Virginia Beach, VA (PRWEB) May 19, 2016
Al-Anon Family Groups celebrate their 65th Anniversary this month, offering help and support to families and friends of alcoholics throughout the world. Since May 1951, anyone affected by someone else’s drinking has been welcome to attend an Al-Anon meeting. “Relationships with loved ones who have a drinking problem can be just as dire and devastating today as they were before 1951,” Al-Anon Information Analyst Pamela Walters said. “But today there is hope for anyone who is willing to give Al-Anon a try.”
Al-Anon is for parents, spouses, siblings, adult children, and friends of anyone who has a drinking problem. “Al-Anon members maintain anonymity and confidentiality for themselves, newcomers, and all visitors,” Walters said. “Al-Anon meetings provide a safe environment for people to tell the truth about what is happening in their relationships with problem drinkers. Their openness, honesty, and support mark the beginning of a healing process.”
Carol is an anonymous Al-Anon member. “When I first came to Al-Anon, the most important thing to me is I found out I was not in this alone,” Carol said. “Others came before me, and would be of help. All I had to do was ask. That was very hard at first. Pride and shame stood in my path to recovery.”
Marsha, another anonymous Al-Anon member, said, “Life would have been very difficult without Al-Anon. I came to my first meeting with a confused mind and total loss of hope. I didn’t know anything about the program, but once I started studying the principles and applying them to my personal as well as my work life, it created wonders in my life.”
Jane learned about Al-Anon when she visited a podcast about alcoholic relapses. “I have a 29-year-old daughter who is married and has three children, but is an alcoholic,” Jane said. “She lies, is manipulative, and when we try to encourage her to get help, she threatens to keep our grandchildren from us. I am very worried about their safety, as her husband doesn’t seem to understand how sick she is.”
“My wife has a drinking problem,” said Sean, one of a growing number of men who are seeking help for themselves and their families in Al-Anon. “It is not every day, but every so often when I come home, I complain about things being messy and the children not being fed. Both of my wife’s parents are functioning or weekend alcoholics. Her mother calls on Friday and says unspeakable things to her and me. Their drinking is a big trigger for my wife.”
Al-Anon Family Groups are for families and friends who have been affected by a loved one’s drinking. Nearly 16,000 local groups meet throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico every week. Al-Anon Family Groups meet in more than 130 countries, and Al-Anon literature is available in more than 40 languages. Al-Anon Family Groups have been offering strength and support to families and friends of problem drinkers since 1951. Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. acts as the clearinghouse worldwide for inquiries from those who need help or want information about Al-Anon Family Groups and Alateen, its program for teenage members.
For more information about Al-Anon Family Groups, visit al-anon.org and read a copy of Al-Anon’s annual public outreach magazine “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2016.” Find a local meeting by calling toll-free: 1-888-4AL-ANON.