Rehab Treatment | Finding the Other Person - Part 3

As I worked through my three month stay in rehab treatment, I found I was connecting with others, but still holding back some. I had major trust issues with opening up to a group of strangers. I could do it on an individual basis, but on a group level, well, that would take some time. This behavior, this lack of trust was nothing new to the counselor though and she understood, calling me out on it whenever she got the chance.

I'd finish with whatever I was saying and then stop. She'd respond..."And?" At first, I was stunned, I didn't understand what she meant because I hadn't scratched below the surface to confront my personal demons, my other person was hiding there somewhere; a fearful boy, hiding from the truth of who he was, and shameful of what he'd done under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

I did get the hang of talking in groups, although I was fearful. Most of the time I would sit and listen to the others, their stories of all the crazy, angry, hostile, and funny events of their lives. Honestly, I sort of felt they were bragging. Sort of like, "See what I was like? Now top that?" And maybe it was, but it wasn't for me to judge them, so I tried hard not to. I focused on listening to the truth in what they said. What I came to realize was that if they were bragging they were hiding just as much as I was. They too were having trouble finding the other person within.

Just one more reason for me to know I was in the right place.