Alcoholism affects many families across the globe, but oftentimes those who care for the problem drinker find it hard to reach out for help. Fear is often an obstacle for anyone affected by the family disease of alcoholism. Carol, an anonymous Al‑Anon member, shares about how she overcame the fear of going to her first meeting.

Watch her interview to find out more.

If you would like to learn more about the Al‑Anon program, you might find the following resources helpful.

Disclaimer:

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.

INTERVIEWER: Carol, what would you say to someone who’s afraid to attend an Al‑Anon meeting?

CAROL: I would say take some time to consider, to learn. We have the internet available. And I think that, for me, the internet has been a source of great information because I was scared to start attending or to even look up where an Al‑Anon meeting was in my area. But the internet helped me to find out a little bit about Al‑Anon and to know that… to find the courage to go really is part of the work that I do within Al‑Anon when I got there. And so, I knew that when the time was right, I made it to the right meeting.

And so I hope that anyone who is scared or struggling and thinking, “Uh… what will it be like?” is that to just go and to trust that… From my experience, the meeting was so welcoming. And it was funny on the day that I went, the regular meeting room wasn’t available, so they had to go down the hall and into a little room. All it had was four couches along four walls and everybody piled in, and I thought, “This is weird.” But then the opening started, and it really did follow a format that I find now is consistent from meeting to meeting. And it’s comforting to hear it now – as comforting as it was the first time I went, because it just… it was a welcome. And that common welcome made me know that I really did belong.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you, Carol.