Thank you so much for sharing, Lene. Your story deeply resonates with me - my family had the same imaginary friend, I didn’t drink until I was 22, and my biggest addiction was to disordered eating and being the perfect student. Getting sober from alcohol changed my relationship with my body and with my family, ending a cycle that goes back many generations. Huge recognition for your courage, steadfastness, strength, and sobriety.
Absolutely. In fact, when I got sober, i got this idea to write a rock musical about my story of addiction and recovery. Instead of writing all new songs, i was able to go back and use songs i wrote when i was a teenager that literally told the story of what you're describing in here. I ended up turning it into a treatment curriculum and I literally use the concept of the Shadow in describing the main song that addresses the family of origin stuff. Thanks for sharing this great piece!
Wow, incredible piece. It never ceases to amaze me how much we all in recovery have in common. I relate to so many parts of your story and it caused a slew of emotions within me. I loved the questions at the end. I haven’t worked a 12 step program, but I have been through several rehab programs. Throughout these programs, I’ve learned so much about alcoholism and how it seriously affects mental and emotional health. Until I was in recovery, I was only concerned with how it affected me physically. I’ve unearthed layers of myself I never knew existed. It’s like meeting a new person while creating a new life.
Sending light and love to you. Thank you for sharing!
Love your story, I can appreciate alcohol being the unspoken figure in the room. For my family alcohol was a tool, and it was a tool for me as well. Now it no longer is , I have found better more useful tools
Thank you, Lene! I believe our sobriety heals our family lines - I honestly believe our sobriety reaches back and heals our ancestors. Like, my sobriety heals my grandmother and her sisters, whose father was a fall down drunk who lost everything and couldn’t hold a job or keep a roof over their heads. My great aunts didn’t drink, ever, because of it.
Sorry your fam can be tone deaf and still offer you a drink - and beautiful that you’ve let go of any anger around that.
On a side note : I miss the northwest! I was in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. A little time in Montana, but man, I miss those skies.
Thank you for sharing Lene. Alcohol addiction/misuse is a member of my family, too. And some of us acknowledge it as an unwelcome one, some ignore it, others adore it. I am the only one of six adult (we are talking 50s-60 year olds) children who is loud about alcohol and my sobriety, although one other has been quietly sober for decades. I see it bleeding over into the next generation and it is so sad.
I like that you raise the idea of being good. I hear that a lot from women who had alcohol as a strong presence in the home. Carrying the mask of goodness for the family or something like that. XO
Thank you so much for sharing, Lene. Your story deeply resonates with me - my family had the same imaginary friend, I didn’t drink until I was 22, and my biggest addiction was to disordered eating and being the perfect student. Getting sober from alcohol changed my relationship with my body and with my family, ending a cycle that goes back many generations. Huge recognition for your courage, steadfastness, strength, and sobriety.
I so appreciate this space to share ❤️ Each time I get to right about my experience, I find another way to move an inch forward.
Absolutely. In fact, when I got sober, i got this idea to write a rock musical about my story of addiction and recovery. Instead of writing all new songs, i was able to go back and use songs i wrote when i was a teenager that literally told the story of what you're describing in here. I ended up turning it into a treatment curriculum and I literally use the concept of the Shadow in describing the main song that addresses the family of origin stuff. Thanks for sharing this great piece!
Wow, incredible piece. It never ceases to amaze me how much we all in recovery have in common. I relate to so many parts of your story and it caused a slew of emotions within me. I loved the questions at the end. I haven’t worked a 12 step program, but I have been through several rehab programs. Throughout these programs, I’ve learned so much about alcoholism and how it seriously affects mental and emotional health. Until I was in recovery, I was only concerned with how it affected me physically. I’ve unearthed layers of myself I never knew existed. It’s like meeting a new person while creating a new life.
Sending light and love to you. Thank you for sharing!
“Like meeting a new person while creating a new life.” Yess❤️❤️❤️
Love your story, I can appreciate alcohol being the unspoken figure in the room. For my family alcohol was a tool, and it was a tool for me as well. Now it no longer is , I have found better more useful tools
Thank you, Lene! I believe our sobriety heals our family lines - I honestly believe our sobriety reaches back and heals our ancestors. Like, my sobriety heals my grandmother and her sisters, whose father was a fall down drunk who lost everything and couldn’t hold a job or keep a roof over their heads. My great aunts didn’t drink, ever, because of it.
Sorry your fam can be tone deaf and still offer you a drink - and beautiful that you’ve let go of any anger around that.
On a side note : I miss the northwest! I was in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. A little time in Montana, but man, I miss those skies.
Love that take on it healing backwards as well as forwards ❤️ Big sky country sure is beautiful, and is always up for visitors!
Thank you for sharing Lene. Alcohol addiction/misuse is a member of my family, too. And some of us acknowledge it as an unwelcome one, some ignore it, others adore it. I am the only one of six adult (we are talking 50s-60 year olds) children who is loud about alcohol and my sobriety, although one other has been quietly sober for decades. I see it bleeding over into the next generation and it is so sad.
I like that you raise the idea of being good. I hear that a lot from women who had alcohol as a strong presence in the home. Carrying the mask of goodness for the family or something like that. XO
Yes! Carrying the weight of being good- I find it heavy ❤️