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.
Hello to everyone. I am in a fairly new relationship with an alcoholic. He told me two weeks ago that he has been in recovery for 5 years. Things between us are starting to take on a serious tune and I don't know anything about alcoholism. He says it's his issue not mine, but is that possible, to not share problems or is that the way this type of problem needs to be? Sometimes I don't know if his behavior is related to alcoholism or if it's just his personality? He also tols me that upon becoming sober he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder....am I in over my head with all of this...I don'tknow where to even begin in order to understand all of this.
I feel alcoholism is their issues (those that drink) and also ours (those around the ones that drink). That is why I am here. Being around alcoholics during my lifetime it has effected me and that is why I am here and why I keep coming back
Where to begin? Well you coudl start by looking up Alanon in your phone book and get to some meetings!! Keep posting here and read others posts and you will see how much of what you go through we do as well so you don't have to feel alone.
Melissa
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"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." Will Rogers
hello. I am a newbie to these message boards and am also pretty new to Al-Anon. I just had to share that my husband is a recovering alcoholic and was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I love him dearly and I just wanted to say that it is great to hear from someone going through some of the same experiences as me. Al-Anon is already helping me even though I have only been to handful of Face to Face meetings so far.
Aloha hrhyne...Alcoholism affects everything it comes into contact with. His drinking might be his problem but his disease cannot insulate you from it. My suggestion is to get as much literature as you can on the disease of alcoholism and read it all and locate face to face meetings of the Al-Anon Family Groups in your area and plan to attend as many as you can over a 90 day period of time. The disease of alcoholism is partially described as cunning, powerful and baffling and the rest of the descrip -tion isn't any prettier. AA works miracles in an alcoholics life if they are honest and willing to stop drinking and attend as if their life depends on it and your friend has been and is doing that however AA has the same philosophy as Al-Anon... Progress not Perfection. MIP is a huge tool for you and I hope to see you coming back and participating in our recovery. You will learn here and be satisfied with what you do learn. (((((hugs)))))
I would start with the closest Al-Anon meeting you can find . A relationship with an alcoholic drinking or not with out \a program , would be imposible for me . You need support from people who understand , he is right in saying that this is his problem but it can soon become yours . Please find meetings for yourself . Sober does not solve all of lifes problems alcholism comes with an attitude and with out help nothing changes they just don't drink . Dry drunk is intolerable . good luck Louise
Al anon can really help. I also think reading booklets from AA and going to open meetings (not with him) of Alcoholics Anonymous will help. Depending on where he is in his "recovery" he may be willing to let you "in" more as he sees you are interested in where he is at.
I do think al anon can also help ourselves learn more about the way we codependents behave and how to get healthier. Al anon is not all about the alcoholic but mostly about learning to have a better life with or without them.
