Re: So what's your story?
Someone finally asked flat out so I had to answer. One of my rules is to always answer a fair question. Here's my reply.
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Short version is: neglected and emotionally abused childhood until 18, roughly a year of daily sexual abuse before the age of ten. PTSD, OCD chronic health issues and learning disabilities, alcoholism and sexual addiction beginning in teen years. Failed relationships and financial troubles early 20s. From 20s to mid 30s went big into self help movement, therapy, 12 stepping. Changed religions three times. By 36 I was feeling mostly normal. Addictions cleared up, no PTSD, OCD controlled. I figured I was at the 13th step, life on track. I stopped doing all the things that fixed me, figured I was done. When the economy turned to crap things unraveled some, by a couple years back I lost a lot of ground. So I restarted my recovery, and as part of that I backed up to the 12th step, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. " Since I had a lot more going on than just alcoholism, I found ways to reach out to people in a rough life in general, point out what used to work for me and hope that it helps them some. With all that in my past, I can relate some to almost anyone on DS . so ever since I found it last spring I sort of say hi to anyone who catches my eye that maybe needs a boost.
_______________________________________________________
Short version is: neglected and emotionally abused childhood until 18, roughly a year of daily sexual abuse before the age of ten. PTSD, OCD chronic health issues and learning disabilities, alcoholism and sexual addiction beginning in teen years. Failed relationships and financial troubles early 20s. From 20s to mid 30s went big into self help movement, therapy, 12 stepping. Changed religions three times. By 36 I was feeling mostly normal. Addictions cleared up, no PTSD, OCD controlled. I figured I was at the 13th step, life on track. I stopped doing all the things that fixed me, figured I was done. When the economy turned to crap things unraveled some, by a couple years back I lost a lot of ground. So I restarted my recovery, and as part of that I backed up to the 12th step, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. " Since I had a lot more going on than just alcoholism, I found ways to reach out to people in a rough life in general, point out what used to work for me and hope that it helps them some. With all that in my past, I can relate some to almost anyone on DS . so ever since I found it last spring I sort of say hi to anyone who catches my eye that maybe needs a boost.
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