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.
Hi there, I'm brand-new to this board, but I've been a grateful member of Al-Anon for 19 years. I've attended meetings in both states where I've lived. Just reading a little, I already saw something great to hold onto: the acronym for DETACH ("don't even think about changing him/her"). Mostly I've accepted the fact that I can't control my loved ones' alcoholism, but it still sneaks up on me, the urge to control or influence their choices... Or even to wait, feeling lonely, stuck, and sad, because these 2 siblings are not more a part of my life, and my children's lives. There's an ongoing low-level sadness about that, which sometimes feels like depression, until I get back into my own recovery and life. Counting my real blessings sure helps. The program really works for me, when I work it. Like so many things in the program, DETACH WITH LOVE sounds simple, but I do need reminders. I would like to say a special welcome to any newbies, and encourage you to attend face-to-face Al-Anon meetings, too. If you're like me, dealing with alcoholism was a very isolating experience. Being in a roomful of kind and friendly people who understood what I was going through was immensely comforting. Thank you.
-- Edited by leafytree1 on Tuesday 11th of March 2014 12:24:11 AM
I know what you mean about the low level sadness. I feel that depression creeping in every now and then. Other days I feel like Katy Perry "Hear Me Roar" haha! My emotions are still all over the place but the skills I've learned from al anon and the support base I've built help me express it by venting and getting some objective feedback and acting (or not acting) and moving on from there. Stay in touch.
__________________
"Just being there for someone can sometimes bring hope when all seems hopeless." - Dave G. Llewellyn
Hi there, I'm brand-new to this board, but I've been a grateful member of Al-Anon for 19 years. I've attended meetings in both states where I've lived. Just reading a little, I already saw something great to hold onto: the acronym for DETACH ("don't even think about changing him/her"). Mostly I've accepted the fact that I can't control my loved ones' alcoholism, but it still sneaks up on me, the urge to control or influence their choices... Or even to wait, feeling lonely, stuck, and sad, because these 2 siblings are not more a part of my life, and my children's lives. There's an ongoing low-level sadness about that, which sometimes feels like depression, until I get back into my own recovery and life. Counting my real blessings sure helps. The program really works for me, when I work it. Like so many things in the program, DETACH WITH LOVE sounds simple, but I do need reminders. I would like to say a special welcome to any newbies, and encourage you to attend face-to-face Al-Anon meetings, too. If you're like me, dealing with alcoholism was a very isolating experience. Being in a roomful of kind and friendly people who understood what I was going through was immensely comforting. Thank you.