In Al-Anon and Alateen, members learn many ways to deal with stressful situations, in addition to those related to the alcoholic’s drinking. The anonymous member in this video refers to a few things she does to deal with anxiety.

This interview was recorded at the 2018 Al‑Anon International Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Members were asked to share about various aspects of the Al‑Anon program and their personal experience.

Members’ anonymity is protected so that they can share openly and honestly about their experience with a loved one’s drinking and with the Al‑Anon program.

The opinions expressed in this video were strictly those of the person who gave them.

MEMBER: I think those feelings are genuine feelings that people feel regardless of if your loved one is an alcoholic or not. I’ve been able to use the tools of the [Al-Anon] program so that I don’t feel so isolated when there’s challenges. Sometimes with anxiety, I don’t sleep well, and maybe I’ll pick up my daily reader, or maybe I’ll say the Serenity Prayer. And that’s one way to help me. The isolation thing I still struggle with because sometimes when I’m challenged, I like to figure it out myself. And I’ll go through a little, kind of process in my head and think about some things and maybe just focus on some breathing or meditation or even kind of, you know, some prayer type thing. And then there’s a point where I’m like I can reach out to someone. And over the years now, and I made a ton of friends, and no matter when I reach out or how I reach out, someone’s going to respond with love. And hear me out, and that’s always a good way to kind of get myself around it again.

Interviewer: Great, thank you.