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The Forum Magazine
Al-Anon's monthly magazine, The Forum, contains many personal stories of inspiration, some of which are made available each month on the Internet by authorization of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Articles from members present their personal views and experiences. Opinions expressed here are not attributable to Al-Anon as a whole. In keeping with Tradition Eleven, individuals are identified by first names and initials only. |
| What I didn’t understand at my first Al-Anon meeting
By Angela L., Washington
I walked into my first Al-Anon meeting after my boyfriend had his first relapse. Tears that hadn’t stopped in days were running down my face. I wasn’t wearing makeup and my hair was tied back just to keep it out of my face. I brought my boyfriend’s Sponsor with me, a longtimer who had more than 20 years of sobriety under his belt. He was the only person I could think of to call for help; he showed me Al-Anon...
Chasing cars—from insanity to recovery
By Caroline G., Kentucky
I thought if I could keep my teenage son away from his “bad” friends, he would come to his senses and stop drinking and drugging. I spent years of my life trying to rescue him from his poor choices. It was like he was walking toward a deep, dark chasm, and I was trying to stop him from falling in, but he kept pushing me aside so he could go down. I eavesdropped on his conversations, grounded him from everything, and trailed him day and night. Nothing helped...
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Why is Alcoholism Called a “Family Disease”?
In Al-Anon and Alateen, when we describe alcoholism as a “family disease,” we refer to the fact that one person’s alcoholism affects the entire family. While symptoms of alcoholism are displayed by the alcoholic’s behavior, symptoms of this “family disease” are revealed by the family’s reaction to the alcoholic. Al-Anon can help us lessen these effects.
Chapter Two, “Living with the Family Disease of Alcoholism,” from the book Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses (B-29) describes the effects alcoholism has on those closest to the alcoholic, as well as ways that Al-Anon helps us heal. This book shares the experiences of Al-Anon members in facing the many losses associated with alcoholism and how they have found recovery through Al-Anon Family Groups.
The Forum 2008 Index
In 2008, The Forum magazine will publish hundreds of stories on various topics written by members of Al-Anon Family Groups. The Index is a helpful tool for anyone who is looking for an article on a specific subject.
Here are the articles we’ve published so far, some of which we’ve linked so you can access the stories. We hope you’ll check this page periodically because we’ll update the index every month.
The Forum 2007 Index
The Forum 2006 Index
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