AA versus Alanon - Al-Anon Family Group

lookingup · ~*Service Worker*~

AA versus Alanon

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi LU I do believe that AA has"Open" meetings for people who are not alcoholics so they can explore the program and "Closed meetings for people who consider themselves alcohoilics. I know some double winners will respond to let you know the diffference.

maryjane · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi LU.
Remember that these are 2 very separate programs. The AA literature is not AlAnon conference approved, and our literature is not theirs. We have the same 12 steps, by design, but we approach them differently.

I had a friend who went to open AA meetings and the things they said in joking (remembering how stupid they acted) was to him not funny at all and triggered his PTSD for having lived through it stone, cold sober.....

Why not try to start your own AlAnon? You may sit alone for a few months reading your own literature or listening to a podcast or youtube of an AlAnon speaker. Eventually others will find you, or you will have a set time every week for meditation.

Take care of yourself

lookingup · ~*Service Worker*~

Thank you Betty for letting me know of their open meetings,and thank you maryjane for your insight and wisdom from both of you,yep that's what I'd be afraid of happening to me is triggers of the worst kinds,and that's a great thing that I can work on meetings,I could begin having them in my home then as it grew go somewhere else ,my home would work for a bit.im gonna keep that idea ,ponder more upon it,ty again........

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

Maryjane's suggestion of thinking about opening your own Al-Anon meeting was also passed on to me years ago and it is not that difficult. The biggest difficulty was my fear to start with and then that went away also. I have founded meetings before and one thing that was important and still natural to the Al-Anon member was that when I reached out for help thru various avenues the fellowship came to our aid and the meetings are still going. Overcoming fear is a huge endeavor in recovery and this is one way of doing it. All of the literature and ESH is available thru Central Office and other registered meetings. Check it out. In support and willing to help. (((((hugs))))) smile

LinSC · Senior Member

LU, that is what I did, I started my own meeting at the senior center on an evening that was open. I posted flyers, and sat there for two weeks straight until a couple showed up and then a few more several weeks after that. It was worth it. It was a small town of 1500 people and most people were embarrassed to be there, but when your hurting and need support you can usually deal with the shame. Linsc

lookingup · ~*Service Worker*~

Thank you Jerry and lins,15 yrs ago I did try to have meetings me and a Freind sat for 3 mths at a hospital that allowed us to have meetings there,maybe 1or 2 showed up ,today it may just work as lots have changed in this area,drugs and alcohol n crime has risen a lot since back 15 yrs ago,so this is probably a good time to begin a alanon meeting here............hugs lu

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

Yay!! (((hugs))) aww

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.