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 just took a big step by signing up today. My life as been affected by alcholism since I was born. My dad was an abusive drinker, who never dealt with his disease. He died at 49 from the effects of hard living. My first husband is an alcoholic who continues to drink, altho he says it's okay, ' cause its only beer. My second husband is a sex addict. My third is a recovering alcoholic, who works his steps . My son is an alcoholic who is trying to dry out (by himself) because his marriage is in the pitts. I read lots of co dependency books, I have some understanding of things. Went to an al-alon meeting once. I want to stop enabling people, and I want to heal the constant anxiety I feel because things are out of my control. that my story in a nutshell
Hello and welcome , well u certainly qualify for our program , u say u went to " a " meeting , please go back and this time go to as many meetings as u can ,keep an open mind and you will find what u need .. ,expecting nothing and listen to the similarities not the differenes .. the similarities are feelings and u will knowu are in the right place .. welcome to mip
Hello Sharon and welcome to MIP. To be a qualifier for Al-Anon you have to be effected by someone else's drinking. The program will help you whether the alcoholic in your life is drinking or not. Bless your heart, you have been effected your entire life. You have been effected in ways you do not even recognize. I was the same when I entered the rooms of this program. I became addicted to the alcoholic in my life without being aware. I was crazy and didn't know which way to turn.....I turned to Al-Anon.....I remember a lady told me after my first meeting to keep coming back because she wanted me to have what she had. At the time I had no idea what she meant, but after a few meetings I knew I had found the right place. I was in a room filled with other members who had walked are were walking in my shoes. What a great feeling to know I was not alone anymore.
You need and deserve the recovery Al-Anon offers.
It goes without saying we can't change the alcoholic in our life. Nothing we have done, we can do or will do will change that fact....and that's a proven fact. The only person you can change is you.
This program works. This program is proven and tested for over 60 years world wide. I know you stated you went to an Al-Anon meeting a few years ago. Please consider going to 6 meeting and see if the program is for you. Pick up the free literature, read all you can about the subject, stay after the meetings and talk to some of the old timers and let them give you their experience, strength, and hope. Keep coming back here and posting, read prior post on this site..........give it an honest effort by jumping in the program with both feet...........I can guarantee your life will get better...........I'm living proof.
My advice to you would be to get back to those face-to-face meetings.
I've learned for myself that I used to like to try to figure everything out all by myself. It's a nasty pattern that only leaves me feeling fearful and frustrated because I never really get the support I need from other people. MIP is a good start, however, for me, I don't rely on MIP as it feeds my nasty isolation habits. I really need to get out and be among other members, get their hugs, share their laughs and experience loving fellowship. It's great practice for me, also, in learning how to communicate with other people in healthy ways instead of the ways living with alcoholism has taught me.
thanks for the welcome. We are caring for my 97 year old father in law right now. We are pretty much homebound. I liked the meeting I attended but it was a smoking one and I don't smoke. Now, I realize you can get to ones that don't. I went with my daughter and she felt it was too harsh. I used the excuse of going alone, to not return. This is odd because I was a professional with a large staff, yet I didn't feel I could face the meeting alone. My husband tells me my feelings are not unique, I guess any excuse when you don't want to deal with the bare facts of things
Your husband is correct. It is difficut to begin attending alanon meetings. I had tried everything else and had no where else to go before I would walk thru the doors. Alanon meetings helped me to live life on life's terms with courage and serenity.
One of the big effects of living with the disease of alcoholism for me was that I liked to isolate and felt very comfortable alone. Attending meetings was so very important for me to connect and break one of the deadly effects of living with this disease.
Bless you for caring for your 97 year old father in law. We have on line meetings here every day 2xs a day. THere is also an active chat room open 24/7 Please keep coming and sharing and if possible try the on line meetings.
Looking forward to sharing the journey
-- Edited by hotrod on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 07:43:59 PM
Welcome to MIP! You will find lots of experience, strength and hope. Also, you will find tools through posting, face to face meetings, literature, and much more. Keep coming back.
thanks I am gonna try the online meetings, Talked to my son today. He is very good at dumping his problems in my lap. Kept saying I didn't have his answers. Felt so nervous and anxious after his call. Need to learn boundaries so he can;t so easily reduce me to mush
