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.
My family is filled with alcoholics, recovering and still drinking. For many years I didn't want to touch a drop of alcohol or even be around people that drink. When I see my father who is a "recovering alcoholic" drink or talk about drinking, it makes my skin crawl. Thankfully he got away from it by moving to a dry county, but the memories and the dispair of his drinking days still linger...and this weekend they came back. A friend suggested that I get plugged in to a group for support and I think he was right because when those memories came flooding back this week it was as if I was 14 all over again.
This might be just the place for you, and I'd encourage you to learn more about the Alanon program. It's not necessarily Christian but it is a spiritual program that emphasizes a person's relationship with a higher power, whatever that means to them. It's often a Christian faith, but not always. I'm sure others with more experience will come on to share more later, but I did want to say that you're very welcome here. I think that most of us here come from families affected by the family disease of alcoholism and are healing from those effects. There are face to face meetings nearly everywhere that are a wonderful, powerful healing resource. There's online tools and there are lots of wonderful books and literature to read and learn, oh and podcasts too, but I haven't taken advantage of that yet. Lots of ways to recover and find serenity, peace and happiness in life.
Welcome to MIP. Stick around for awhile and get to know us better. Thank you for introducing yourself today, I am thrilled you are here.
I too have a family that is filled with alcoholics. I have found tremendous warmth, comfort, love, understanding and acceptance in the face to face rooms of Alanon. For me this online forum is a great tool. However, face to face meetings for me is where the rubber meets the road. There is so much power being in a room of people share from the heart so deeply and understand your problems as few others could.
As it was mentioned Alanon is not a Christian program but is a spiritual program so as to not preclude people of other beliefs. It is suggested that you try six or more meetings before making a decision as to whether or not Alanon is right for you. The welcome we give you here may not show the warmth we have in our hearts for you. If you try to keep an open mind, you will find help. Please keep coming back. Thanks again for sharing part of yourself today.
