How do I find contentment in life

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<b>fibiray</b> - Wed 04 Jan, 2006 9:15 am<br />
<b>Post subject: </b>How do I find contentment in life<hr width=95% class="sep"/>
I came from an alcoholic home which was very violent and in which I was scapegoated on all the time. My father was an alcoholic while my mother was just a plain lunatic. My brother was the vilent one. I find that the past can still occupy my thoughts and I can remember something that happened 2 years ago like it was yesterday. There seems to be no distance with some things. Is this Post traumatic stress? As a child one of my survival skills was escapsim into fantasyland which I truley believed had saved me from committing suicide. Unfortunately I carried this into adulthood and find that when I am either bored or disgruntled with certain aspects of my life, this I find I guess soothing. How do i break this habit? <hr />
<b>jbradleybell</b> - Wed 04 Jan, 2006 12:32 pm<br />

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fibiray,
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I feel compassion for you. Growing up in abusive and dysfunctional families can be traumatic and many do indeed develop PTSD. Chidren need nurturing and when there is none the inner child, the soul, is wounded. When wounded the inner child develops coping mechanisms for survival. These coping mechanisms, when carried into adulthood, can cause problems. Recovery from this damage will take time and effort. I strongly recommend finding a therapist that deals with PTSD and attendance of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) meetings. Of course, continue to participate in this forum. and let us know how it's going.
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Brad
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For more help visit: <a href="http://jbradleybell.com" target="_blank" class="postlink">J Bradley Bell LADAC CCFC</a> <hr />
<b>Clean42day</b> - Sat 14 Jan, 2006 9:04 pm<br />

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I found some level of it by working the steps, and through meditation.
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I use the affirmation: &quot;I rest in God&quot; and by that I mean emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.
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My experience is contentment cannot be found &quot;out there&quot; it has to be discovered from within, by peeling layers away to find my spiritual center.

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The beliefe that I am a beautiful child of God, created perfect, whole and complete helps. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I was a child of God before I became co-dependent, acoa, an addict, or any other label I attach to myself. Those labels no longer &quot;define&quot; me. Once I began this journey of recovery.....I began to find not only who I am, but also who I am not.
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the journey towards your &quot;inner self&quot; &quot;higher self&quot; or &quot;spiritual self&quot; is a long one...but not impossible....it just takes effort and work.

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I don't think anyone can be content all the time....we all have desires, wants, and needs.....I just try not to place the conditions of my contentment anywhere outside myself. expectations that somehow my outer life, circumstances, or people in my life will fulfill me is a trap and a disappointment waiting to happen.
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The only thing that makes me fully content is my relationship with a loving divine creator.
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just my experience
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hope this helps.
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as I said b4 &quot;I Rest in God&quot;.
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Gail
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<img src="images/smiles/15.gif" alt="pray" border="0" /> <hr />