Grieving In Recovery

¡Cielos!

En mi memoria, la expresión Cielos ("good grief" en Inglés) era un improperio común de los personajes de dibujos animados de Carlitos (o Charlie Brown). Durante gran parte de mi vida, utilicé ¡Cielos! para expresar asombro, consternación y frustración, sin considerar nunca la verdad más profunda escondida dentro del eufemismo. Antes de entrar al programa de SA (21/10/1998), vivía con una acumulación de dolor congelado. Solo después de un par de viajes a través de los pasos comencé a comprender y aceptar los beneficios del duelo. Me di cuenta de que atravesar el dolor era sanador y bueno para mí.

By |2025-09-08T12:02:53-05:00June 9, 2025|Comments Off on ¡Cielos!

Discussion Topic

Have you sought support to help you find the good in grief? Jack’s in-depth article describes how unprocessed grief can greatly contribute to the addictive process. He explains how support in SA, especially from an understanding sponsor, helped him discuss the losses in his life and cultivate gratitude.

By |2025-09-08T11:33:26-05:00June 7, 2025|Comments Off on Discussion Topic

SA is My Family, as Most People I Loved Are Dead

As this headline suggests, I have lived through the deaths of my large childhood extended family, where I lived and thrived. Then, in midlife, my beloved husband died tragically. My circle shrank to my parents and grandmother, but in 2020, my cherished father and grandmother both died in lockdown, with all the severe trauma that involved at the time. Even my former acting-out partner will be dead by now.

By |2025-09-05T13:19:30-05:00June 7, 2025|Comments Off on SA is My Family, as Most People I Loved Are Dead

Bringing Us Together

"Have you worked the Steps on this issue?" Sylvia asked me that question regularly when she was my sponsor. The question stays in my head, and it comes to the surface when my Higher Power knows I need help. Seven women received many wise suggestions from Sylvia as our sponsor or as our friend. We united in our grief to have an online memorial, a memorial on Zoom, and a memorial published in the June ESSAY magazine. Sylvia passed away in October 2024. One of the women interviewed me and Sylvia's former sponsees and friends to paint a picture of her gifts of experience, strength, and hope.

By |2025-09-05T13:19:34-05:00June 7, 2025|Comments Off on Bringing Us Together

Lifetime of Tears

I have a lifetime of tears that are trapped like an ocean, deep within the inside of me, The pain and the fears, and a lingering notion that one day they'll all be set free. But for now, as new tears are gathered and added deep behind an impenetrable wall, The pressure increases as the stability decreases, awaiting the eventual fall.

By |2025-09-07T15:43:45-05:00June 7, 2025|Comments Off on Lifetime of Tears