Goodness, FancyFree, your post brings up memories for me. Like others who have posted here, I had no idea that there "diagnoses" for my emotional states until I stopped numbing myself with drink and drugs, which I did for close to 20 years. Quite the party girl was I.

Of course we don't know how to socialize normally without our crutches, because after all, with whom have been hanging out? Other cripples!

As stated by others here, you are way ahead of the game by getting clean and sober early. I'm sure you've already heard this saying -- The program is simple, but nobody ever said it's easy.

I have the utmost respect for what you are doing. Please keep going, even though it is challenging.

I love dogs better than humans, too -- and I've been sober 20 years.

Keep going!