Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on July 11, 2010, at 0:17:38
In reply to Epiphany, posted by cass on July 9, 2010, at 2:24:01
> Today my therapist told me that I'm drawn to life-affirming people. However, I'm not treating myself in a way that's life affirming. He's says I'm pushing away what I want.
>
> How do I get my happiness back?? I had a good life for awhile but my husband died and I haven't bounced back. I've made progress, but I'm not the person I was when he was alive.
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> I do have lots of life-affirming people in my life, but I know some people may be offput by my recent depressive vibes.
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> Sometimes I wish I could believe in the Christian God, if I could somehow convince myself into following the mythical benevolent father-figure in the sky. It must give some comfort. But it doesn't give me any comfort because I cannot deceive myself. From experience, I believe in a spiritual presence in myself, others, nature and the world, but I do not believe the Christian God.
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> My therapist is calling me an alcoholic. I don't care about the label. I'm not going to take it on. I know all about 12-step programs in this area, and I don't want to go to one. But I'd like to taper down on drinking.
>
>Hey there,
It seems, after loss, there is this emptiness that sometimes gets filled with certain things, some more than others. To me, it was just emptiness that I couldn't handle more than thinking 10 minutes ahead of my time with.
What I have done, is I tend to believe in "something" spiritual. I guess you could say agnostic. But with more depth. I read a ton of spirituality literature, the very liberal and open stuff that doesn't claim to have "all the answers". Sojourners is one of them. You can visit them on the web at www.sojo.net. They are very, very progressive oriented.
You absolutely don't have to do 12 step is you don't want to. Take one thing at a time, and if they are that insistent, fire them and get a better therapist. There are many other great supportive alternative groups out there that want nothing to do with AA/NA, etc.
Best wishes,
Jay
poster:Jay_Bravest_Face
thread:953865
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20100528/msgs/954062.html