In this relationship, which thankfully ended this morning, I had a distinct feeling that I was a defect looking for a character....
Just two weeks into it and all the flaws and history crept in and I knew it would not work out. However, I waited till the end and gave the walk out option to the female. And she did....
Now I know i will feel sad for a day or two but I will grow out of it. Ive always thought that another addict can best understand me and this day that theory is validated.....
Im also doing my inventory as honestly as I can, leaving out the others part and instead looking at my own.
Anger was surely ever present, a reality that I denied than but now wholeheartedly embrace. Im also learning that anger is not always a psycholoical thing. Im realizing that ignoring physical exercise, overeating, clinging and all those physical things can also keep me in anger.
Then there are also the things I need for Serenity like not only Praying but also Meditating and writing that i do not do and then suffer...
I also need to accept that I will never be acceptable to some people whereby after the initial physical attraction there is nothing to sustain the relationship. That is another anger generator. The initial euphoria and exitement dies down and I see something that is not to my liking and more unlikeables follow.
The fear of rejection keeps me clining till I realize I have no choice left but to let go.
And in letting go, Im hoping this is the right decision....
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
Been Meditating on what's been happening. Lots of info,,, will have to sort it into parts, especially searching for my part... This can only happen when these things are fresh in my mind...
The most important thin Im noticin is that Im not trying to will or wish it away... I realize this is a pattern Im repeating and need to know whwre it beins and where it ends. Im talkin about the mischief and havoc character defects have played in these past two weeks.. Seems like there's a character masquerading as me and causing pain and suffering....
I feel good taking responsibility for my actions and a it was Good Fortune that I owned up my anger to her and took complete responsibility for it...
The Narcotics Anonymous Program seems to be working well in this context too...
Id appreciate any input, especially strength gained from hard won experience in relationships...
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
Hi all, serching for insights and this strikes me as true...
Im sharing this without fear of breaking Traditions in context of quoting outside sources. Because we are not professional counsellors to each other here, I pasted what I read in the hope that in readin it, others in the same bad space will relate or identify.
I also remember that the Basic Text says that we need to turn these cateories of problems over to professionals in order to recive the hel[p we need.
That said, the therupatic value of one addict helping another means to me in this context that you will share with me your own experiences of how you deal with these situations and also what you think of this article,,,,please !!!
Improve Communication
"Anger in Relationships: Why It's Not Always What it Seems When Your Partner is Angry"
Because so many people want to know how to stay open in love when they don't feel very loving in the moment, we wanted to give you some tips and ideas on opening your heart in difficult circumstances.
Here's an example of what we mean...
Every once in awhile, John gets really angry-- so angry that Marsha thinks he's out of control, she does not feel either respected or loved, and doesn't want to be around him. She doesn't know where all of this anger comes from, what she's done to deserve it and why it's directed at her.
Pretty common circumstance, right? Many people, including us, can identify with this situation to a certain extent, at one time or another in their relationships. In every relationship, there's what we call "Relationship Dances" that take place.
A "Relationship Dance" is an on-going, repeating pattern of behavior that both people play out in the relationship. Sometimes a relationship dance can be beautiful, loving and wonderful and other times, it can be painful, exhausting and difficult to deal with---even though there might be great love between the two people.
Well, here's our take on John's and Marsha's relationship dance--why it's causing challenges in their relationship and how they can open their hearts to one another again... Very often, upsets, anger, judgment, lashing out, or making each other wrong is sometimes nothing more than a mask for the pain that's underneath what someone is feeling.
What seems to be John's unreasonable anger can be his way of "puffing" himself up because he's feeling vulnerable and afraid--fearful that if he doesn't react in this way, he won't be heard, honored or get his needs met.
Please understand that we are not condoning or validating anyone's out-of-control rage or anger toward another--nor what happens as a result of this rage or anger, especially if physical violence is the result.
What we are suggesting is that in most cases, people who are expressing anger are not the strong, powerful people they are pretending to be in the moment. This may come as a shock to some of you to know that when most people act in this way, their actions and reactions are coming from their pain and their inability to know how to deal with their pain.
Marsha, on the other hand, feels blind sided by John's anger. She reacts from old patterns, either freezing and withdrawing from him or lashing out at him with her own anger. Because John's anger may be so unreasonable and blown out of proportion, it may look like he's the only one who has contributed to their upset but that's usually not the case.
Marsha's probably been doing her own things to contribute to the situation. Under the guise of helping John to become a better person, she might be pushing him in ways that he doesn't want to be pushed.
Whatever way their "Relationship Dance" goes, both people close their hearts to each other, shutting down any love or connection that they once felt for one another.
For many couples, the situation becomes too much of a "hot potato" and is never talked about again and therefore, never resolved. Even if the two people do talk about the issue, there's often a standoff, with both people holding on to being right.
So what can John and Marsha, as well as millions of other couples, do to resolve their situation and create a closer and more connected relationship? Here are some tips to help...
1, If the person is full of rage and you fear for your safety, temporarily leave the situation. If alcohol or drugs are involved, make sure that before you try any of our suggestions, the other person is sober and/or drug-free. You may want to get the help from a professional drug/alcohol counselor or groups if you are with a person who is a chronic abuser or if you are one yourself.
2. Know that underneath most displays of anger is a feeling that there is a need that's not being met or a want that's being stifled. Very often when there's a trigger that sets off the anger or upset, we bypass what's truly at the heart of the situation and go to the reaction that's familiar, instead of the fear or the cause.
Whether you are the "angry" partner or not, be open to searching underneath your behavior for any fears or unmet needs and wants. What is the need or want and what do you need to do to move toward having it without using anger as a crutch? It might be that you need to be more honest more of the time. It might mean that you not run away when things get tough. It might be that you need to take more responsibility in your life.
Make an agreement to listen to one another, speak from your hearts, and open to understanding each other, even though you may not agree.
3. We all create stories in our minds about what certain things mean that very often have nothing to do with the reality of the situation. It's the stories we make up that usually drive our behavior so finding out the facts of the situation is really important. Examine the stories that you are creating in your mind that triggers any behavior that sooner or later you regret doing. Know that you can change the stories that you tell yourself about every situation and begin taking steps to change them by looking at the facts.
4. Commit to not holding grudges from the past. If you need to do some forgiveness work around some issues, do it. If you need to make amends for something you did in the past, do it. Clear up anything hanging over from the past so that you can start together with a clean slate.
Anger is an emotion and emotions are our friends. Our emotions tell us what we need to take a look at next in our lives if we are open to doing the work. Let the message of anger be "I need help" and then take the responsibility for looking at the issues underneath that you really need to address. (S and O Collins)
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
You know Raman sometimes other people just aren't a match.
With Jenn who I have fought long and hard to hold I couldn't go a day without getting angry at her but i have a lady friend now for a year and spent time with her inbetween my relationship with jenn and i have never had an instance of realy getting angry.
I have to look at the WHY and see the differences in there personality.
I also take a deep hard look at myself and see my flaws and defects .
The letting go part has been difficult because I resist it I have tried HARD I have tried working the program and it works no doubt about that, when I practice the principles and ALL my affiars that works. But once I start using self will, selfish intentions, self centered thinking everything goes to hell in a hand basket.
Practical thing to do is to turn over whatever the situation be, let god sort it out but i'll be damned if I dont constantly try figuring out everything myself and reacting badly to where i find fault.
I also run people down and thats no help to them, i run myself down to.
Gods sake, I didnt want it to end like that so the effort is paying off...
been together and working thngs out. Sat and talked and di things together. Most of all Im strictly looking at my own part in all this and what I need to do to stay inside....
Thank God for the 12 Step Program....
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!