Ask Big Daddy Fin... The I've been away for about 5 years edition

[BigDaddyFin]

open thread.  Ask what you want.  Remember that no matter if we disagree I still value what you have to say. 

[Tenshot13]

Where have you been?  Why the long break?

[BigDaddyFin]

There's a lot of reasons Tenshot. 

I'm an addict.
I got run out of the place I lived by people who betrayed me.
I lost my wife.

I found myself after a number of years. 
I found that rivals are blessings not curses.
I've seen times change, and while I don't always want to change with them, I've seen the value in thinking in new ways

[Phishfan]

Are you back on your feet? Sounds like there were some tough times while you were away. Did you seek addiction treatment or do a cold turkey thing or did you not address it at all?

[BigDaddyFin]

I never really got off my feet Phishfan.  I always had a job or had money coming in one form or another.  Most of my family turned their back on me for one reason or another, and these were people who swore they would always be around.  That hurt the worst.

As far as my addiction, I tried AA for awhile. AA was not the right format for me.  If you find value in it, if it keeps you straight, By all means use it.  I'm not anti- one method vs. another.  I do better in a small group of three or four or even better one on one so I had to find the right psychologist and get in with people who understood what I was going through.