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! I am new to message boards. I've never started my own topic until this one. Just wondered if anyone else ever feels overwhelmed? I do feel hopeful at the Al-Anon face to face meetings that have been to (5 meetings, I think). I am finding it challenging to feel hopeful at home. The alcoholic is in recovery, but he still isn't happy. He is dealing with some depression. I know that I can't fix him; I can't change him. It still breaks my heart because I love him so dearly. Anyone have any words of wisdom? Thanks for welcoming a newbie. Hope I didn't break any cyber space message board laws that I don't know about.
Overwhelmed? Yes, you could say that. Of course we all feel overwhelmed at times, in this disease and outside of it. Just keep going to your meetings and read as much as you can about the disease and it will get better. Do you have a sponsor, yet? It would be a great help to you to be able to call someone when you need to refocus and take stock. Even a contact list would be a help. I made a lot of calls to Al-Anon friends early on. Just talking to someone who understood how I felt and would not judge helped so much.
Of course, keep posting here, too. This group was a lifeline for me, still is at times, even with a sober AH and 3 years in the program.
And don't worry about board rules. If you break one you will be gently reminded. There's no gestapo here. We're all just humans. LOL
In recovery,
__________________
~Jen~
"When you come to the edge of all you know you must believe in one of two things... there will be earth on which to stand or you will be given wings." ~Unknown
I can certainly identify with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Dealing with this disease is difficult, painful and overhwhelming. I am glad your spuse is in early recovery and you have found peace in face to face meetings,
Remember early recovery is difficult for everyone involved. I found living One Day at a Time, sometimes even One Hour at a Time really really helped. I refused to project to the future or dwell in the past.
I focused on myself and what I could do to change my attitudes and feelings. I prayed, wrote gratitude lists and tried to rememberto treat everyone with couresy and respect. I left the A alone to deal with his feelings.
Made alanon calls, came into online meetings and chat rooms and continued face to face meetings
It is work but you are worth it Please keep posting and coming back
No I do not have a sponsor yet. I did not really know how to get one. I do have a list of phone numbers from my first Al-Anon meeting. Made my first phone call to one of them tonight. I do find the message board helpful. It is comforting to know that other people have gone through the same hurt that I am experiencing. And not just that they have suffered but that they have become stronger because of it. Thanks for listening and responding. I will keep trusting in my Higher Power, and I will keep coming back.
