Al-Anon

Does Al-Anon Have Any Online Support Groups?

Yes, Al-Anon Family Groups definitely has on-line support groups for families of alcoholics. The on-line meetings are chat and bulletin board (list serv). There are also telephone meetings.

You might also want to listen to Al-Anon’s First Steps to Recovery podcast on the Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters,Inc.s Web site,http://al-anonfamilygroups.org/Podcasts/FirstSteps/ . The podcasts are on a variety of subjects and you will hear members talking about what happens at an Al-Anon meeting as well as on a variety of subjects.

On-line meetings are a great supplement to meetings in real time. I hope you will also consider going to a F2F meeting. It really helps to meet people face to face who understand what a family member of an alcoholic goes through. I knew I was in the right place at my very first meeting and what a relief it was for me to get help. I thought I was going crazy. Call 888-425-2666 for meeting information.

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Ever Have a Sibling/Family Member Go Thru Al-Anon?

My sister left her husband a few months ago and has been living with me ever since. I have a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo, so I had the room for her.

My sister left her husband because of his alcoholism. She tried to keep it hidden from everybody else, but after 3 years of marriage, it got too much for her. He wasn’t physically abusive towards her (I’ve seen her in her swimsuit and I’ve never noticed any marks/bruises/scars/etc on her) but she decided “enough is enough”. Since then, she’s been going through Al-Anon, which helps people who are friends/relatives/spouses of alcoholics.

My sister and I are pretty close (twins in fact) so I’m glad to help her out while she gets back on her feet. But every time I say something like “I could go for a beer right now.” she says things like, “That’s a sign of alcoholism.” Believe me, I am far from the road to alcoholism. There’s a difference between thinking the occasional beer would taste good and the absolute dependence on alcohol. Come to think of it, Susan mentions Al-Anon a lot, saying things like “That’s what they teach us” or “I’m learning this about alcohol.” In fact, she’s getting in everybody’s faces anytime anyone mentions alcohol.

I realize that Susan is going through a lot emotionally right now. What do I do or what should I say to her about alcohol? She should know that I’m not an alcoholic and she should know the difference between one who drinks to excess and one who has an occasional drink. Should I just let her speak her mind and get it out of her system? I support her decision to renounce alcohol (she says she’s never touching another drop of it for the rest of her life), but how do I get her to realize that the rest of the world isn’t going to stop for her?

 

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Al-Anon: A Place of Comfort

Living with an alcoholic is frustrating. You can feel very alone and abandoned.  Where can you turn? You need somewhere to go where you will be understood – where others have felt your pain.  Al-Anon is that place.

Members of Al-Anon have or are currently living the life you are.  They understand the fear, shame, and anxiety you feel.  They have been through all the stages – the fear, guilt, anger, etc.  They too have felt like a victim.

But Al-Anon offers comfort to those who come to the meetings.  By working the 12 steps you will learn to look within yourself to find healing.  Learn to overcome your codependent beliefs and learn to love yourself.

Just like in Alcoholics Anonymous, you will get a sponsor.  Someone you can call anytime you find yourself needing someone to talk to.  Al-Anon is people helping people at it’s finest.  Once you learn to overcome using the 12 steps, you want to help others.  You are obligated to help others – that is one of the steps, to help others along the way.

Al-Anon is about learning about yourself and how to change the way you react to what is going on in your life.  It is not a place to complain about the alcoholic/addict in your life – it is a place to rediscover you.  In a alcoholic relationship, healing begins with you.

Through Al-Anon you will realize that you are powerless over alcohol (and the alcoholic). You cannot make their choices for them, but you can choose how you react.  You will learn the tools you need to handle situations and you will become stronger.  Your life will take on new meaning and you will see the beauty around you once again.

For many people, going to Al-Anon is the first step to recovery of the alcoholic/addict in their life.  I will not promise that they will recover, but seeing you in a better place can have a positive effect.  Let Al-Anon become your place of comfort.

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Al-Anon – A Place of Hope

Just like Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of alcoholics, Al-Anon is there for the family. The spouse who is struggling with codependency will find hope and healing at Al-Anon.

Going to Al-Anon for the first time might seem a little strange if you don’t know what to expect. Al-Anon is not a gripe session – it is a healing session. You are not there to vent about the alcoholic you live with, you are there to begin healing. At an Al-Anon meeting you will find others that share your frustrations and trials, because they have lived them too. Maybe not your exact story, but one that is very similar.

Members of Al-Anon share their experiences and their hope. You will find members who have found happiness in spite of the alcoholism in their life – even if the loved one is still drinking. These members recognize the value of support and are there to help those who still struggle.

Al-Anon is a place for hope and healing for people struggling with codependency. You will not be judged – you will be accepted. You will not be blamed – you will be supported. You can find local meetings by searching for Al-Anon on the internet.

Like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon is based upon the Twelve Steps. Working through the Twelve Steps can help you see areas of your life that can be improved. You will also learn to separate yourself from alcohol by admitting that you are powerless over alcohol.

You are powerless over alcohol! You are not the one making the choice to drink. It is not your choice to make, the alcoholic is responsible for his or her’s own actions. You will come so far to overcoming codependency if you will admit that you are powerless over the alcoholics actions – and then really believe it!

Al-Anon is a wonderful organization that is helping millions of people all over the world. No matter where you travel, you will likely find an Al-Anon meeting you can attend. Al-Anon can and will help you overcome codependency!

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