Alanon 12 steps? - Al-Anon Family Group

WorkingThroughIt · ~*Service Worker*~

Alanon 12 steps?

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

http://12step.org/docs/12step_questions.pdf

This might help.

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

You can also get the CAL books:

Paths to Recoivery,

Alanon 12 Steps and 12 Traditions

and

How Alanon Works

all have great Step guidance and questions to be answered.

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

My add to the wonderful leads you have already received is "a good sponsor". I'm attention deficit and so my sponsorship was gold and my HP patient and loving. (((hugs))) smile

WorkingThroughIt · ~*Service Worker*~

Thanks all.

I couldn't open the link in the first response.
But anyway, per Alanon World Services or whatever it's called, wouldn't there be ONLY one book where the "official" set of directions are?

lgnutah · Senior Member

Did you try highlighting the address in the response above, then right clicking on "open in a new tab"? That worked for me

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

I am not sure of the question. These are all "CAL" books and carry the guidance developed by the Alanon membership on how to work the Steps and Traditions.

In alanon there is no hard and fast" How to book". We grow and learn by suggestions and guidance.

Each one is free to work the program as they see fit We take what we like and leave the rest . The key word in alanon is suggested

Aloha · ~*Service Worker*~

There's not a "how to work the steps" instructional book out there.

Working the steps is unique for each and every person because we all get different experiences out of them.

Some folks find a sponsor and work the steps that way, some attend meetings that are "step study" meetings, some read the literature and journal about it - but there's no black and white "this is how you do the steps" approach.

I know this can be frustrating. I know when I first got into Al-Anon I just wanted some clear and distinct guidelines on what the hell I was supposed to do. I was convinced that if I didn't follow some kind of written rules that I'd screw up royally and "fail" Al-Anon somehow - ultimately fail my life and my relationship with the alcoholic.

Fortunately, Al-Anon doesn't work that way... but YES it is frustrating at the start... especially when people would tell me "Oh, just keep coming back to meetings." all I wanted were black and white "do this, and don't do that" answers.

About the closest thing to any sort of instruction manual I've ever seen is the pamphlet on Detachment. But it's not a manual on how to work the steps.

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Working

Each person is free to work the program as they see fit. The same Steps as AA are used and undestood as the alanon program sees it.

We are free to use the AA Big Book if we like. I must note that the AA Big Book is not alanon literature.

I use the outline for the 4th Step from the AA Big Book as it is very helpful

-- Edited by hotrod on Thursday 4th of April 2013 08:09:07 AM

el-cee · ~*Service Worker*~

I think it can be frustrating when the quick fix is not there. I also wanted a set of instructions but it is while searching and reading about the steps that actually helps recovery. I use courage to change and odat to read about each step. I also use the step forum here and I write it all out. I don't think there is a right and wrong way but I feel their power whenever I work on them. Good Luck.

WorkingThroughIt · ~*Service Worker*~

It doesnt seem there's any clear answer to where the directions for the 12 steps are in Alanon. I see lots of helpful Alanon literature and workbooks etc but then I noticed in tradition 5 it says We work the SAME steps as the alcoholic.
So wouldn't that mean that we too follow the instructions for the 12 steps as clearly outlined in AAs Big Book?

Ms S · Veteran Member

hotrod wrote:
I am not sure of the question. These are all "CAL" books and carry the guidance developed by the Alanon membership on how to work the Steps and Traditions.
In alanon there is no hard and fast" How to book". We grow and learn by suggestions and guidance.
Each one is free to work the program as they see fit We take what we like and leave the rest . The key word in alanon is suggested

I love this about Al Anon - I often here it said 'this is a gentle programme' and I like that too

'take what you like and leave the rest' kept me coming back in through the meeting room door

el-cee · ~*Service Worker*~

I have read the big book that is used in aa and I think the steps can be used for all recovery. I prefer Alanon literature as it is makes more sense to me and my experiences of being affected by another's drinking. I think they have different purposes. The big book is not used at my meeting, I think it would be confusing and maybe dilute the purpose of the meetings.

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.