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 have never been to an al-anon meeting in person either yet. I hope to go one day soon. I'm 45 yrs old and divorced mother of a 20 year old daughter with health problems. I come from a large family of 7 kids. I have a twin who is an alcoholic and still drinking. My ex-husband was an alcoholic. I have been divorced 4 years now and met a wonderful guy about a year ago. Things were wonderful between us. He is so kind, caring and thoughtful. Back in November he told me he was hooked on oxy's that he had been given for dental surgery. He went into rehab and got off them all on his own. Once out he started drinking. He informed me that he's had a history of addiction. Prior to when I met him he had been off drugs for 15 years and sober for 5yrs. He has a great job in management which is current in jeopardy if he doesn't get himself straightened out and back to work. He recently went into rehab for the alcohol but returned to drinking a week ago when his health didn't bounce back and he still couldn't return to work. At the moment I am unable to reach him and I'm quite concerned. I'm hoping he's ok and just upset and sulking, not hurt some where. He wants us to get married and I told him It's not something I would do till he got his act together and was sober again. I have so much to say and not sure what to say or how this group works. Any advice at all would be appreciated. Thanks DJ
Hi, a very warm welcome to MIP and Al-Anon. Al-Anon is a recovery program for the friends and family of alcoholics. We have been affected by their disease and it has made us sick too. We come together and share our experience,strength and hope (ESH) in order to recover. We do this by practising the 12 Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our alcoholic relatives and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics.
I would strongly recommend face to face (f2f) meetings as well as the ones here. Online they are held in the chatroom (there is a link in the top left-hand corner of the message board). Mon-Fri 9am and 9pm EST. Sat 10am and 9pm EST. Sun 10am and 7pm EST. You will need to enter a nickname. You can do this by typing it into the little white box at the bottom of the screen to the right or can type in the text box /nick DJ2006. It is customary to greet the members as they begin their share and to thank them at the end of it. This will also prevent you from being disconnected for being unresponive/idle. You are under no obligation to share yourself, you can just 'listen' until you see how the meeting runs.
You will find Conference Approved Literature (CAL) books and leaflets available through a local group. Ask to speak with the Literature Secretary. There is also a recovery bookstore online, again there's a link at the top left of the message board.
You should be aware that alcoholism is a disease which can be arrested but not cured. It is cunning, baffling and powerful. In Al-Anon we have the 3C's. You did not cause it, you can't control it and you cannot cure it. This recovery program is for you. Al-Anon tells us that we 'can be happy whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not'.
I hope you find comfort, support and help with us. Keep coming back.
Here are some things that have helped me since in the program.
Go face to face meeting & online meeting.
post on the board here on the site. I have gotten a lot of good feed back.
· Set support system. people do not judge.You need someone who can go for coffee on a bad day, or pick up a phone and call when in trouble. The support is what is important when you first this program.
Have a sponsor. Someone work one on one with you.
You don’t have to do this the minute u come to the program but I suggest that u do it when u can. It help.
Here
Meeting schedule: meetings are in here and run approximately 90 minutes from: Monday-Friday, 9 am and 9 pm EST, Saturday: 10 am and 9 pm EST, Sunday: 10 am and 7 pm EST. Topics are selected by participants at meeting time. UK +5 hours, central -1 hour, mountain -2 hours, pacific -3 hours. Open chat all other times.
-- Edited by nycbt at 10:18, 2006-04-01
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Hey everyone watch me grow. I go thru good & bad times. each day i am getting stronger.
Hello, DJ, We are so glad you have found Alanon. We all know what it is like to care for an alcoholic. We do not give advice here, but we share our experience, strength and hope with one another. My experience in alanon has changed my life. We learn in Alanon that what works are to go to meetings - face to face are best - find a sponsor, who is someone who is willing to help you work the 12 steps of alanon and aa, get a list of phone numbers and use them, and work the steps. I learned what it means to take care of myself by going to Alanon, and that took the focus off of the a for me. Thank you for sharing, because it helps us with our own alanon program. Blessings to you. It works, if you work it! mebjk
