aa versus alanon as in what to expect going to aa meetings? Instead of alanon meeting,only have aa meetings here in my small. Town,reason I'm asking since I'm alanon all the way,never drank or take narcotics.i know aa focuses on helping the alcoholic ,where alanon teaches us to focus on ourselves....just really trying to know what I'm to expect going to aa,and how is it going to be with me being only alanoner sitting there???? How should I go about it?? Should I decide to stay in aa meetings?? Lots of ?s regarding alanon versus aa.......thank you .........hugs lu
hotrod said
Oct 29, 2016
Hi LU I do believe that AA has"Open" meetings for people who are not alcoholics so they can explore the program and "Closed meetings for people who consider themselves alcohoilics. I know some double winners will respond to let you know the diffference.
maryjane said
Oct 29, 2016
Hi LU.
Remember that these are 2 very separate programs. The AA literature is not AlAnon conference approved, and our literature is not theirs. We have the same 12 steps, by design, but we approach them differently.
I had a friend who went to open AA meetings and the things they said in joking (remembering how stupid they acted) was to him not funny at all and triggered his PTSD for having lived through it stone, cold sober.....
Why not try to start your own AlAnon? You may sit alone for a few months reading your own literature or listening to a podcast or youtube of an AlAnon speaker. Eventually others will find you, or you will have a set time every week for meditation.
Take care of yourself
lookingup said
Oct 29, 2016
Thank you Betty for letting me know of their open meetings,and thank you maryjane for your insight and wisdom from both of you,yep that's what I'd be afraid of happening to me is triggers of the worst kinds,and that's a great thing that I can work on meetings,I could begin having them in my home then as it grew go somewhere else ,my home would work for a bit.im gonna keep that idea ,ponder more upon it,ty again........
Jerry F said
Oct 29, 2016
Maryjane's suggestion of thinking about opening your own Al-Anon meeting was also passed on to me years ago and it is not that difficult. The biggest difficulty was my fear to start with and then that went away also. I have founded meetings before and one thing that was important and still natural to the Al-Anon member was that when I reached out for help thru various avenues the fellowship came to our aid and the meetings are still going. Overcoming fear is a huge endeavor in recovery and this is one way of doing it. All of the literature and ESH is available thru Central Office and other registered meetings. Check it out. In support and willing to help. (((((hugs)))))
LinSC said
Oct 29, 2016
LU, that is what I did, I started my own meeting at the senior center on an evening that was open. I posted flyers, and sat there for two weeks straight until a couple showed up and then a few more several weeks after that. It was worth it. It was a small town of 1500 people and most people were embarrassed to be there, but when your hurting and need support you can usually deal with the shame. Linsc
lookingup said
Oct 29, 2016
Thank you Jerry and lins,15 yrs ago I did try to have meetings me and a Freind sat for 3 mths at a hospital that allowed us to have meetings there,maybe 1or 2 showed up ,today it may just work as lots have changed in this area,drugs and alcohol n crime has risen a lot since back 15 yrs ago,so this is probably a good time to begin a alanon meeting here............hugs lu
Hello all my alanon family here.
aa versus alanon as in what to expect going to aa meetings? Instead of alanon meeting,only have aa meetings here in my small. Town,reason I'm asking since I'm alanon all the way,never drank or take narcotics.i know aa focuses on helping the alcoholic ,where alanon teaches us to focus on ourselves....just really trying to know what I'm to expect going to aa,and how is it going to be with me being only alanoner sitting there???? How should I go about it?? Should I decide to stay in aa meetings?? Lots of ?s regarding alanon versus aa.......thank you .........hugs lu
Remember that these are 2 very separate programs. The AA literature is not AlAnon conference approved, and our literature is not theirs. We have the same 12 steps, by design, but we approach them differently.
I had a friend who went to open AA meetings and the things they said in joking (remembering how stupid they acted) was to him not funny at all and triggered his PTSD for having lived through it stone, cold sober.....
Why not try to start your own AlAnon? You may sit alone for a few months reading your own literature or listening to a podcast or youtube of an AlAnon speaker. Eventually others will find you, or you will have a set time every week for meditation.
Take care of yourself
Maryjane's suggestion of thinking about opening your own Al-Anon meeting was also passed on to me years ago and it is not that difficult. The biggest difficulty was my fear to start with and then that went away also. I have founded meetings before and one thing that was important and still natural to the Al-Anon member was that when I reached out for help thru various avenues the fellowship came to our aid and the meetings are still going. Overcoming fear is a huge endeavor in recovery and this is one way of doing it. All of the literature and ESH is available thru Central Office and other registered meetings. Check it out. In support and willing to help. (((((hugs)))))
LU, that is what I did, I started my own meeting at the senior center on an evening that was open. I posted flyers, and sat there for two weeks straight until a couple showed up and then a few more several weeks after that. It was worth it. It was a small town of 1500 people and most people were embarrassed to be there, but when your hurting and need support you can usually deal with the shame. Linsc
Yay!! (((hugs)))