If you get yourself any literature, I'd recommend How Al-Anon Works and a daily reader, like One Day at a Time in Al-Anon.

Happy shopping!

Aloha Dawn; for me It was whatever I got my hands on at the time including the daily
readers.   I knew nothing about alcoholism...absolutely zero and that is from where
I was starting.  I recommend getting as much legitimate info you can get including
NIH.com, AMA.com, NIAA.com...these are informational medical, health and institute
for Alcoholism and there are of course many many more.  You're being affected by a
life threatening disease the consequence of which if it is not arrested by total abstin-
ence will result in insanity and or death and that doesn't mean only the alcoholic.

Alcoholism has been around for thousands of years before the birth of Christ so the population of the world isn't being subjected to something new and unknown.  It has
a age old reputation for being cunning, powerful and baffling and to many it is the
most prolific disease in existence.

You also need information about you and how you've been affected by someone elses
drinking and what it has done to you and what you have done in it.  Al-Anon literature
gets to the heart of that part and my spouse and I have a sizeable library of this
literature all of which we still read and learn from.   Get a home group, a sponsor, the
literature and listen and learn.   The volumes I use the most are One Day at a Time
in Al-Anon, Courage to Change and Hope for Today along with much more.

Keep coming back.   In support (((((hugs)))))

Courage to Change daily reader is one of my favorites - it gives me enough 'examples' to give me courage, strength and endurance to change things that I never though could be changed, let alone that I had the choice to actually change them!

Another favorite of mine is 'When I got busy, I got better' - this is a short booklet type AlAnon book...paving ways that keeping occupied in mind, body and spirit stops me from obsessing with all those 'WHY? and HOW? things that roll around in my mind endlessly.

A third favorite is 'How AlAnon Works' - it gives a clear and concise understanding of what Alanon is all about to help one through the understanding and the recovery road we travel.

I have many many Alanon books, pamphlets, literature and information found here and there on websites...I love 'the Merry Go-Round' pamphlet from Alanon, 'Letter to the Wife' which is in the Blue Book of AA as well (another book that has helped me understand the disease of alcoholism from the perspective of the actual disease, and NOT what the A in my life was what I though was 'doing just to drive me nuts and upset/hurt me'). I also love - 'Just for Today' - a small little pamphlet that wakes me up and reminds me that I can do something JUST for today, that would otherwise KILL ME if I had to do it every day for the rest of my life (in my thoughts, anyway).

My One Day at a Time Daily reader is so dog-ear, written in, highlighted in, crumpled, stained and taped to keep together...that I think each time I pick it up I should replace it...but it's hard to toss such a great accepting and understanding friend!

WELCOME TO ALANON ! May your road to recovery find you where you are right now, and walk with you along your new found path!