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.
i am very new to this whole process. i have not joined al-anon..am a little apprehensive..can you give me a debriefing on the initial process..who its for, what u do, what is required(timewise, moneywise)???
i completely picked myself and my 2 children up ..moved 300 miles away from my codependant relationship with their A father..and every other person i know..i myself have come to accept that i am also an A(joining in so we at least had something/time in common). i have made the decision to live the life i imagined for myself and my children. it is emotionally and mentally depressing not having anyone nearby to be supportive. single working commuting mom sober.. that is me.. and i am so tired. and i miss the man i love.
Alanon is a fellowship of men and women who live or have lived with the problem of alcoholism. We believe that alcoholism is a disease over which we are completely powerless. having lived with he disease we too have developed negative attitudes and beliefs so much so that we need our own program of recovery. Alanon is that program It was founded on the principles of AA by a group of early members headed by Lois Wilson, the wife, of the founder of AA .
Alanon face to face meetings can be found in your community by checking the white pages of the telephone directory. Attending meetings helps to break the isolation caused by the disease, helps us t learn new tools to live by
This tools include Focusing on ourselves, living one day at a time, letting go of the past, and learning to trust a higher power.
Welcome. That is pretty similar to how I came into AA. I started with AA because my own alcoholism and staying sober took precedent over focusing on my codependency and the damage done by the relationship I had with the alcoholic that I split with. By the end of our relationship, drinking was the only thing we had in common. It was also the main thing that destroyed the relationship. I don't think I ever "missed the man I loved" after that break up though because there was absolutely no turning back...That person was an alcholic who was not going to stop and was busy wrecking his life and taking others down too. I missed company, comfort, adult discussion...etc. Perhaps I missed the idea of him and what I wanted him to be, but I didn't miss him because he never gave me any of those things I wanted in the last few years of the relationship anyhow. Once I fully accepted that, it was easier to get the rid of the idea that going back was an option. I had to find ways to seek out and give myself the things I wanted from the relationship.
I struck out on my own and got sober all at once as well. You have a big challenge in front of you but you do not have to do it alone. Both AA and alanon are absolutely free. You are always welcome to check out the AA board on this site here (MIP) as well. Hope to hear more from you.
AAl-anon is the best thing that ever happened to me. It is free and even after years of counseling it changed my outlook on life and things keep getting better. I read the book "Getting Them Sober" by Toby Rice Drews and "Codependent No More" by Melody Beattie and attended 2 meetings a week found a sponsor and am a new person! Sending you love and support on your journey!
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Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
Good for you for seeking recovery. I would echo everything people have suggested here. You can also use this Board as a place to feel at home, learn more about how people have recovered and post your own questions. I would encourage you to seek help for your own alcoholism in AA. There are many many womens meetings and a lot of support out there.
