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.
Welcome, I am glad that your husband has decided to attend AA and return today. Alcoholism is a progressive fatal disease over which we are powerless. AA is a recovery program that has been designed to help anyone who feels they are an alcoholic. It has much success and focuses attention on the alcoholic.
We who live with this disease require a recovery program of our own and the Al-Anon fellowship is just such a program.
Face-to-face meetings are held in most communities and the hotline number can be found in the white pages. I urge you to check out the meetings for yourself,and attend. Living with the disease we become irritable and unreasonable without knowing it. Breaking the isolation and connecting with those who understand helped me and many others regain our sanity and life.
I believe your attending alanon would be a great support for your family as he reaches out to AA.
Make supportive comments. Be genuine. "I'm proud of you." If he slacks of, doesn't get a sponsor, stops going...detach because that would mean he's not ready and you are powerless over that.
I've learned that working my own program helps me avoid trying to work my As program for him. Keep coming back even after you attend Alanon meetings. We're glad you're here.
I've seen Mimi's share happen many time and that partly happened for me. I attempted Al-Anon two times and the second time I stayed. I learned that this is a very cunning, powerful and baffling disease of the mind, body, spirit and emotions when I finally got it and sat down and listened and learned. What was baffling was that I had no idea of my part in it and one of the early parts was my alcoholic/addict wife came home from an AA meeting one night and asked me if I thought she was an alcoholic and I answered the disease predictably...I said "no" (for lots of reasons I was to find out later) and after I said that she went back out for another 5 years. Sometimes I thought it would never get worse than the day I was living it only to find out that it can and it will If I don't have the support of the program and its tools...face to face meetings, sponsorship, literature, service, unity and support and most of all a power greater than Jerry F that could take over management of my life. I got my sanity back and my life and I continue to keep coming back to maintain my recovery and support others on their way. Welcome to this family of MIP and keep coming back. 1st suggestion was detach from your alcoholic and the second was get into your own program...keep coming back here also. ((((Hugs))))
