Hi, I'm new to the forums and am glad to be here.  I've been going to al-anon meetings for a year and to coda meetings for a bit less.  I've been reading through the posts here and learning a lot about other people's experiences.  I met with my sponsor yesterday and completed my seventh step.  It felt good to do it.  I am just beginning to accept how ill I am and have become.  Regardless of anyone else in my life, I am seeing very clearly how my choices, and my ability to take care of myself are all fairly skewed, and how I continue to abandon myself, and hurt myself due to an inability to sit with myself and be ok.   Since being in al-anon I can see how alcoholism has threads through different parts of my family, friendships and other people in my life .  I am the only person in my family in recovery. My family members and friends do not consider their behaviour to be dysfunctional and I don't want to take their inventory.  The area where my difficulties come up most strongly is in my relationship with my partner.  He is also in recovery.  I am finding this area of my life most painful, and confusing, and am so grateful to find this message board where I can read about other people's way of taking care of themselves and learn how to do it better, and also hopefully build up the courage to post about my own experiences.

Thanks for letting me share.

Freya