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Just a week ago I recieved an email from him. He said everything I wanted to hear. This of course was after a a few weeks of not seeing each other, just emails, him mostly cutting me down in his very what he assumed underhanded way. So he emails me and tells me how much he misses me, he Loves me, love with a capital L, I'm the coolest person he ever met, he is so lonely without me. Blah blah blah, I am ashamed to admit I bought it. I really don't have the timeline right on this one, maybe it was longer ago, the days seem to all bunch up together. That night a phone call, very nice and of course plans to get together, which he cancles because I said something about wanting to be respected and loved or something very silly like that. Next week , another call to get together with another flimsy excuse to cancel.
Bleh!!!! Then he starts a big fight with me because I had my dog spayed, apparently that was some slight to him, as I knew he wanted to breed his dog with mine. But of course we never talked about it, he said she is my dog and I can do whatever I want. You get the picture, the set up. A slurry of emails , calling me every name in the book, telling me how I destroyed him, on and on and on. I was doing really well and then today, I just feel so lost and ashamed, as if it really is my fault, intellectually I know it's not, but emotionally I again, and ashamed to say, that I miss him, that there is something inside of me that wants his validation and approval. I know I have done nothing wrong, that he is a drunk and he is abusive, in every aspect of the word, the only thing he hasn't done is stuck me, but that threat has been made.
Uggggg I hate this. I am a very smart, happy, stable, loving person who is respected and loved by my family and friends. I'm sooo sad.
Hi, what you said at the end struck me about everyone loving and respecting you, do you love and respect you? You deserve it! I am sending you love and support!
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Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
Does not sound like someone you want to be with in the long term but, then again you seem to know that already. It is better you feel this pain now than after years and years with this person and then having a HUGE mess on your hands and feeling totally trapped. Of course alanon can help you with the self-esteem and what may be common for those of us who turn to alanon "having a busted picker" and typically going for types that need lots of help and "fixing." It does eventually dawn on you that love does not have to hurt so bad.
It helps me to remember that words are cheap and alcoholics can be very charming, flattering, and convincing. If they weren't, we wouldn't have fallen for them. There is nothing attractive about a drunk.
Don't let him *tell* you, let him *show* you.
Did you notice, his words of regret were all about him and his distress? Not- I am so sorry I have hurt you, how are you feeling? What do you need from me right now? What can I do to make things easier for you?
Just watch and see what he does. He will talk...he will say anything to not lose you. It is very hard to get rid of an alcoholic. They need us much more than we need them.
Focus on getting back to that healthy, strong, respected person you were, and still are. Try to understand why you need validation from him so bad, and where that wound is coming from.
You will get there...keep coming back!
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Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us. -from Pema Chödron's When Things Fall Apart
The common saying in AA is that Alcoholics do not have relationships. They take hostages. Of course I wanted to object to this statement when I started in AA, but then I had an honest look at my relationship history and the saying made me sad.