My life was already in a state of emergency when I first heard about Al‑Anon. I didn’t understand what Al‑Anon was; I just knew that I needed help. My first meeting was daunting. I was very reserved after all the years of living a life that I could not share with any of my friends. It was such a relief, however, to sit in a room where people talked about things I had never dared to say aloud. They seemed to know what I was feeling and what I had been experiencing. It is such a normalizing thing to know that other parents have suffered the same fears I have, survived as many sleepless nights, and been able to talk about the situation openly.

By Patti P., Hawaii

The Forum, July 2019