When I walked into my first Al‑Anon meeting, the room was filled only with women enthusiastically chatting with one another. As a man, I asked if the meeting was for women only. The response was welcoming, cheerful, and warm. Someone gave me a phone list, meeting list, and welcome packet, and I received many words of encouragement to “Keep Coming Back.” I now welcome newcomers fondly because I remember how I was treated at my first meeting.
By Michael D., Florida
The Forum, December 2019
My son is 31 and an addict. I made the huge mistake of buying a condo and letting him live there on the condition that he go to school, work part time and pay a low rent. He went to school for a while, but then he lost his job and its been downhill ever since. He has been drinking continuously and has become disruptive and violent and doesn’t pay any rent. The condo association wants him out. I have hired an attorney for advice . I know I have enabled him and feel guilty but I know I’m not… Read more »
My son is an addict. He got real bad when he was in St. Louis so skinny, I gave him so much money, I just finally told him to come down. He seem to be getting better but then he started drinking again, he flip out on me, spit in my face, and called me names, because I mentioned how much money I felt had thrown away on him because there is constant progression. Feel helpless, now he left and I’m worried.
I have a sister-in-law who has a drinking problem that is being enabled by everyone in the family except my husband and I. I love her dearly but have kept my distance from the Insanity of it all. She blacks out not able to recall anything she has done. She is very unbecoming in her behavior with the opposite sex. Everyone else is too polluted or in so much denial that they ignore it or don’t see it. I have lived with alcoholism with my father and a brother, and now I see my other brothers looking as if they… Read more »
Drug and alcoholic son in prison going to get out soon. I am old and retired now and don’t have money to help him anymore. This is his third time there and I think he’s getting drugs in prison. Love him but can’t deal with him anymore. I am so sad, he’ll be 41 on the 12th of December. My friend said I need you!