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.
We had a post last week that talked about advice, I said I prefer to say "suggestions". I found this card at an Area Assembly that I went to a few months ago. It is CAL (Conference Approved Literature) for Alateen, but I found that it really applied to me even though I am way older than a teenager. I need all the tools I can find to try to recovery from the insanity that affected me the first 39 yrs of my life.
So anyway, I liked this little card & I wanted to share it. I know that the Do's & Don'ts from my point of view are just suggestions - Hope that it will help some of you the way it helped me . . .take what you like & leave the rest. . .
Do's
1. Do remember you are not the only one with an alcoholic parent.
2. Do look for help in Alateen, Al-Anon, AA and other local and community councils on alcoholism.
3. Do learn all you can about alcoholism, a family disease.
4. Do be honest with yourself and others.
5. Do use your talents in ways that interest you.
6. Do develop a sensible attitude about alcoholism.
7. Do remember that not only the alcoholic, but all the members of the family are emotionally involved with the disease.
8. Do find someone other than a relative that you can confide in.
9. Do learn to forgive yourself and others-you only hurt yourself by holding grudges.
10. Do keep your trust in your Higher Power.
11. Do take your own inventory and admit your faults to one person.
12. Do pass on your knowledge of Alateen to others.
Don'ts
1. Don't cover up for the alcoholic and take on responsibilities other than your own.
2. Don't try to make the alcoholic stop drinking - you can't.
3. Don't argue with an active alcoholic.
4. Don't hide or throw out liquor; more is always available.
5. Don't take if personally when the alcoholic blames you for drinking - any excuse will do.
6. Don't use drugs or alcohol as a means of escaping the family situation.
7. Don't condemn, judge or criticize-remember that alcoholism is a disease.
8. Don't make your parent's problem the number one thing in your life.
9. Don't expect things to get better overnight.
10. Don't expect to change anyone but yourself.
11. Don't allow self-pity to grow inside of you. It will destroy you.
12. Don't over-react to the alcoholic's problem.
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
I've encouraged them to go to Alateen - but they haven't yet. I think this list will at least give them something to think about. They hear quite often about my own program.
Thanks, Rita!!
Yours in Recovery,
Susan
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Plan B? Yea, Plan B - sounds so official, especially when we're flying by the seat of our pants! (from Dukes of Hazzard, paraphrased by my teenager)
