Abbie Who??

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"Before"

Welcome to abbie in wondrland! Come on in and pull up a toadstool! 😉

This blog will be a record of the internal and external meanderings of a 50-something young woman, in long-term recovery from addiction and mental illness.

I’ll be sharing the ways I’ve learned to get through just about anything clean & sober, and my experiences before, during and after breaking up with “John Barleycorn” and The Dopeman.

It’s been an incredible trip (pun intended):
I was born into a family whose history includes generations of alcoholism and codependency, and from which I learned to force round pegs into square holes, and then apologise if you didn’t like what I was wearing.
For over 20+ years clean and sober, it’s kept getting better, as long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other, 24 hours at a time, and letting God be God.

Won’t you grab a cup and have some coffee -or tea- with me? I’m looking forward to having some interesting chats with all who care to join me. Oh, and I’m always looking for your experience, strength and hope, to share with my blogtastic tribe of readers! Send me a note (abbiewirick.at.gmaildotcom) if you’d like to do a guest post, and/or if you’re looking for a guest poster on your blog!
P.S.
Don’t mind the Cheshire cats.
If you’re getting something out of this blog, by all means, feel free to chip in on a cup of coffee for a tired writer! Just Hit this!
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***Please note: While nominations/awards are REALLY really appreciated, I’m not very good at doing all the things included with them, so please don’t. You can let me know if you thought about it, but…get someone who will be more fun than I. Thanks!***

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58 responses to “Abbie Who??”

  1. Well, I am not sure if your REAL name is Abbie, but I appreciate the visit to my recovery blog. As I read your About page here, sounded like I was reading about ME! LOL.

    I too am a 50 something young at heart woman who just happened to become entangled in a full-blown gambling addiction and alcohol abuse on the side. I celebrated 9-years from “The Bet & Martini’s” … I am enjoying reading your posts here and am now following “-)

    I have attended many, many Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and I so agree what you wrote in your post about the 12-Step Anonymous Program. One other thing they tell us is, “that we can recover without knowing why we turned to gambling addiction in the first place.”

    Well, I never agreed with this because I and many DO find some of the underlying issues of why we did. And I wrote about it all of it in my current book on Amazon, Be it from treatment, therapy, or counseling, some learn why. I was using gambling to numb out, escape old childhood trauma and abuse. Also parental disciplinary abuse verbally and physical. Another slogan I don’t agree with? “Meetings Make It.” … No, just going to meetings don’t make recovery successful.

    Doing the work and I like to call, “the inside job” which includes supportive meetings make recovery successful. Too many want recovery without doing the work, or the 12-steps or what choice a person picks to help them recover.

    That’s just my “2 cents worth, now I’m broke!” LOL.

    Author & Recovery Columnist for In Recovery Magazine
    Catherine Townsend-Lyon 🙂 🙂

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    • Hi, Catherine, thank you for stopping by! I agree with you. I am so much more committed to recovering since I have a grip on the things that initially sent me looking for an escape. I’m not sure if I really cared “why” early on, but I’m grateful to have stuck around long enough to figure it out! 🙂
      I agree that it takes much more than just making it to meetings, for sure! At the same time, “those who don’t go to meetings never find out what happens to those who don’t go to meetings “!
      It takes so many different tools for ME to manage, and I can really only speak with authority on my own experiences.
      But, it is the nature of the addictive personality, isn’t it, to want everything “now” and certainly without having to work for it. lol

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  2. Love your about post, your URL title as well as how differently your blog is set out, stands out from many i have come across. Looking forward to reading more content in your blog.Cheers 🙂

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  3. Oh dear…the Chesire Cat just sold me your blog…one of my absolute favourites, not just the cat but Lewis Carrol and the film adaptations…I feel this might be because all the best people are mad…if Alice says so it’s true in my book … Although my books aren’t quite so mad 😇

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  4. Hey Abbie! Found your blog when you liked a comment of mine in Gary’s blog. And hey since I am a cat lover and you have cat picture. I figured perfect match, right? And I am glad I did. Reading you blogs, I am like, Oh my God, she sounded just like me. I am also starting a new on this writing journey and also got a lot on my plate. But hey writing about it easier, I know it will. I am sincerely looking forward to read and be part of your journey! Officially following you!

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  9. Abbie, I hope all is well. I am here because of a quote challenge hurled my way unexpectedly and you are now victim of my last theme on this challenge….I won’t say why but urge you to look as all will out as they say. I’ve had you in mind ever since day one but knew this was the sequence for you…it’s not obligatory just a but of fun…I rather over embellished it because I ramble !

    https://fictionisfood.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/quote-challenge-day-3/

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  11. Love this blog and your writing. You do a great job and love to hear your perspective. Thank you so much. My blog I started is about my recovery from my divorce, narcissistic abuse, drug and substance abuse, and getting my life back together. I am grateful to read other people’s writing. It helps a lot. Very talented and wise!

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    • Hi!! I’m so glad you came by! I just revisef that age to be a little more informative, so I’m glad you like it! 🙂 Janice really has the best parties!

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  15. It was a pleasure meeting you at Jacqueline’s blog party. It’s always good when fellow bloggers can meet up to learn about other bloggers or simply meet up. Thanks for following my blog today as I have followed yours as well. I’m sure the journey will be enlightening.

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    • Thank you for such kind words. After wreaking so much havoc for so many years, giving back to others is only right, I think. And I gope I can use my story to spare the next person some pain. 🙂 Thanks for coming by! Be sure to come back!

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  22. Hi Abbie. What a nice introduction, very welcoming. I’m Laurie and just recently started blogging. One of my reasons was to find people like you, who share similar experiences. I’m also in recovery and am experiencing mental illness. Looking forward to reading more. Thank you 🙂

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  23. Abbie, I love the concept of your blog!

    I hope this finds you doing well.

    I see you have been a follower of “A Way With Words.” Great! Thank you.

    We have now transformed into, “Delight in Disorder: Faith & Mental Illness” (delightindisorder.org). I hope you will join us there. On the left sidebar, there is a box (below “Get More Delight”) for subscriptions so you can get the most of our mission.

    Take care & God bless,
    Tony

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