Saturday, September 25, 2010

Blogging about Recovery

Blogging about recovery is a funny thing.  I have found that although my thoughts reach a mere few of the millions out there, I am disappointed in the low level of interaction among those in recovery in the blogosphere.  I am not specifically referring to my own blog, but the many that I have visited over the past six months.  Business blogs, writing blogs, political blogs, news blogs, fashion blogs and many more all display a huge amount of active networking and sharing of ideas, opinions, and resources compared to recovery blogs.  Why is that?  Is it easier for people to share and converse about superficial and less taboo subjects than about the pain and vulnerability of admitting and sharing about their weaknesses, faults, and struggles in life?  I suspect so. 

If anyone needed support and encouragement, whether in the "real" world or the online world, it is especially those struggling with the affects of alcoholism, mental illness, and the like.  Where is that support?  Why isn't it available in a thorough and consistent way like it is in other facets of life?  Is it too hard for people to devote their mental and physical energy to such topics as spirituality and character development other than during Sunday church services?  Is it "not fun" to look at ourselves, share ourselves (our "real" selves) with others in a spirit of love and service without excepting anything in return?  Is it that other topics, such as news and fashion, affect the masses while addiction, illness, and recovery affect only a small minority of the people out there?

These are just some things I have been thinking about the last few days.  I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic, that is, if you care enough to share.

12 comments:

  1. Marie i can say this...your blog and others like Enchangte Oak, and more have been such a blessing for me...having gone through the things i have over the last couple of years with my son...it can be hard because people just don't always understand the struggles and feelings that come with dealing with drug addiction or alcoholism in a family. You sharing your lessons through AA and the 12 step program are necessary for me...i have been meaning to e-mail you...i am such a procrastinator! Plus i do not have a computer at home...am working on getting one within the next couple of months...Thank you for all your support and guidance...your blog is a blessing!
    I love your new layout look as well!
    :-)

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  2. I know how you feel! keep doing what you're doing though :)

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  3. I hear ya! I had a blog when I was actively using. A lot of my writing was dark and painful. I had a good number of followers and plenty of interaction. Now, in my recovery, I have started a 12 step blog. I have had no interaction and my only follower is a friend and fellow blogger. I have to remember that my current blog is for my own benefit. I do feel that I would benefit more with some interaction though! :)

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  4. I can only tell you that for my own experience, I have an active and colorful world which includes interaction with bloggers, online meetings, face to face fellowship and service and lots of outside activities in seeking to be more understanding of grace and mercy outwardly and inwardly.

    I'm absolutely amazed at the closeness of the network that has grown up about me in the bloggosphere. While there isn't a huge long conversation going on in each blog, over time the blogs meld together into a greater conversation and experience as we are challenged and inspired by our fellow blogger's personal experiences.

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  5. Some of the problem may be distraction- simply too much in the possibility realm-
    of course there is the fear, trust issues too. For me there is also the Savvy quotient- I have very little.
    Another bit is 'replies'- taking the time to respond. Doing it promptly.
    Since denial is such a factor in recovery, online maybe the easier softer way, for some.Sure we can zing 'em.
    But they can take a cyber trip pretty quick and lose the feeling.
    I still try to identify not compare
    and call a spade a spade when I can.
    Too many of us w/ isms. Unless the pain drives us to seek relief-at any cost...That is why mayhap there is such a small percentage who make it in recovery-Heep listening and caring!

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  6. This is something I've wondered about as well. When a friend and I set up our blog we saw it as a forum for discussion of some of the basic issues in recovery, issues that don't often get discussed in meetings, mainly for lack of time. That is still our goal and it is working to a degree, but now, 4 months into it, I'm seeing the blog as a forum in the sense that a meeting is a forum. We share without any expectation of a reaction or response (but, of course appreciating them if they come). We just put it out there, trusting that somehow, somewhere it will be of some benefit to someone.
    And eventually, usually in some absurdly indirect way, we do hear some distant reverberation.

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  7. Izzy, you have many good points. Thank you.

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  8. I don't know the reason that more don't comment or share. I suspect that time is an issue. People are busy with their lives, their pain in some cases and their solution in others. I like sharing the solution but find that I get more comments when I write about the painful things that happen--loss of a pet, being down, a death,etc. Is it the "rubberneck" response, i.e. people like to read about the drama in the lives of others? Maybe that is part of it. I would much rather share the solution and not the pain. We all have pain of some kind--physical, emotional and spiritual. But to take action to work on a solution, now that takes some real work. Great topic.

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  9. I think the quality of the sharing has declined over the last couple of years. We used to have a community, it was small, but we all interacted - a lot. Many of us have moved on, many of that group are no longer sober.

    I also think that for those who remain from that time, we are actually suffering from a bit of PTSD after a very abusive man plagued us for years. There is still a feeling of dread that he may return. Sadly, it does affect what you write when you think it may be cut and pasted - then mocked - all over the internet.

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  10. oh my goodness, MC. That is terrible. Thank you for your insight. I greatly appreciate it and can understand your fear.

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  11. I think you nailed it. We are uncomfortable when you take away all the surface fluff and get down to the nitty gritty. People in my own family love to talk about anything but feelings, trials, problems etc. They would have to get real and that scares them to death, so they avoid it. The sad thing is once you do face your fears and the truth, life is so much more worth living. It just takes belief in your HP and having the courage to "walk the walk". Excellent blog!

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  12. I read but don't always leave comments. I certainly don't want to be an advice giver. I've been doing this longer than most and have seen it run in cycles. It is what is is.

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Thank you for sharing!