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Ever wonder if meetings work?
(Preview)
Went to a great f2f meeting today where I was given the opportunity to share what I felt. Tonight for the first time in several years I don't feel a terrible pain/ grief about my situation. I don't know if it will last as I am accoustomed to waking and going to sleep feeling like I need to "make a decisi...
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glad
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5
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629
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friggin frustrated
(Preview)
hi family, Most business obstacles do not get me to tears and frustration. About six months ago I wanted to do a loan mod.I had to put handicapped access things in my home.I need them for about 25% of my life right now. Most were outside. The Mortgage company made mistake after mistake. I called a lot bec...
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debilyn
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6
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340
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Nice having days where I don't think about it
(Preview)
Yesterday I just had a great day - didn't think about my AH and our problems at all. He seemed to be in the same frame of mind, so we actually had a decent evening together. No sulking, no "silent treatment", no residual anger permeating the atmosphere.
Of course we both got tied up watching...
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Aloha
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3
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413
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Didn't realize
(Preview)
Maresie was posting recently about wanting someone to come and take her away, to protect her and make everything better. I just realized today that I have been wanting the same thing. I have been telling myself that I am not enabling my AH by not pitching in with our business. I tell myself that if I start...
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babysteps
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4
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323
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First AA Meeting HELP!
(Preview)
My boyfriend just went to his first AA meeting. Anyone have any suggestions on how to show support/ love, give enough space when he gets home? Okay nevermind I guess, he just walked in with AA book and some kind of coin in one hand and a six pack in the other- I am not kidding. Oh well back to focusing on only m...
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glad
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7
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332
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When I thought Al-anon was dumb....
(Preview)
a couple years ago my dad told me that if I loved my AH and wanted to stay with him, then I should join Al-anon. I had no idea what al-anon was.... and I thought it could not help me. I had the idea that al-anon were for people who chose to stay in a relationship and were weak for doing it. I thought to myself,...
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CJ098
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7
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670
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Compulsion and Desire...
(Preview)
Hi folks I am looking at Compulsion and Desire and trying to work out where fear fits into these, ifindeed it fits at all. Compulsion suggests that I have no self control over something/need, I must have/do whatever, whereas Desire suggests that I do have self control and it is a yearning, a 'I would li...
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Heartbroken
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5
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684
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FEELING POWERLESS AND HURTING....
(Preview)
((((((((((((((Guys))))))))))))) You might remember i had a relationship with someone a few weeks ago. And got scared and ended it because he was kind, caring, considerate, loving, and i had never experience that before from a guy. I have regretted it ever since. I hurt him, in a way i shouldn't hav...
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ally
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8
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430
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He calls after 8 years
(Preview)
My daughter's father called and left a message on my answering machine. He found out where we live and my phone number. It's been 8 years since I have seen or heard from him. The last time I saw him he was on drugs and drinking, was physically and verbally abusive. I had to get supervised visitation due to h...
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kissers
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9
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579
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Will I stay strong this time?
(Preview)
I have no understanding of being scared of being close none at all I only see it as control and being mean and withholding. It hurts so much. I'm telling my A he can go this morning. 4 years of being loving, open, always wanting what's best for him and being told that I am the opposite (because of his progra...
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glad
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4
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400
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Doing his legwork
(Preview)
Well, I haven't been able to post for a while and I have missed you all! I don't know if you remember that I ordered a replacement keyboard for my laptop off ebay- well, the guy has disappeared and I am disputing the charge so still no computer at home. Also, my motor blew up in my Jeep last week- cannot eve...
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Codependent
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12
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337
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Good Video of some of our characteristics as Al-Anon's
(Preview)
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John
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1
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518
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Not just the once; however I have a dicotomny.
(Preview)
Good afternoon family, When I first came here I thought that I would be walking the steps, just the ONCE. Now, almost six months later I realise that I will be walking them many times. It has also come as a complete surprise to realise that as a result of the moral and searching inventory of myself that I be...
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Heartbroken
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2
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468
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March Business Meeting Minutes!!
(Preview)
March Business Meeting Minutes: MIP Business meeting, held March 2, 2008. Chair opened meeting with the Serenity Prayer 1st thing on agenda was the Secretary's report: February minutes were accepted as written. Next on Agenda was Treasury report: Dot was unavailable so it was tabled until...
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serenity62
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0
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270
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Do I set the alarm clock?
(Preview)
Okay, I got home from school tonight and I have to be up at 5am to go to work. My AH goes to school too. He drinks on his breaks from class, because there is a liquor store in the same area the school is in. So, he left class early and I was already done, we left to go wait at the bus stop(we don't have a car). He...
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CJ098
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8
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741
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Sobriety Statistics (the great debate)
(Preview)
I noticed that Toby Rice Drews, author of the "Getting Them Sober" books, recently published the following summary of "sobriety statistics". I'm confident that Toby would have no issue with me re-posting this here, and also would agree that statistics such as these are tou...
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canadianguy
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14
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5972
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My solutions
(Preview)
The meeting with the counseling place went well last night, the girl and I were instant friends which usually results in better service (sorry to say but it's true). She was very supportive of me, reinforcing what all of you have said about me not being a horrible mother. She has said that they provid...
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carolinagirl
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10
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311
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You're not gonna believe this..wait I forget who I'm talking to!
(Preview)
I was on the phone with the principal at the school trying to set up a morning meeting and my cell phone rings and it's the A. He calls to "thank" me for letting him see the kids yesterday and inform me that he slept on the beach last night - good thing it wasn't in the 30s as it has been lately - and t...
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carolinagirl
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11
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570
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Let go and let GOD....
(Preview)
Having a rough night tonight....AH got his police report tonight on his OUIL, found out that he may be charged with more than a first offense, which means he could be sent to jail. HE is angry and frustated and wants to fight his ticket...I am just trying to LET GO AND LET GOD. As he ranted and raved abo...
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tma0413
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4
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624
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It's ALWAYS something!!
(Preview)
Regardless of how much I am trying to use the tools and deal with my son, it is always something. Right now and for the past two weeks it is where he wants/needs/can live. Since his divorce( 2 years ago) and losing a beautiful home in that process, he has lived in motel rooms, an efficienty above a laund...
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omajoy
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8
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325
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Intervention on me intervening in AH
(Preview)
In class today a large part was spent on alcoholics and recovery based methods. I was in tears a few times. Can't really explain why. Guess sometimes I just realize what I'm up against. The teacher mentioned staged intervention and thought it was a good thing, just really reccomended having profess...
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RainyJamie
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4
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470
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partner of an AA member and grandchild of an alcholic - do I belong?
(Preview)
Hi all, My partner is a member of AA and has been sober for five years. He has not drunk since we've been together, and I haven't been affected by his drinking. I would like to develop healthy thinking habits so I can support his sobriety, and that we can have a healthy life together. I've attended a couple...
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jemimap
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11
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578
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Wow - this is a great read
(Preview)
In my desparation to ground myself and stop obsessing about everything I think my AH is doing wrong, I decided to read some of the materials on about.com found here: http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/info2/a/aa010315a.htm I've only managed to get to Part 6 - Why Do They Stay, but so much of th...
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Aloha
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5
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566
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Do you try to over analyze people or events?
(Preview)
One of my greatest (lets call it) "character defects" was constantly trying to analyze everything and everybody. I was in constant turmoil with my thoughts thinking way too hard on why people act the way they do, when clearly it was none of my business all along. But no, here I was trying to g...
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gardengal
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9
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885
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Would help so much to have feedback please
(Preview)
NO doubt this will seem like a small silly question with so many people going through serious issues but I'm gonna ask it anyway since it has been on my mind for a while. A while back my A and I went to a "self help" type seminar which turned out to be a total disaster for our relationship since it w...
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glad
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7
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555
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I'm at the end of my rope!
(Preview)
I just got a call from my daughter's school she needs, needs needs. This is the one who is constantly acting out. The teacher caught me on the phone and said she's probably going to fail and have to repeat the 3rd grade this year. She never does homework, she doesn't participate in class, etc. I am at m...
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carolinagirl
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19
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741
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Live and let live
(Preview)
My one remaining cat Ruby is really having a hard time mourning her companion, Benny's passing. She cries a lot and goes into a panic when the dogs are out in the yard. Lately she's been wandering round the yard. I think she is looking for Benny. Thank goodness I am at place in my program where I can give her...
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maresie
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3
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282
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RE"anger
(Preview)
Tks for the sincere posts of you in regard to my anger issue with my sister. This morning my Sister DID call me--I was so excited!! She finally called to tell me about my sister-in-law. Well it was more DRAMA about our mom....I listened and then I did tell her I was hurt that she could not communiate to me...
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meagain
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1
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264
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'I just want to give up and run for cover.' Believe me I know that feeling.
(Preview)
I just want to give a message of encouragement to anyone who is feeling like giving up and running for cover. Believe me, I know that feeling, I have been there and on many occasions I have been proved that I have been nearer to success than I have been to failure when I have experienced and felt the most lo...
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Heartbroken
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7
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454
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honesty
(Preview)
My boyfriend is an alcoholic. He is in rehab for the third time in 8 months. This last time he was out for two weeks and was drinking again within just a few days of being home. He then disappeared for about a week and a half and now went back in. I know that he is not being honest about things to me (I just found o...
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needhelp
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6
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380
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Angry
(Preview)
I know I should not be angry-but I am. My Mom lives in the samw city as my sister. So My sister basically is my Mom's #l caregiver. Mom is 82 but is fine i her own home. My sis in my opinion is very co-dependent. Her 2 adult married daughters are always at her home, eating, laying around etc.. with their kids,...
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meagain
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5
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407
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I didn't take the bait
(Preview)
Sheesh. Just now as I was reading some of the posts here, my husband finished up writing his separate check to pay rent.
After he hands me his check, he asks. "So are we still going to keep our money separate or what?"
I just said calmly... "Hmm. Yeah. For the time being."
&qu...
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Aloha
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10
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698
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So, what do you do if you DON"T people please?
(Preview)
Hi family, just a note of some thoughts and questions I have been having. I thought you might be able to help me out-
I have been thinking about an earlier post from Maresie about merging and people-pleasing and I began to wonder: what would it look like NOT to merge and people please but still connect a...
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Jean4444
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7
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496
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Dr Drew show on VH1
(Preview)
Does anyone watch this show. I have started watching that and sometimes catch Intervention too. I find it really helpful in identifying traits that used to absolutely cement me to the A. I can also find myself in absolute hyper reactive mode of should could woulda about others. I am amused in some...
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maresie
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3
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1394
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Update on Visit!
(Preview)
So Friday I'm at the restaurant getting ready to eat and the phone rings and it's him saying "what are you doing"... I'm about to eat lunch... mind you we were supposed to meet for lunch and I decided I wasn't going to call him back to schedule it and he never called me... So he says I just now go...
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carolinagirl
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8
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320
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Something this family should be proud of...
(Preview)
Something I think we can all be proud of within this family, is the fact that we accept how a person is feeling, where a person is at along their journey to recovery and let each other just be. At other times, we take each other by the hand and encourage each other, reaching out to keep each other from stumbl...
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Heartbroken
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3
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527
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lOST IT AGAIN
(Preview)
I am very upset right now because I just lost my temper big time with my son....had not done this for a few weeks and had been working so hard not to be drawn into things. But here we are. I am ashamed and embarrassed and my cheeks are actually burning, pulse still racing 45 minutes later, and not looking for...
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omajoy
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10
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412
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Anyone?
(Preview)
Is anyone here familiar with PSI - I don't know what it stands for, but it basically involves large group awareness training. Lou
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Loupiness
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3
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280
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What's in YOUR toolbox?
(Preview)
I really need to see a list of what people have in their al-anon toolboxs. What al-anon tools do you have in your tool box? I am really just seriously getting into the practice of making program phone calls when I feel myself starting to plummet.
so, here is my toolbox so far: 1.) attend as many face to fa...
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Jean4444
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10
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5459
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A Little Humor For Today
(Preview)
My mother called me this morning. She doesn't see very well without her glasses. Last night, she made a salad and used a new salad dressing. When she was finished eating, she went to place the bowl in the dishwasher and noticed she had eaten her salad using her dog's bowl. She thought maybe the crunchy st...
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kissers
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5
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534
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and here's the weekend........
(Preview)
Hello MIP family, I keep going some days only by the support and encouragement of this family. I know weekends can be tough for all of us so I thought I'd ask for a line of the week from all of you to review when I am detaching and trying to stay calm. As I take in something daily from al anon readings there s...
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ddub
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6
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423
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Grahhhh. What about ME?
(Preview)
I'm just having a moody moment.
Got off the phone with AH... he asked me to take him to the person's house where he's buying a moped during lunch. Fine. I'll take you. This whole time he's just chattering happily about doing this and that with the new moped, yadda yadda yadda...
And all I can think abo...
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Aloha
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3
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364
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AM I BEING CONTROLLING?
(Preview)
(((Family))) One of my weekly chores, is to fill the pill boxes for myself, my AH and my Mother in law. My AH is afraid to take his pills on days when he drinks. Before I started Al Anon, I was very controlling and would nag him about taking his pills every day because that way I would know he wasn't drinkin...
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cookie1971
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7
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311
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Read any good books lately?
(Preview)
Due to the recent activity here in England caused by one of my prayers being misunderstood, and at the suggestion of round3, this is a serious request. I have a problem with sleeping because of the continual dizziness [Vertigo]. My meds have been changed and I am back at the doctors next week if there i...
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Heartbroken
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14
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741
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light
(Preview)
Hi everyone, I found this group almost three months ago when my AH came home from work and asked for help. He had never gone a day without a drink for his entire adult life and had been an active user(morning drinker etc.) for the past few years. I was in active denial/protector mode myself...wonderin...
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Rakenjake
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5
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463
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About to give up on him....
(Preview)
Hi all, Thank you for the responses from the last post. Maybe I came off as a little strong, but I want to make it clear that I didn't set the alarm clock because it's not my responsibility to make sure he gets up to go to work drunk....... Anyways, I made a big mistake today. My AH has been drunk for so long,...
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CJ098
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4
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472
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Moral, immoral or just plain apathetic?
(Preview)
Some time ago I admitted to myself and my Sponsor whilst taking my searching and moral inventory of myself that I did not always tell the truth and this has really been pressing on my conscience ever since I admitted this. Down the years my birthday, Christmas, Mother's Days, Get Well times have never b...
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Heartbroken
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5
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540
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HUGS TO SPARE...LOVE TO GIVE...
(Preview)
So in need to give you all a hug...and so in need to be hugged. Today is one of those days! however I am knocking it down to size. I am NOT GOING TO LET IT PULL ME DOWN. Instead I am handing out hugs and love to anyone who needs some genuine heartfelt loving hugs. Some come and get as much and as many as you like...
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Heartbroken
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3
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407
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I've got a thick skull!
(Preview)
Just thinking tonight how sick I've stayed for so long. I think recovery is just starting to clear some of the fog that has been over my head for YEARS! I mean, with the denial (denial, denial, denial!) and making excuses, and enabling, and all of that that I did with the A. Looking back over the past,...
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round3
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10
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526
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Advice
(Preview)
I'm trying to figure out away to handle this situation. My fiancee has been stealing money from me to buy alcohol. I suspected him of doing this in the past but last night it was confirmed. i got off my work my friend was being very rude to me by calling me names. I told him he shouldn't disrespect me l...
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DANDTALWAYS
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26
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728
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Just want someone safe to listen
(Preview)
hello i have a situation brewing. Non program people wouldn't understand my issue here. I have a very good friend. She's seen me through the early days with my AH. She never judged me. She saw me through my separation and getting back together with my AH. She was a shoulder to cry on and I could vent withou...
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mon123
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4
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585
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Testing the water
(Preview)
I went out on a date on Saturday and pretty quickly gave up my boundaries. What was meant to be coffee became an all day thing. At first I was happy. That was the stuff of my dreams before. Merge merge merge. Now I am clear that I need a lot of help and feedback before I test the dating world again. So much for...
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maresie
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10
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430
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I'm in a dangerous place tonight
(Preview)
It seems no amount of Al-anon meetings and trying to be an understanding self-supportive person is doing me much good today.
Everything my AH is doing today just TICKS me off. I'm finding everything wrong with him, it seems.
He comes home from work late now that he got his moped today.
He gets all...
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Aloha
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5
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819
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Letting go one thread at a time
(Preview)
I went to my meeting and it helped, but I wasn't ready for some of it. They recommended that I talk to his probabtion officer. He is not a juvenile and I really don't know that it I should intervene. I try to have him settle all his legal issues, and he has decided not to get a license yet. Yes, we drive him or...
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digby
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4
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467
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now I'm getting paranoid..another phase?
(Preview)
My AH is acting all cool, saw him this evening on his way somewhere all dressed up and sober and I'm starting to get paranoid and ask myself all these questions. "What's he up to"? He will be here all day while I am away and I am scared that he's happy because he might be taking revenge on me for kic...
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silverbrumby
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6
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592
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Spooky
(Preview)
Thanks for all your responses to my post! I will end up keeping our kitty as long as I can. I just love her too much to give her up! My husband loves her, too, and would never want to give her up either. I hope I can take time outs more often and let her alone. I will be discussing anger issues with my counsel...
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Hoot Nanny
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2
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312
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Leaving Her Be
(Preview)
I knew that it would be hard for my AW to get sober again after 8 years clean. I was scared of the chronic slipper syndrome. So when I thought she was coming up on 10 months I was think wow she really beat the odds. Oh well. Found out she can hardly remember the last 3 weeks due to pill abuse. All I saw was a tired,...
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BatonRougian
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6
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403
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I know what I'm going to do.
(Preview)
After all the posts regarding my A and then the problems with my kids I have come to this conclusion. I have my own problems to deal with and my kids' problems to deal with and I don't have the time or energy to worry about whether he wants to see any of the kids or not. I'm not putting another ounce of energy i...
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carolinagirl
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9
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636
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March Business Meeting - This Sunday Night!
(Preview)
Hi family! This Sunday nite at 9pm EST is the time for our next Business meeting to be held in the MIP Chatroom! Come one, come all!!! Here is the agenda so far! MIP Al-Anon Business Meeting March 2, 2008 Open with Serenity Prayer Secretary's Report ...
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david62
|
0
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308
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Is this crossing the line?
(Preview)
The company I work for is a member of an association. I serve on the committee of this association and there are events I am supposed to attend. One of them is an upcoming gala. I asked my boss for a check for a ticket to attend. He asked me to take a male colleague who is an A. I declined and I suggested taking a...
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kissers
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5
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640
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