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Post Info TOPIC: Confession


Senior Member

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Posts: 252
Date:
Confession


I did something I know is not a very Al-Anon thing to do.  I counted the beers in the fridge this morning.

I asked my husband not to drink for the next 2 days so I could count on him for helping me with all our travel stuff (we were supposed to leave for Hawaii tomorrow).  When I asked him to do this his response was "well it all depends on how my appointment goes."  He has an appointment with a new pain specialist doctor today.  I asked him "did you just hear your answer?  Do you think that's a normal response?"  He knows it's not and he knows he's drinking too much and he told me that he wouldn't drink.

Well this afternoon I checked and there are 2 beers missing.  He either drank them when my son and I left the house at 11:30 or he took them with him to drink after his appointment - either way he lied and is sneaking beer.

I can't go to Hawaii with him.  I can't trust that he will be there for me on the plane if I have a panic attack.  Even if we make it there with no problems, there's no guarantee that I can count on him on the flight back.

I'm not going to confront him about the beer because that will only cause a fight (of course these days he's not really argumentative, just very apologetic).  I'm just going to tell him that I've decided against the Hawaii trip.  It's very disappointing for me, but I don't want to spend the next 10 days worrying - that's not a vacation to me.

Besides, I think it's more important that I stick around town and start working on my mental health.

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Senior Member

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Posts: 495
Date:

(((n8smom)))

I'm sorry you'll miss your trip to Hawaii (is this something you could postpone and go at a later time with someone you trust?) - but kudos to you for taking care of your immediate needs. There's nothing more miserable than being away from home and confined to the presence of not 1, not 2 but 3 active As for several days at a time. That's what our Spring Break was like last year - total and complete misery. We didn't repeat that this year, thank goodness, nor will I put myself in the position to do so ever again.

Keep taking good care of yourself!



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~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 1917
Date:

Its all about choices. You are making some and you sound good. Boundaries. "X is what I need to do to take care of myself"- solid stuff. Nice work. J.

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~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 1558
Date:

n8smom (((((HUGS)))))

Sorry that you had to cancel your trip... But understand why you did... I am in agreement with Bender girl... I would postpone it till you found someone you could trust to make your vacation a fun and memorible one... Wish you luck on your path to self discovery...

KEEP COMING BACK....
Love & Prayers pray.gif
Jozie

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Thee Only Journey I Control Is MY Own :)

Gratitude.... Is a God Honoring Attitude! :D



~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 3656
Date:

((((N8SMOM))),

I am sorry that you will have to cancel your trip.  But you are making choices that are in the best interest of you.  That is a good sign.  Don't worry about counting the beers.  I have slipped so many times in my recovery that it's a good thing I have padding back there!  The beauty of recovery is that we can restart it any time we want.  Remember it's the baby steps that get us to where we need to be, not the huge ones.  Be gentle on yourself.  Love and blessings to you and your family.

Live strong,
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty smile


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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.


~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 4578
Date:

I don't know that anything is not al anon.  Certainly I make a huge huge effort not to be around anyone who drinks anymore because I find it very very difficult.

I'm not sure if you are going on holiday on your own or not.  I know there is a penalty generally for cancellations.  Good luck with that.

Keep taking care of yourself.

Maresie.

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maresie


~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 2098
Date:

I will play devil's advocate & see issues from all sides, or at least try to - it's how my brain operates. I see the problem & delve in both sides & try to come around & meet up on the other side, exhausting all possibilities & then making a choice.

My immediate response, was too bad u dont have a good girl friend u could take & make it a girl's holiday or mental health holiday or whatever.  But I also remember when my mental health became my priority. It happened subconsciously for me I just stared taking to it like a fish to water. Kudos for choosing to make your mental health a priority. By next year, u will be able to go to Hawai'i & actually be able to take a real vacation. I can understand still wanting to try to go now but u may only be obsessing about home anyway, so what's the point. 

Learn to focus on YOU, not ur AH, not ur daughter. I know for me, that I wasn't loving myself or making me a priority & all the A's in my life saw this & jumped in constantly trying to dictate & otherwise run my life. I was sick of being this puppet on a string. So, in my desperation to get detachment, I cut myself right down.  There I sat in a jumbled mess on the floor. I worked on self love, focus on me & what was & what was not my business.

Asking ur AH to drink this or that or this amount will only automatically want to make him to rebel. IMHO anyway, that's how I saw that sort of behavior work for me, in my life. If I said, drink beer not vodka or u can have three doubles & that's it, he would sneer & laugh in my face while he kept on drinking. He was the bread winner, he's an adult - he is going to do what pleases him & my interfering would only make his behavior worse. Like it gives him license. I am begging him to do something for me - so there I am out on the line, vulnerable in my wishes & my feelings are all enmeshed in whether he can control himself or not.

A's use us. This gives them power. It certainly didn't help me or him.  Knowing our feelings & issues like that, they love it & feed off of it.

Learn to focus on YOU. Counting beers or trying to control someone else is futile & will allow u to continue to be nuts or out of ur mind in grief. It is not worth it, it is old behavior that keeps us sick.

You are the only person u can control. You can change you, it's like not only are you your own ship, u can be the very wind in your sails!  I used to react & get blown all over the place by others. Now I can steer.
If my A is drinking, I can mind my own business, engage in activites I enjoy & take time out for me. I no longer need despair in his choices, I can rejoice in my own. Detach from his behavior & plug into what you are doing for you today. That is what you have control over.  Love yourself, you are worth it. In time ur AH will feel your attention leaving him & trust me, he will come looking for you to see what ur up to & if u have some time & energy for him.

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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
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