The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Glad you're sharing a stressful day with us. In my own work, there are days of high stress, low stress, no stress and lots of peace. I've learned to trust the days of peace, the days of stress, the days of low stress and no stress. Each experience is part of the day HP has planned for me and the outcome always belongs to HP. I don't always like the stressful days, but I've learned that all is well and will be well because I am where HP has placed me.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Monday 14th of October 2013 08:18:26 PM
-- Edited by grateful2be on Monday 14th of October 2013 08:22:18 PM
I'm sorry today was really rough at your workplace. But you never know who you may have inspired or impacted either by your actions or lack of reactions just by being you, even if you think it might all be a waste of time and nobody is paying attention.
Not that I'm in any way saying it's not that bad, or that you should stay in this job, etc. I hope you have some clarity on your situation with this job in the morning after (hopefully) a good night's sleep!
-- Edited by ClearTheFog on Monday 14th of October 2013 10:22:26 PM
I get flustered and anxious sometimes at the high drama and chaos at work. Then I have to remember "Why am I expecting peace, calm , and order in a rehab with 28 severely sick addicts and alcoholics?" It is a giant hardware store...it will never churn out bread. It was a stressful day guys.
Mark I have lived through many crazy days at work but never was it involved in a recovery facility. Keep the focus on your self, stay in the moment, in the day. Do your job, handle your clients with professionalism and let the madness swirl around you.
Soooo Pink...we all know we have choices right? What are you gonna do about your today? I like your awareness about where you are at, who you are with and what you expect is reality...I like that; been there and done that. Sounds like you've done an inventory about there, that and them...days over...got room for an inventory about PinkChip? I can tell you that I found out that for everyone of those self inventories I didn't do the consequences added up and for everyone I didn't do and then didn't discuss them with HP and my sponsor I ended up suffering as a result of "carelessness"; caring about myself that is. I have always appreciated outcomes that came as a result of being care full to myself...always...did the inventory, did the investigation with others and HP, followed thru with the principles of the program...all of them.
There were days when my cliental seemed to want my blood and every other part of me that I valued and needed and then I came to understand that what I did wasn't against them it was with and for them and when my attitude changed...everything else did. We already know about them...we are them with a reprieve. Bad day...go have a drink...best one I can think of is a tall glass of frosty rootbeer and two large scoops of ice cream. Bread doesn't help. ((((hugs))))
Those who have quit might not be ready for the lessons you are ready for, PC? I truly believe that it is our motivation that keeps us in tough places. These folks cannot help themselves, can they? Some of them will probably quit, too. We can quit. We can dig our heels in and just stay out of stubbornness. We can deepen our prayer life and let God do in us what we cannot do on our own. We have all sorts of challenges. My folks tried to drive me out the first year with them in a fairly structured environment. 1 woman - me - and the rest felons, addicts, alcoholics and mentally ill people - and one or two volunteers. There was nothing I could really do on my own. The stresses were monumental. But, something kept me there. That something was my HP. Underneath the emotions that you probably feel, if there is a deeper sense of peace, you are probably in the right place. If that deeper peace is lacking, you can always ask your HP to show you the next step if you aren't already doing it? Bless the crazy days. They pass. Bless the peaceful days. They pass. What doesn't pass is the deeper reason why you are there now and the HP who I take on faith based on what you've shared has placed you there. Sorry you had a hard day. Don't let their crazy making disease undo you. Shake the day off like ducks shake off the water from their wings after a water fight and swim on in peace.
Sounds familiar Pink, I go to work and expect that all of a sudden my boss is going to develop good work ethics..! WRONG its the same ol, same ol, I no longer have expectations of her...so things are not so bad anymore...amazing how strong expectations are, they sometimes can ruin your whole day! So the moral is don't expect anything from any one?...og
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Don't Worry About Growing Old, It Is A Privilege For Some Of Us.....
I get flustered and anxious sometimes at the high drama and chaos at work. Then I have to remember "Why am I expecting peace, calm , and order in a rehab with 28 severely sick addicts and alcoholics?" It is a giant hardware store...it will never churn out bread. It was a stressful day guys.
Peace wishes and hugs, sent your way......I had to laugh with you on your "expectations" albeit temporary ones....sooo funny ......
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
It was just so crazy today. Plus everyone else keeps quitting.
I wonder is their a full moon....today's plumbing job i did w/the faucet stems in the tub was a battle royal...i mean EVERYTHING that COULD mess up did....finally got it done about 8:30...the whole day fighting bad energy and what did this coda do??? get Pee O'd , of course...took me a while to remember i do have a program I can work.......
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
One was psychotic and that was the saddest. She wanted a priest to come and perform an exorcism on her. Paranoid and out there way beyond the usual. Other clients started getting feaked by her. It was sad.
I'm sorry your day was so stressful- demanding so much energy and compassion, guided and limited (for your protection) by your HP. I'm hoping you sleep well and tomorrow is more manageable.
As a volunteer in a shelter, I met a lot of folks with similar traits. When running the Drop-In program, same thing. It is sad and these of the kinds of things that are beyond us but not beyond a HP. One gal stayed in different places. One was in a shelter run by a Catholic nun. The nun told the gal that kind of behavior (switching from being one personality to another) wasn't allowed. This may not be the only client you receive in this shape.
Maybe there is a priest who is in recovery that could help in a situation like that? In the work that I do, I have also met people who wanted exorcisms or believed they were possessed by demons. I didn't argue with them. I allowed them their interpretation of what was happening and I'd also try to direct their focus onto those things that weren't threatening to them and was normal for the group.
Examples: I understand. I'm sorry. I don't know a priest who can do that. Let's pray together about it and ask God to send you help. Now, let's go to lunch. Or, we don't focus on demons here. We try to think about those things that are positive and kind, loving and caring and things we can be grateful to God for receiving. Is there anything you'd like to share that you're grateful for today?
Seeing those with those mental aberrations as people with faulty thinking that lends itself to extreme fears - just like the rest of us - and listening within for what could help minimize the tension and bring peace for me and therefore for them and the rest of the group was helpful in those kinds of situations. In some situations, just saying "I get scared sometimes, too," was a help for both me and the person suffering an extreme form of fear in a new situation where they don't feel they have control. It helped "exorcise the demon, fear."
People with those kinds of issues have often stayed in shelters where the Bible is used. Since the people of Christ's day didn't have medical terms like epilepsy, alcoholism, etc, the word demon was used. It is my belief that in an effort for somebody with a mental illness over which they have no control to make sense of their condition, they seize upon the word "demon" as it appears in Scripture. Because they are powerless over it, they ask for an exorcism as they've heard has happened in the Catholic Church and other denominations. Unfortunately for the patient, those words make it worse for them. As somebody who was in relationship to folks who had been educated in a way that made their fear greater rather then lessen it, having knowledge of their background and of Scripture helped me better understand what might be contributing to their great dis-ease and then applying whatever antidote to their current dis-ease (extreme fear) that helped reduce the fear level. It didn't cure them, but it did help them and others relax enough that I could better re-direct everyone's thinking to a less fearful and more normal state if it was simply to notice how beautifully the sun was shining or how sweet our pet bunny, Ziggy, looked in his crate.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 07:47:05 AM
-- Edited by grateful2be on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 07:47:48 AM
-- Edited by grateful2be on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 08:36:53 AM
Hi Pinkchip,
There are days when I quite fancy an exorcism myself
Your colleagues and clients are very lucky to have you. It IS so sad and its bound to rub off from time to time. I hope you can take time to remember good things in your life. Sending prayers that today is much much better.
((((Hugs)))))
I love what Jerry suggests - your own inventory. I know when Im feeling this way it could be that there is something going on within. It could just be a plain and simple stressed day that will pass like any other. Are you detaching from your clients or are you taking things their problems to heart? It must be frustrating watching insanity day after day. Today's reading in the ODAT could help.x
Great topic :) I needed to hear this today as it can be difficult to have humility and compassion working with those with no recovery. Prayers to you on your Journey (((((((((((((((((Pinkchip)))))))))))))))))))))))
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I needed these behaviors in my past they helped me survive I'm finding new and better ways to not just survive but thrive
I pray today is better for you. When you throw a bunch of addicts in a room, most withdrawing emotionally and some physically days can be quite stressful.
I too have some very heavy things on my mind in regards to my job so lets pray together
(((( hugs ))))
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Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.
Good you shared it and released some of the energy into the universe. It helps me to let it out and then get back to the solution - just as I'm sure you're doing/did. I like to see an example of people giving and taking that have progressed in their program. Looks like balance, and reminds me to seek balance too. Thanks
