Hi there all, thank you for having me. I'm glad this board is here. 

I've been to quite a few local f2f Al-Anon meetings, so I understand a little bit about how Al-Anon works, sponsorship and what the Steps are.

My issue is that I'm now partially home-bound, so it's been difficult to get to f2f meetings. So, I've been looking for online meetings, to see if I can begin this program at least more than, you know, not doing anything at all.  I very much recognize that I need help in how I'm responding to the alcoholic in my life. I'm tired of my first thought in the morning being about them, and subsequently waking up angry over it. I also don't know how to stop.

I have the book "Hope For Today", which I love. It's so comforting and encouraging.

I was just wondering if there's a second book y'all would recommend, to perhaps begin working this program, or at least understand it, since I'm home so much. Just so no one takes this wrong, I know that I need to have a sponsor to work the Steps, so I'm not looking to go all gung-ho and try to do this all by myself, lol. It's just that Al-Anon has so much literature that it's a little daunting to know where to start, lol.

Please and thank you.

Welcome Della I love the small bookmark: "Just for today". It gives suggestions on how I can respond in a healthy manner "Just for today".
I also love the book Bethany recommended as well as:" Alcoholism the Family disease "
We have on line meetings here in the chat room 2xs a day that are very helpful. Here is the web address:  http://www.12stepforums.net/chatroom2.html

Please do keep coming back

Hi Della,

Just wanted to welcome you. Alanon has a few other popular daily readers as well - Courage to Change and One Day at a Time in Alanon. I like Hope for Today very much too. Aside from daily readers, I would recommend Paths to Recovery for working the 12 steps in the Alanon way. It's almost a self-study because each chapter explains the step, offers personal experiences of members and then asks the reader to answer questions related to the step. I have a lot of CAL approved literature but I would say that as much as I love my daily readers, if I could only own one book, Paths would be my choice because it allows me to revisit those questions related to the steps and see where I have grown and where I still may need to do some program work. 

I'm sure others will share their favorites. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Alanon books. Hope you'll keep coming back to share your recovery. TT

Aloha Della and welcome home.  My wife and I; both members of the AFG have a whole library of Al-Anon Literature including duplicates (hers and mine) copies and then other issues.  It's best reading for us because we get something out of the readings.  My favorite, favorite is the one day and a time daily because it was the first one I crammed into myself upon finding the program and besides the subject matter index focus my needs.  Keep coming back!!   ((((hugs)))) 

Thank you so much for the warm welcomes and recommendations!

I have a sponsor in a different 12 Step program, and she suggested, after I posted this, that I ask for anything related to dealing with family members, too. The active alcoholic in my life is my sister, and she's abusing my niece and nephew, aged 12 and 11. I and others have called our local child protective services many times, the kids get interviewed and then nothing seems to happen. I feel powerless to stop it or help them, except to spend time with them, validate them and what they're going through, and love them. Right now, it just feels like that's not enough.

Hence, the angry. Which ends up messing with my serenity. So, she thought that might be a good place to start.

I couldn't find the book "Alcoholism: A Family Disease". It looks like it's maybe out of print?

I do have an old Al-Anon book, published in 1973, called "Living with an Alcoholic, With the Help of Al-Anon". Anyone here read that? It sounded like what my sponsor may have been meaning, but just wondering if folks have read it.

Paths To Recovery sounds awesome. :) That sounds like what I'm lookin' for.

I appreciate all this help!

Iamhere wrote:

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Welcome to MIP Della - glad you found us and joined right in! I can't think of too much else beyond what's been recommended above me but did want to welcome you to the family! I've not yet done this but know of others here who are home bound that go look for speakers on the internet. I've heard really good things about these - just another thought/suggestion.

Hope your home confinement is temporary and glad to have you here! Keep coming back!

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 Speakers!!! What a great idea!! I hadn't even thought of that! Thank you so much! I am using too many exclamation points! 

Sister all of those are helpful and supportive the "Family disease is very informative" and just a suggestion ...all Al-Anon Meetings are "open meetings" except when indicated that they are not and those are usually business meetings.   You can go...find the hot line number in your local white pages and call to find the where and when and go sit in.  Alateen is a part of the Al-Anon Family Groups and you can find information for the kids there and since this is a family disease that could be contentious.  If the kids are curious and above the age of 12-13 they could make the contact.   I use to sponsor Alateen meetings  which became a huge part of my own sanity and sobriety.   In support.  ((((hugs)))) 

Yeah Jerry, like I said in my first post, I'm partially home-bound. I've found some wonderful Al-Anon meetings locally - just hard to go right now. 

I give rides to people in the fellowship who are disabled or ride-less as mostly we are going in the same direction for the same reason.  Call and ask the family.  (((hugs))) 

Jerry, it's not the getting there that's the problem - it's the staying there. I'm dealing with relentless chronic pain, and depending on the day, going to a meeting is just not an option. I am also committed to another 12-Step program, and those meetings take precedent. I'm doing the best I can with the situation I'm in.

Thank you for the suggestions. At the same time, these are the choices I'm making, to take care of myself, with the help of wise counselors in my life. I'm pretty set up for what I need to do.

ETA: I looked through the book I have "Living with an Alcoholic, with the Help of Al-Anon", and I think it may be old version of "Paths to Recovery", lol. I ordered the "Paths To Recovery", which will get here by next Thursday. Thank you for the book suggestions - I have a list now, as my budget opens up. :)

We have similar stories and journey.  You know how to work it and I am in support of that as my journey is also supported.  One day at a time.   ((((hugs))))