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 a brand new member of Al-anon and have only been to two meetings. My first meeting was on January 25. I live in a small town in Manitoba that only has meetings once a week so that is why I am looking at the online meetings. I have not attended any online meetings yet. I have come to Al-anon because my boyfriend is an alcoholic. We have been together a year and last summer I almost watched him die from the disease. He did not and was sober for five months before relapsing in December. I did not even know he had relapsed till the first week of January because he kept it well hidden. When he told me he was very worried that he was actually dying so he decided to enter a rehab program. He finished the mandatory 7 day detox and in those seven days he became very open to getting sober and attending AA meetings and following what he had learned. I am happy to say that he will be, as of tomorrow, 3 weeks sober. He is still deciding whether or not to return to the program for the full 42 day program. Either way this has been a big step for him.
Even though I have only attended two meetings I felt a sense of calming after each one knowing that I was not alone in this and had a place to help me on my path of healing. I look forward to more meetings whether they be online or in person.
Welcome Paddington, I am so happy that you found MIP and Al-Anon and are reaching out for help. It is also a positive sign that your partner is also attempting to recover in AA. I pray for you both
We have online meetings here two times a day and if you check the chat room box at the top of the screen you will discover the times and how to connect there.
I know you've only been to a few Al-Anon meetings, so just as a reminder: alcoholism is a progressive, chronic, fatal disease that can be arrested and never cured. We are powerless over the effects of this disease on anyone. Having lived with alcoholism we too have become affected and develop negative attitudes so that we too need a program of recovery for ourselves. Al-Anon is that program.
You have already received some good suggestions at your meeting and i am sure there is literature there as well . I suggest reading as much literature as you can and keep coming back as there is hope and help and you are not alone.
Welcome to Miracles in Progress! Al anon is great because you will get the tools to be able to deal with life on life's terms. What does that mean? You will be able to know how to deal fairly with your boyfriend, not be the person trying to make decisions for him, and if he does relapse, be able to understand what is going on and what is best for him and for YOU. It will keep the focus on you, which in many alcoholic relationships, due to the dysfunctionality and drama generated by the alcoholic, focus tends to stay on the A and not you. After a while many people wake up and realize that their hopes and dreams have taken a back seat to dealing with the A. Al Anon will enable you to keep that from happening.
And meanwhile, Al Anon promotes your personal growth. i didn't start Al Anon until my wife was sober, a little over a year ago. In that time, I have grown tremendously. I have started to recognize many personal shortcomings (we call them character defects) that I have, but not to beat myself up for them, just to work on them as much as possible.
