Me On Facebook
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, tagged 12 Step Program, adult children of alcoholics, codependency, Facebook, Facebook Page, Inner Child, mental health, Sexual addiction, Twelve-step program on October 2, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
There’s a Hole in My Bucket
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Codependency, Coping Mechanisms, Dysfunctional Behavior, Self Help/Support Groups, Self Love, Thoughts, tagged ACA, ACOA, addiction, adult child, alcoholic home, co addiction, dysfunctional childhood, dysfunctional family, Fantasy Addiction, God, higher power, Hole in My Soul, Inner Child, Love Addiction, mental health, self love, sex addiction, There's a Hole in My Bucket, Twelve-step program on June 17, 2011 | 1 Comment »
“There’s a hole in my bucket dear Liza dear Liza, there’s a hole in my bucket dear Liza, a hole”. My grandmother used to sing that children’s song when I was young but little did I know I would have a hole in my bucket (my soul) when I grew up because my caregivers were so focussed on each other [...]
I Am Alone
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Codependency, Coping Mechanisms, Depression, Poetry, Relationships, SAnon, Self Love, Thoughts, tagged 12 Step Program, ACOA, addiction, adult child, alcoholic home life, alcoholism, childhood grief, codependency, codependent relationships, Depression, dysfunctional families, God, Inner Child, internal misery, poetry, sadness, SAnon, self love on April 26, 2011 | 3 Comments »
There is nobody here to share my sorrow There is nobody here to cut the ball and chain of my responsibilities, my chores To allow me to run and play like a carefree child, to think of happy things and make daisy chains in the sun When will someone hear my cry? You walk away and leave [...]
Running on Empty
Posted in 12 Step, Codependency, Depression, Relationships, SAnon, Self Harm, Self Love, Suicide, Thoughts, tagged ACOA, adult child, alanon, alcoholic home, alcoholism, Alone, codependency, Depression, Inner Child, isolation, loneliness, sadness, SAnon, Self Harm, self love, stuck on April 2, 2011 | 7 Comments »
As an adult child of an alcoholic I often feel so alone in this world. Nobody understands me, nobody gets me, nobody will feel the pain and sadness I feel inside. Imagine a car stalled in the middle of a major highway and all the other cars whizzing by, not noticing it’s there. It wants some help, so badly [...]
The Electric Pencil Sharpener
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Codependency, Coping Mechanisms, Dysfunctional Behavior, Relationships, Self Harm, Self Love, tagged 12 step programs, ACOA, adult child, co addiction, codependency, Coping mechanisms, dysfunctional behavior, dysfunctional families, fixing others, Inner Child, Love Addiction, meeting needs, People pleasing, self esteem, Self Harm, self love, sex addiction, suicidal thoughts, what is normal on March 11, 2011 | 3 Comments »
A fellow Program member shared something with me that has been very valuable when I find myself unable to control dysfunctional coping mechanisms. They said “A normal person wouldn’t put their finger in an electric pencil sharper because they know they will get hurt but people like us do it time and time again”. I [...]
Living in the Solution
Posted in 12 Step, Codependency, Depression, Relationships, Thoughts, tagged ACA, ACOA, adult children, adult children of alcoholics, belief systems, coaddiction, codependency, control, Depression, dysfunctional families, dysfunctional family, dysfunctional upbrinings, family of origin, living in the problem, self help on March 9, 2011 | 4 Comments »
I wanted to post an update on my post below “Repeating my Childhood” because a few wonderful people commented on it for which I’m grateful. During my “unmanageable” moment I was thinking things such as “Here goes another weekend down the drain”, “I hate my life” , “I’m so weak” and “The sewing machine is broken [...]
Happiness – What is That?
Posted in 12 Step, Relationships, tagged ACOA, adullt child, adult children, family, happiness, perfectionism, Relationships on February 19, 2011 | 3 Comments »
So my little sister’s wedding is over. Thank God is all I have to say about it! Tonight is the photo viewing night of her big day and honeymoon and I’ve bailed out. That’s OK, I know now I am allowed to. I don’t have to put myself in situations that will trigger me. What behaviors did I [...]
Dear John – Dysfunctional Childhood?
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, mental illness, Thoughts, tagged 12 Step Program, AA, Abusive Childhood, addiction, adult children, adult children of alcoholics, alcoholics anonymous, alcoholism, Anxiety disorder, childhood depression, depression and alcoholism, dysfunctional childhood, dysfunctional thinking, Health, Major depressive disorder, mental health, mental illness on December 28, 2010 | 3 Comments »
I received an email yesterday and thought I’d share it with you together with my reply: “Dear X, My name is X. I am almost certain now that I was born with a mental illness. I was diagnosed when I was thirty-five I am now forty-one. I realised something was wrong when I was sixteen,and so began my personal war,I have [...]
My Life’s on Hold
Posted in 12 Step, Anxiety, Codependency, Depression, Thoughts, tagged 12 Step, ACOA, adult child, agoraphobia, alcoholic home, anxiety, codependency, Depression, Disorders, excessive worry, Facebook, fear of situations, Health, life on hold, mental health, panic disorder, phobia, reluctant thoughts, Support group, Support Groups, triggers, Twelve Step, Twelve-step program, uncontrollable fear, What might happen on October 17, 2010 | 9 Comments »
I was recently thinking about someone who I befriended on Facebook at my last 12 Step meeting because we were talking about how people (me included) don’t commit to things until the last minute or we say NO “just incase” something bad will happen. She invited me to her birthday party and she is such a lovely person and I [...]
Stay Away from Mentally Ill?
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Anxiety, bipolar disorder, Depression, mental illness, Relationships, Schizophrenia, Self Help/Support Groups, Thoughts, tagged agressive friends, agressive mentally ill, anxiety, bipolar disorder, Borderline personality disorder, depressed person, destructive mental illness, detaching from mentally ill, Disorders, Health, helping mentally ill, how to help mentally ill, major depressive illness, manipulative friends, manipulative mentally ill, Mental disorder, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill friend, Support group on October 17, 2010 | 2 Comments »
I recently responded to a request for experience strength and hope in dealing with toxic families who have mental illnesses and possible personality disorders. This is what I said: “I have a fair bit of experience with mental illness as it runs in my family of origin (depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia) plus I have [...]
Codependency & Loss of Identity
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Codependency, Relationships, SAnon, Self Love, Thoughts, tagged ACOA, addictive relationships, adult children, alanon, alcoholic children, alcoholic home life, codependency, codependent relationships, dependency, family, finding self, Health, loss of self, SAnon, self identity, self love, unhealthy relationships on September 29, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Have you ever heard anyone say they don’t know who they are anymore? Losing your identity is losing sight of what you like doing, what you think or what makes you happy for example. At this time in my life I don’t know who I am or what I like (to an extent) and I [...]
My First Codependency Meeting
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Anxiety, Codependency, Depression, mental illness, Thoughts, tagged 12 Step Program, agoraphobia, alcoholic home life, anxiety, CODA, codependency, codependent behaviour, Depression, Disorders, Health, Major depressive disorder, mental health, self love, unselfish behaviour on September 25, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Went to my very first codependency 12 Step meeting yesterday. I was very surprised about how much I related to people’s shares and the readings and how much of my behaviour was codependent behaviour. Who would have thought that the need to come bearing gifts when I visited people was codependent behaviour. Apparently the reasoning behind always needing [...]
Sex & Love Addiction Help
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Anxiety, bipolar disorder, Books, Codependency, Depression, Medication, mental illness, SAnon, Self Harm, Self Help/Support Groups, Thoughts, tagged Amazon.com, American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Love Addiction, love addiction help, love addiction suicide, love addicts, love avoidants, love fantasies, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Patrick Carnes, romance fantasies, SA, SAnon, sex addict, sex addiction suicide, Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sexual addiction, sexual fantasies, sexual thoughts, Sexuality, SLAA, Substance dependence, Twelve-step program, unwanted fantasies on September 11, 2010 | 2 Comments »
As I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and various OCD symptoms such as the need to have things orderly, clean and perfect, I was wondering whether love and sex addiction is classed a form of OCD. Some experts believe that sexual addiction is literally an addiction, directly analogous to alcohol and drug addictions. Other experts believe [...]
Kleptomania – a Compulsion to Steal
Posted in 12 Step, Anxiety, Medication, mental illness, Thoughts, tagged bipolar disorder, childhood theft, Disorders, Health, Kleptomania, mental health, OCD shoplifting, OCD stealing, OCD theft, Retail, Salvation Army, Shoplifting, shoplifting anxiety, stealing anxiety, stealing compulsion, stealing mental illness, Theft, theft anxiety, thieving compulsion, zeldox affer effects, zeldox and anxiety, zeldox compulsion, zeldox obsessive, zeldox OCD, zeldox shoplifting, zeldox side effects on September 11, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Kleptomania is classified as ”an irresistable urge to steal” but people with this disorder are compelled to steal but not limited to, items of insignificant value. Insignificant value meaning pens, paperclips, note pads, paper etc. Kleptomania is distinguished from shoplifting or ordinary theft, as shoplifters and thieves generally steal for monetary value, or associated gains and usually display intent [...]
Control – My Best Friend!
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Anxiety, Codependency, Thoughts, tagged addiction, alcoholic home life, alcoholism, children and control, codependency, codependency games, control, control and addiction, control and alcoholism, control and codependency, control and rebel, control freak, control issues, controlling parent, controlling personality, family, growing up in an alcoholic home, Health, Home, Parenting, perfectionism, Substance abuse, Twelve-step program on September 7, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Annabelle’s comment in my previous post reminded me about my best friend “control” who visits me on a regular basis in various ways, shapes and forms. Control and I have grown up together but unfortunately friend, it’s time to go. I’m trying to get rid of you but it’s easier said than done. You don’t [...]
Matthew Newton – Mentally Ill or Drug Addict?
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Mental Health News, mental illness, Self Help/Support Groups, Thoughts, tagged AA, alanon, alcoholics anonymous, Australia, Bert Newton, brooke satchwell, domestic violence, drug use, Electroconvulsive Therapy, family violence, Health, Ice, Ice pipe, marijuana and mental illness, marijuana psychosis, Matthew Newton, mental health, narcotics, Narcotics Anonymous, Patti Newton, rachael taylor, scizophrenia, violence women, X Factor on September 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
It never ceases to amaze me about the things journalists come up with in the tabloids let alone the lengths families go to to save their reputation and that of their loved one who has acted inappropriately. Matthew Newton, son of Bert Newton – Australian icon. Latest article if you are not familiar with the [...]
Tired of Codependency
Posted in 12 Step, Addiction, Books, Codependency, SAnon, Thoughts, tagged 12 Step Program, addiction, addictive relationships, alcoholic home life, coaddict, coaddiction, CODA, codependency, codependency games, Facing Love Addiction, growing up in an alcoholic home, Love Addiction, Love Avoidant, Pia Mellody, SAA, SAnon, sex addiction, SLAA, unhealthy relationships on August 31, 2010 | 2 Comments »
I’m tired of being a codependent, I’m tired of the same old games/scenarios. They get us nowhere, it pushes us back further into an abyss. Last night I picked up the book “Facing Love Addiction” by Pia Mellody which my counsellor recommended to me. I was absolutely gobsmacked at the games two codependents play with each other (unknowingly). [...]
Expectations & Perfectionism
Posted in 12 Step, SAnon, Thoughts, tagged 12 Step Program, alanon, alcoholic home life, alcoholics anonymous, control, dysfunctional families, dysfunctional traits, dysfunctional upbrinings, expectations, growing up in an alcoholic home, perfectionism, SAnon on August 28, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
How many times have you had expectations about something or someone, just to turn around and feel disappointed? Until I started 12 Step Programs, I did not understand what expectations were. Some examples of my expectations are expecting people to do the same quality of work as me in the workplace, expecting anyone who cleans [...]
