addicted to alanon? - Al-Anon Family Group

Lyne · ~*Service Worker*~

addicted to alanon?

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

Lyne wrote:
I shared that I felt alanon is not an addiction for me, but a life preserver or a survival guide. From pain and disappointment my brain got programmed in many negative thought patterns that are not helpful at all. Alanon is going to help de-program that destructive thinking so I can feel at peace again. That to me is not addition, Lyne

Well if alanon is addicting, may I never find "sobriety" from it....Alanon is my life saver, my sanity restorer and I, too, was programmed to hate me, to sabotage me, to really dislike me and subconsciously do stuff to hurt me like shunning, out of fear, healthy relationship, eating foods that are bd for folks with ptsd and anxiety, etc etc

and I so agree...alanon de-programs me from bad thinking.....as I practice it so better I think, act, habitize and thus help my character

I know at first I did nothing but alanon b/c that is what I needed....stop all stuff that took me away from my program until I could balance it w/ pursuing fun, different things b/c I had to be healthy enough to pursue that which is healthy...There is a reason they say first 90 days, 90 meetings and then when one is in it for a while they can kinda cut back a bit but I didn't until i knew that alanon was a HABIT....the steps are habit to me...the slogans are habit to me....the whole thing has become a habit....a healthy habit.....

Good for you and your developing healthier life style.....Glad you are here

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

This is appropriate and necessary for me and I relate to both of your responses. As I understand addiction...Compulsion of the mind and alleregy of the body (from the discription of alcoholism) it doesn't fit because of the negative outcomes being reversed. As I understand that it might be because it becomes a center of sanity and right living and practiced on a daily basis than it is the most healthy and supportive addiction for my mind, body, spirit and emotions and therefore should not (for me) stopped. Had I not found this addiction...I would no longer be here. I love this share and thread and I hope more will respond so I can listen and learn and pass on to others. (((((hugs))))) smile

PP · ~*Service Worker*~

I look at all things (words, definitions, experiences, etc) as having a light/shadow side. Coming from that perspective, addiction has a light(empowered) side and a shadow(disempowered). I could get lengthy with this, but to keep it simple...let us consider the possibility that al anon is an addiction..since it has positive outcomes (if used as it is intended), I would place it in the light column! Since it is light, I am drawn to it like I am drawn to the sun!

slogan_jim · Senior Member

I don't see a problem with being addicted to al-anon at all. smile

I attend 3, sometimes 4 meetings a week! hahaha I love it. When I miss al-anon I feel it and people notice! At this point, it feels like I'm meeting up with friends for coffee. I volunteer on committees, speak at open meetings. I think it's great for me.

I think we all know that Al-Anon is not the worst thing a person can be addicted to ;)

pinkchip · ~*Service Worker*~

You can call things "positive addictions" too. I might be addicted to the gym but if that is the case, I'm okay with it. Same with AA/Alanon. It's not addiction in the true form of the word...You are right about that. Addiction requires tolerance and that would mean that you would get used to the meetings and need more and more and more to have the same effect. That's not the case as it seems clear that an established amount of regular meetings is sufficient. It is highly unlikely that a person would get "so addicted" to alanon that they would quit their job and go to alanon meetings all day every day. People do actually do those things for "real" addictions.

Breakingfree · ~*Service Worker*~

Yeah I don't mind when I feel addicted to healthy things that encourage me to grow and be positive, there could be much worse. I love what Pinkchip had to say about this! Sending you much love and support!

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