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.
Hi all :) I'm an 18 year old girl with a mother whom is an alcoholic (or an A as you seem to call it on here) and I find it hard as we have a terrible relationship due to her lying all the time and bringing my little brother up poorly etc etc etc and i find it really stressful to manage looking after my brother, the house and our pet dog as well as going to college and trying to better myself in life :) me and my brother are lucky we are turning out ok as i have seen and heard of many other children of As that go down the same track as their parent and live a bad life but hopefully me and my brother will be ok :) it's nice to have message boards and forums like this so i can ask for help or advice as i have no other relatives living near us so i have to live with this on my own :( sadly my mother STILL hasn't faced facts that she has a life threataning problem (my uncle says she will be dead in 2 years) so i suppose i will have to live with it for now :'(
You seem like a strong person. May I encourage you to find some face to face meetings in your home town if possible. Many people there will want to give support and encouragement, friendship and understanding. I am so happy you found this helpful group/ program so young. Let anyone here know if you have trouble finding face to face meetings. It's not at all "hard" to walk in alone (as I thought it would be) I found I walked into a room full of people who actually understood, cared and had and a way to and wanted to make me feel less alone in my troubles. It's the best hour I ever spend and actually makes it seem like there is more time in my day due to the fact that I make better use of my time when I feel so much better.
This site has really helped me get thru some tough times, and the people here are wonderful. So, please keep coming back, it will help you so much, Chris.
God I was 18 when Abraham Lincoln took his first term as president. My wife says I am older than dirt...Is 18 a real age?
Seriously...I am glad you found us. Al-Anon and the Alateen program are not only highly educational and supportive; they can really save your life not to mention your sanity which the program does on a regular basis. Alateen is part of the Al-Anon Family Groups and just over 50 years old. There are young people your age who share their experience strength and hope just like the elder guys do for the same reason....serenity and sanity. If your brother is 12 or over check it out for him also. You didn't mention a Dad so I just assumed that there wasn't one of importance in your life. Having a sober role model can give younger people tons of hope. I just assumed.
Face to face meetings can be found either by looking in the white pages of your local telephone book for Alanon or the meeting locator on the face page of Miracles. You can also check into the Al-Anon WSO for meeting locations and times. WSO is the World Service Organization of AFG. The program is in most countries on this planet.
Welcome! Keep coming back. So proud of you for having the courage to reach out to other family and friends of Alcoholics for support. This program helped me to realize, I didn't cause it, I can't control it, I can't cure it. What I can do is take care of myself, with healthy boundaries, support and even find serenity. I can learn tools to be happy and healthy. I came when I needed a miracle, I haven't stopped realizing they just keep happening.
Hi just wanted to say welcome and tell you to take a little time out from you being the parent and start enjoying yourself like someone at 18 should be. You are doing a great job, your Mum is in a bad place and not capable of caring for herself so in reality she is not in a position to take care of your little brother either. Reach out to any agencies that you have available around you. They may have a support network that can give you services for free to help make life a little easier. Hang in there sweetie. Luv Leo xx
