The checklist
So, as mentioned in my post yesterday, I saw myself in much of the items on the checklist I found on the Al-Anon website.
At the meeting I attended last night, I picked up a brochure that had a further list, and the items that resonated with me seemed to encompass nearly the entire list. A sample below (along with my comments):
Do you seek approval and affirmation? (yes, but who doesn't? although mine seems constant)
Do you fail to recognize your accomplishments? (oh yeah. case in point - my current job. I cited luck, but others kept reminding me how hard I had worked to make this happen.)
Do you fear criticism? (duh. don't we all? I think this goes deeper for me though...)
Are you uneasy when your life is going smoothly, continually anticipating problems? (holy crap. yes, yes, yes)
Do you feel more alive in the midst of a crisis? (yup. I get calm and focused and take care of things)
Do you feel responsible for others, as you did for the alcoholic in your life? (ah, that explains it)
Do you care for others easily, yet find it difficult to care for yourself? (thus my being a nurse - and having to make a point of taking care of myself)
Do you isolate yourself from other people? (just ask my friends. one of the reasons for going to therapy.)
Do you respond with fear to angry people? (every single time, no matter the situation)
There is more to the list, but these are the ones that really called to me, the ones I responded to, the ones in which I really saw myself and the issues I am working on in therapy.
As daunting as this task seems at times, the fact that I am becoming more aware of these things and seeing them at work in my daily life, makes me very happy and hopeful.
At the meeting I attended last night, I picked up a brochure that had a further list, and the items that resonated with me seemed to encompass nearly the entire list. A sample below (along with my comments):
Do you seek approval and affirmation? (yes, but who doesn't? although mine seems constant)
Do you fail to recognize your accomplishments? (oh yeah. case in point - my current job. I cited luck, but others kept reminding me how hard I had worked to make this happen.)
Do you fear criticism? (duh. don't we all? I think this goes deeper for me though...)
Are you uneasy when your life is going smoothly, continually anticipating problems? (holy crap. yes, yes, yes)
Do you feel more alive in the midst of a crisis? (yup. I get calm and focused and take care of things)
Do you feel responsible for others, as you did for the alcoholic in your life? (ah, that explains it)
Do you care for others easily, yet find it difficult to care for yourself? (thus my being a nurse - and having to make a point of taking care of myself)
Do you isolate yourself from other people? (just ask my friends. one of the reasons for going to therapy.)
Do you respond with fear to angry people? (every single time, no matter the situation)
There is more to the list, but these are the ones that really called to me, the ones I responded to, the ones in which I really saw myself and the issues I am working on in therapy.
As daunting as this task seems at times, the fact that I am becoming more aware of these things and seeing them at work in my daily life, makes me very happy and hopeful.