Comments on: Young, Professional, Alcoholic http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:03:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chelsea http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Chelsea Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:58:12 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-853 Just stumbled on your blog, Holly. This post really speaks to me. I'm just in my early 20s, and for about a year and a half, most of my energy was devoted to a very time-consuming purging disorder. I've been conscious since adolescence about the perils of eating disorders, and never had any body-related insecurities. As it turns out, the experts are right, and I guess I found out that eating disorders (can sometimes be) symptoms of some other insecurity or anxiety. After 18 months of battling an addiction, which turns out to have been a crutch for coping with the stress that I was inviting into my life. I've since realized that I was feeling an irrational insecurity about my skills and abilities, so in true counterphobic fashion, I made college assignments & work-life balance much more stressful than they should have been by refusing to improve my time management and organization skills, and "managed" the resulting stress with the illusion of control that purging gave me. Thankfully, I snapped out of it one day in December 2008, and with two single relapses, have been 'sober'. Although addictions can't be cured, I'm thankful that I've been able to manage the relapse tendency, and like you and your mom, I can't imagine not being this person. As I rebuild the confidence in myself that I guess maybe I never fully had, I'm sharing my experience with friends and family. I'm conflicted though, because I'm not looking to burden others with the history of my ordeal, but I don't know whether this is the kind of thing that you tell new people in your life in order for them to get a sense of who you are. I like to think that the present version of myself speaks for me, but my experience is one of the defining components of who I am. Now that I've monopolized tons of comment space, I'll be sure to keep following! Solidarity, Sister! Chelsea Just stumbled on your blog, Holly. This post really speaks to me. I’m just in my early 20s, and for about a year and a half, most of my energy was devoted to a very time-consuming purging disorder. I’ve been conscious since adolescence about the perils of eating disorders, and never had any body-related insecurities. As it turns out, the experts are right, and I guess I found out that eating disorders (can sometimes be) symptoms of some other insecurity or anxiety.

After 18 months of battling an addiction, which turns out to have been a crutch for coping with the stress that I was inviting into my life. I’ve since realized that I was feeling an irrational insecurity about my skills and abilities, so in true counterphobic fashion, I made college assignments & work-life balance much more stressful than they should have been by refusing to improve my time management and organization skills, and “managed” the resulting stress with the illusion of control that purging gave me.

Thankfully, I snapped out of it one day in December 2008, and with two single relapses, have been ’sober’. Although addictions can’t be cured, I’m thankful that I’ve been able to manage the relapse tendency, and like you and your mom, I can’t imagine not being this person. As I rebuild the confidence in myself that I guess maybe I never fully had, I’m sharing my experience with friends and family.

I’m conflicted though, because I’m not looking to burden others with the history of my ordeal, but I don’t know whether this is the kind of thing that you tell new people in your life in order for them to get a sense of who you are. I like to think that the present version of myself speaks for me, but my experience is one of the defining components of who I am.

Now that I’ve monopolized tons of comment space, I’ll be sure to keep following!

Solidarity, Sister!
Chelsea

]]> By: WorkLoveLife » Blog Archive » Screw Resolutions – Give Your Year a Theme http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-819 WorkLoveLife » Blog Archive » Screw Resolutions – Give Your Year a Theme Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:25:12 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-819 [...] was the Year of Survival. I got sober in April (a late start to the year, I know), and basically just learned how to live all over again. This [...] [...] was the Year of Survival. I got sober in April (a late start to the year, I know), and basically just learned how to live all over again. This [...]

]]> By: WorkLoveLife » Blog Archive » How to Love Spending the Holidays Alone http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-816 WorkLoveLife » Blog Archive » How to Love Spending the Holidays Alone Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:08:50 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-816 [...] states. My ex-boyfriend and I had split back in April and I was still getting my bearings after 8 months of sobriety. And to add just a little extra something of fun, my birthday is 10 days before [...] [...] states. My ex-boyfriend and I had split back in April and I was still getting my bearings after 8 months of sobriety. And to add just a little extra something of fun, my birthday is 10 days before [...]

]]> By: Your Ill-fitting Overcoat http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Your Ill-fitting Overcoat Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:04:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-92 I want to send this post to everyone I know. Congratulations and thank you for sharing this. I want to send this post to everyone I know. Congratulations and thank you for sharing this.

]]> By: Blue http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Blue Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:59:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-91 Well done. Well done.

]]> By: Emily http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Emily Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:00:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-90 Holly, <br/>You are so brave to write about this; I know it isn't easy. There is a huge about of alcoholism in my family and my little sister became a drug addict and alcoholic in high school -- I think my family just passes along a gene for predisposition. She is smart, beautiful, funny, etc. but she let her lack of self-esteem turn her life into substance abuse hell. She hit rock-bottom and became sober a few years ago and has become so much stronger, wiser, and healthier than ever before. While what she went through was terrible, we all think she is a better person for it and has learned so many valuable lessons. It sounds like you feel the same way, and that's the best outcome there is. I'm really proud of you for overcoming this and for talking openly about it. Kudos to you! Holly,
You are so brave to write about this; I know it isn’t easy. There is a huge about of alcoholism in my family and my little sister became a drug addict and alcoholic in high school — I think my family just passes along a gene for predisposition. She is smart, beautiful, funny, etc. but she let her lack of self-esteem turn her life into substance abuse hell. She hit rock-bottom and became sober a few years ago and has become so much stronger, wiser, and healthier than ever before. While what she went through was terrible, we all think she is a better person for it and has learned so many valuable lessons. It sounds like you feel the same way, and that’s the best outcome there is. I’m really proud of you for overcoming this and for talking openly about it. Kudos to you!

]]> By: jennypro http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-89 jennypro Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:30:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-89 I am a 26 year old alcoholic too...It's ahard thing to conquer... the sparatic random thoughts of wanting to pick up but knowing it will get you no where...trying to live a life where most people tell you "it's just self control...not a big deal." You ought to be very proud of yourself. Thank you for making me stronger with my sobriety. I am a 26 year old alcoholic too…It’s ahard thing to conquer… the sparatic random thoughts of wanting to pick up but knowing it will get you no where…trying to live a life where most people tell you “it’s just self control…not a big deal.” You ought to be very proud of yourself. Thank you for making me stronger with my sobriety.

]]> By: Honey http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Honey Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:22:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-88 What a hard journey. I'm glad it took you to where you are now. The BF collects quotes...his current favorite is "No one knows what path leads to the best life," or something like that. What a hard journey. I’m glad it took you to where you are now. The BF collects quotes…his current favorite is “No one knows what path leads to the best life,” or something like that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Anonymous Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:22:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-87 good read. thank you for this. good read. thank you for this.

]]> By: The Dudes Dad http://worklovelife.com/2008/04/young-professional-alcoholic/comment-page-1/#comment-86 The Dudes Dad Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:10:00 +0000 http://holly.andrewnorcross.com/?p=26#comment-86 From a fellow alcoholic, I realize it can be tough to be so public with something like this. Congratulations on remaining sober and my thoughts go out to you in remaining so. From a fellow alcoholic, I realize it can be tough to be so public with something like this. Congratulations on remaining sober and my thoughts go out to you in remaining so.

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