While preparing to share my recovery journey at a group anniversary event, I had a thought about the ways I’ve sought relief over my lifetime. As a child growing up in an alcoholic home, with a mother whose anger ranged from “a slow boil” to “boiling over,” some of the ways I sought relief included reading; school, which provided a calming sense of predictability; order; and spending time with friends. As an adult, my patterns for seeking relief from resentments and fears looked very similar: spending a lot of time at work, partying with friends, and always having a book to escape into.
The relief I felt from my very first meeting in Al‑Anon had the same elements as those relief tools I’ve used all my life—a safe, consistent place to spend time, fellowship among many loving friends, and certainly plenty of literature to read! I’ll be forever grateful that the relief I experienced early on was enough to keep me coming back and wanting more.
By Debi S.
The Forum, July 2025
Feel free to reprint this article on your service arm website or newsletter, along with this credit line: Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.