In Alanon, but maybe should be in AA as well? - Al-Anon Family Group

Lisa444 · Newbie

In Alanon, but maybe should be in AA as well?

Tuggboat · Senior Member

Lot of people come in through the Back Door. Stop over in the AA side of the message board or go to a meeting. there are no special requiremnets. If you have a desire to stop drinking Your allowed to attend. Is there anything specific? heres our pamplet of questions only you can answer honestly.

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_is_aa_for_you.cfm?PageID=71

PM me if you have any private questions. i'm in both fellowships.

maresie · ~*Service Worker*~

Melody Beattie talks about doing that a lot in her books. She made her career out of codependence but first she was an addict.

maresie.

Tenderheartsks · ~*Service Worker*~

As Tugg already said, many come in through the back doors of Alanon. We've had our fair share of those in our AA groups here.

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

Aloha Lisa!!

I was in Al-Anon for 9 years and without ever having a drink during that time and then...HP set me up thru another person's (a client) assessment to do my own because all of a sudden I had real questions. The consequence of my assessment after review by medical staff? The (anonymous) person who took that assessment should be in inpatient treatment as soon or possible or the next time they drink they might die. That was a Friday and the very first time I ever went into an AA meeting and identified myself as alcoholic. I was concerned and more than a bit fragile at that first "real - for me" meeting and then I realized that I pretty much knew everyone in the room one way or the other or their spouses, family and friends and there was nothing to be afraid of. I have a life threatening disease (and a couple more) named alcoholism. Relapse for me would be fatal and now...it's 20 years later. My primary program is Al-Anon with an emphasis on not drinking again in AA.

Same 12 steps and 12 traditions and very much the same Higher Power.

Go do an assessment. Let me know how it turns out in a PM. You'll be okay. (((((hugs))))) smile

SLS · Senior Member

I quit drinking about 9 months after starting Al-Anon. I was abusing alcohol and drinking for all of the wrong reasons (to numb the pain, to relax from the stress of work and my A, etc.) My IC said that at some point I might decide to drink again and that would be ok because I am not the alcoholic, my AH is.... But, I dont think that I will. Does a "normie" remember the day of her last drink?? Don't think so. weirdface

I also know me--better now, than ever. Every other time that I stopped drinking for awhile, when I started again, it ramped back up fairly quickly. I loved to drink--I was happy, relaxed and fun. But I drank like an A. I didn't have just one--what was the point?? And sometimes, I drank to be happy, relaxed and fun. Not to mention that I loved to be around As who were not too far into their disease--they are a lot of fun (probably why I married one). biggrin

Part of my recovery has been to detox from the active As--they are an attractive, but dangerous group of folks. And I am learning how to get the "charge" that I used to get from the As in more healthy ways.

I don't know if I am an A and I guess that at this point it doesn't really matter. My program in Al-Anon (supplemented by AA materials, speaker CDs, AA meetings, etc.) works for me and so long as I keep working it, I know that I will continue to get healthy. I do not have a desire to drink and I am working on my isms with my program. smile

No one can tell anyone else if they are an A. I would suggest that you take the AA assessment and go to some AA meetings and see how it feels for you. But regardless, do what you need to do to get healthy--that is why we are all here!!

Yours in Recovery,

SLS

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.