I am in crisis. I'm New to ALANON. I need a sponsor. I'm in a horrible situation and my partner is a mess. Can someone help me please? I'm stuck during COVID in a large city. I am overwhelmed with ALANON and don't know where to start. I don't know what to do. Could someone help me? I feel so alone.
Crmans said
May 15, 2020
Im so sorry youre youre in this place. I dont have any input on a sponsor. I started al-anon after quarantine started so Im also new & without one. There are great people on this board with amazing resources.
Crmans said
May 15, 2020
Hit post too soon.....you are not alone. We are all here & so is H.P. :)
Maresie888 said
May 15, 2020
I started off here. I know that COVID has upped the rate of alcoholism
There is a lot of people here who know what you are going through. Whatever the details they will hear and validate you. .
Wherever you are you can check in here and let people know what you are doing
Why not start there.
I know people who love attending meetings by Zoom. There are meetings on the hour every hour.
That can help.
I know what it is to feel desoerate and lost.
That group really helped me out of that
They were very patient and kind.
Generally getting a sponsor is a process.
It takes getting to know certain people then being willing to ask. For some people it is a very long bond. Some sponsors dont work out. It is a tool of the program
I hope you will follow up and let us know how you are doing. You are welcome here.
Bettertomorrow said
May 15, 2020
Hello and welcome. There are others who will be able to give you better pointers than me, but I wanted to say you do not need to feel alone. So many of us, including me, have found support and understanding here on this board and in Alanon.
I am not sure which country you live in, but there are many on-line meetings you could attend and this board has been a great source of help to me.
When I very first started, I was a total mess and felt completely overwhelmed in my life. Meetings helped me, as did bit by bit reading the literature and thinking about how I could apply it to my life.
I am sure others who are more experienced than I am will come along and be able to provide more pointers, but in the meantime, I wanted to say welcome, you are not alone and I can empathise with what you may be going through. We have all trod a similar path and you will see from reading the stories here that there is hope, peace and serenity through working the programme.
((( )))) Joanne
Bo said
May 15, 2020
Alanon meetings across the world are now meeting virtually (zoom is the most common). Every major city in the US has meeting lists that are either online or available through various alanon resources. That said, find a meeting virtually. Make sure it's a conference approved, official alanon meeting. Almost every meeting I've attended virtually, at one point they ask if there are any newcomers/beginners. Tell them you are!!! They will help you...they will give you or direct you to a newcomers/beginners packet, they will provide you with a meeting list, and a telephone list...and if they don't...ask them for one!!!
Tell them you are looking for a sponsor. You might be surprised, during the meeting they may ask for people who are willing to be a sponsor to identify themselves. Or, you might have to ask them to point you in the right direction and they might tell you who is available. Better yet -- the best option -- listen, listen to those who share, who have been in the program for a while, who you like what they have t say, how they say it, what they have to say about how they've gotten better, about the program, and so on. You might feel some connection to them, or their situation. Perhaps their story is similar to yours. Perhaps not.
There are countless meetings out there. I've been to 3 in one day -- morning, noon, and evening. I went to a meeting in NNJ, NYC, Chicago, and LA, all in one day! They were great!!!
Good luck and all the best.
Iamhere said
May 15, 2020
Hey seeking - welcome to MIP. Glad that you found us and glad that you shared/reached out. I am glad to see you've had some exposure to Al-Anon. As you suggest you're in a large city, I encourage you to call your local Al-Anon office. Ours is answered by a volunteer who can help connect you with others local - for a meeting, a sponsor, a discussion, other.
If the volunteer is unavailable/on the phone, there's a answering machine/service. Leave a message, as all calls are returned. Your local Al-Anon can help put you in touch with resources in your community so that when we have more freedom from the various stay at home orders, you'll have folks that you can meet/greet in person.
You can also go to the official website for Al-Anon, and find tons of phone meetings and Zoom meetings. I have chosen to stay local for meetings on Zoom simply because of security issues and my own concern for those. Others do venture out to other meetings - there's no wrong way to find/attend a meeting.
Please keep coming back - you aren't alone and there is hope/help in recovery!
WendyP said
May 18, 2020
Better Tomorrow, Hi, I read your sharing, and was so lovely. You say that others can be more help than yourself, but by reaching out like you did, you have helped that other person. We are all equal in this Programme, what you have to give others, no one else but you can give it. Like others, you have a story to tell, and it is special, as you are.
Your experience, can help many others, so, please, believe in yourself.
I am in crisis. I'm New to ALANON. I need a sponsor. I'm in a horrible situation and my partner is a mess. Can someone help me please? I'm stuck during COVID in a large city. I am overwhelmed with ALANON and don't know where to start. I don't know what to do. Could someone help me? I feel so alone.
Hello and welcome. There are others who will be able to give you better pointers than me, but I wanted to say you do not need to feel alone. So many of us, including me, have found support and understanding here on this board and in Alanon.
I am not sure which country you live in, but there are many on-line meetings you could attend and this board has been a great source of help to me.
When I very first started, I was a total mess and felt completely overwhelmed in my life. Meetings helped me, as did bit by bit reading the literature and thinking about how I could apply it to my life.
I am sure others who are more experienced than I am will come along and be able to provide more pointers, but in the meantime, I wanted to say welcome, you are not alone and I can empathise with what you may be going through. We have all trod a similar path and you will see from reading the stories here that there is hope, peace and serenity through working the programme.
((( )))) Joanne
Tell them you are looking for a sponsor. You might be surprised, during the meeting they may ask for people who are willing to be a sponsor to identify themselves. Or, you might have to ask them to point you in the right direction and they might tell you who is available. Better yet -- the best option -- listen, listen to those who share, who have been in the program for a while, who you like what they have t say, how they say it, what they have to say about how they've gotten better, about the program, and so on. You might feel some connection to them, or their situation. Perhaps their story is similar to yours. Perhaps not.
There are countless meetings out there. I've been to 3 in one day -- morning, noon, and evening. I went to a meeting in NNJ, NYC, Chicago, and LA, all in one day! They were great!!!
Good luck and all the best.
If the volunteer is unavailable/on the phone, there's a answering machine/service. Leave a message, as all calls are returned. Your local Al-Anon can help put you in touch with resources in your community so that when we have more freedom from the various stay at home orders, you'll have folks that you can meet/greet in person.
You can also go to the official website for Al-Anon, and find tons of phone meetings and Zoom meetings. I have chosen to stay local for meetings on Zoom simply because of security issues and my own concern for those. Others do venture out to other meetings - there's no wrong way to find/attend a meeting.
Please keep coming back - you aren't alone and there is hope/help in recovery!
Better Tomorrow, Hi, I read your sharing, and was so lovely. You say that others can be more help than yourself, but by reaching out like you did, you have helped that other person. We are all equal in this Programme, what you have to give others, no one else but you can give it. Like others, you have a story to tell, and it is special, as you are.
Your experience, can help many others, so, please, believe in yourself.
Love Wendy P.