Chance encounter with old mates

I recently bumped into an old friend I had lost due to my addiction. In the conversation he said things that offended me, basically inferring that I was of bad character. It made me so angry that it almost triggered me to use again. Thing is that this bloke is also mates with another really good mate who has been relatively supportive in my hours of need. I don’t want to see the first bloke at all but it would be inevitable if I keep in contact with the second. Any thoughts on how I should manage this situation to keep myself safe? Cheers

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You can’t control what other people think and do. Only thing you can control is you: what you think and do. Focus on gratitude: I’m grateful for the support I get from person A. No need to focus on what you don’t get from person B; it’s not helpful, to you or to person A or B, to think about that.

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Just keep on your journey. When we walk that good path all the light will shine on us when it’s needed. And remember, we are horrible people to be around in our addictions. I sure was! Just keep improving and tune him out. He might eventually come around when he see’s the work you have put in. If he keeps up with the negativity, then move on. This is your life

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Matt said exactly what I was thinking. You can’t control others but you can control your reaction. Show your new and improved character through your actions. Be kind and courteous when you come in contact. Life is too short to hold resentments.

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Welcome to the forum, looking at your sobriety date you are in the early days so firstly well done on making the decision to get sober.
It’s also extremely common for everything to feel massive right now and negative comments may really hurt.

Unfortunately for me this person would have been correct, when I drank I was different and often of “bad character” and while it hurt to hear something like this it can also be real to the other person which I had to accept, not hate myself or drink over but just accept.

They don’t really matter in the end but staying sober showed me who my real friends were and sometimes that can a surprise in itself :smiling_face:

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Thanks Lisa. I was actually pretty proud of how I did deal with it to be honest. In the past his comments would have baited me, hook Line and sinker. It’s a nice feeling to have clarity of mind. Enough to say to yourself I won’t be drawn in to this BS.

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I would just be repeating what others said, so I will just say welcome and good job for coming here to let of steam rather than be triggered into using. Accepting our past bad behaviour, and letting it be a lesson not a life sentence, is a hard thing to do. I know it is a work in progress for me.