I came when I heard of Al-Anon. Someone suggested it, I respected their opinion and I went to a meeting. At first I was lost, afraid to share, didn’t understand how they could put personal information with themselves out to a group of strangers. I learned what I consider to be a beautiful thing. We aren’t strangers. We are a family of individuals who share our experience, strength, and hope, and by doing so we help ourselves and those in the room who choose to take something.

I originally came to Al-Anon because of my son-in-law & his vehement denials of alcoholism. I started out tackling that issue, then realized I had a more pervasive alcoholic problem with my brothers. The longer I attended meetings, which is 10 years next April, I discovered alcoholic behaviors going back to my paternal grandfather. The disease pervaded 3 generations. As I progressed through the program, I have made great strides within the Al-Anon program & the conference approved books, the 4th step workbook & Reaching for Personal Freedom workbook. What a wonderful way to get the help, for a small… Read more »

I came to Al-Anon on the suggestion of my Mom when my physical health came to a grinding halt. I was stuck in bed for a week. My husband’s behaviour was so unpredictable and illogical, that I was going crazy! I knew I couldn’t change him and I didn’t like the person I had become. I heard the closing at the meeting where it said, “although you might not like all of us, you’ll love us in a very special way, just like we already love you!” The feeling I felt when I heard this, is what kept me coming… Read more »

I came to Al-Anon because I felt that I was out of control. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. It was suggested to me by a friend. I kept coming back because I really felt a sense of relief after my first meeting.

I forgot to tell you why I keep coming back, I have been a Active member for six years. I keep coming back because it has helped me figure out who I am and what my character defects are and how to work on them and every day my life is like a puzzle that I keep working on; I keep finding more missing pieces that explain why I felt so much more pain and sadness from being raised in alcoholism. There are days I wish I could bottle up the Al-Anon group and bring it home with me.

I was raised in a alcoholic home but that wasn’t what brought me to Al-Anon, I thought if i just got out of my parents house and got married things would be good, I didn’t know the affects it caused me to have. It wasn’t until 35 years into my marriage when it became apparent to me that my husband is an alcoholic, that’s when i came into Al-Anon. I was in such pain not only dealing with the pain I felt after finding out that my husband was a alcoholic, now I had to deal with the pain I… Read more »

I came to Al-Anon because my husband had gone to AA and he suggested that I go and I did what he said. I stayed because I had to figure out what you wanted from me. I have since learned that all you wanted was to love me unconditionally. I keep coming back because I want to keep getting what I am not getting peace & love and I want to give back.

I came to Al-Anon because I was in so much pain and inner turmoil, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it or share how desperate I really felt. So I just listened and was struck by what I heard….people honestly sharing and saying what I was unable to say. I didn’t feel so alone so I kept coming back. Some place inside knew this was a safe place and after some time I was able to start breaking the silence that had such a hold on me. I’m discovering who I am and like the feeling. The program encourages… Read more »

I came to Al-Anon because I was tired of vacillating between being too scared to speak up and screaming at the top of my lungs for things to change. It took me a while to realize I needed Al-Anon because there isn’t active alcoholism in my life. Yet I have been affected by it. Both alcoholics are dead and one of them I’ve never met. Turns out the disease of alcoholism is so cunning, baffling and powerful that its effects have trickled through the generations on both my and my husband’s sides and they impact my life on a daily… Read more »

I came to this program 34 yrs ago because of my response to my doctor’s statement, if your husband doesn’t stop now he will be dead in six months. My response was good. I was at the point of just wanting it over and I didn’t care how. Later that day I called a local treatment center and spoke to an AA member who said he couldn’t help but said Al-Anon would help. I stayed because the women were focused on repairing the damage they the non-drinker had done to their children, I had no problem admitting my anger and… Read more »

My first introduction to Al-Anon was several years before I realized I needed the program. I had contacted a gentleman at my son’s request to get information for him and the gentleman asked “what are you doing for yourself?”. He accompanied me to my first Al-Anon meeting. I was warmly welcomed, given a ODAT, encouraged to just listen and to keep coming back. I did that for a few more meetings and didn’t feel that it was for me. After all, I wasn’t the one with the problem. Several years later my son, now in recovery, kindly and gently suggested… Read more »

I came to Al-Anon because I felt like I could not handle one more day with my alcoholic loved one. I had begun counting how many alcoholic drinks he had a day. Nothing was working. I was extremely anxious, could not sleep, and the stress was causing physical symptoms. I was 33 yrs old. Today I am 64. I still go to Al-Anon meetings (at least three/week). I use my sponsor. She has been my sponsor for 27 years. The fellowship and support are amazing. I no longer live with active alcoholism. The 12 steps are a way of life… Read more »

I came through the doors of Al-Anon differently than most. It wasn’t the active alcoholism of my wife, but her sobriety that made me realize I needed help. The buttons I used to push no longer got the reactions that I expected; I was seeing many significant, positive changes in my wife. She was going to a lot of meetings, developing new friendships, and having fun in sobriety. I knew that if I wanted to save my marriage I needed to make changes in myself. I started going to Al-Anon and learning about my part in the disease and how… Read more »

During the years before either of us had any recovery, I had observed several personalities in my husband. There was the one I fell in love with, the one that showed up later as his disease progressed, and yet another one every time he “quit” drinking. I knew if he was going to be sober, there would be yet another personality to deal with. I had realized the only personality I knew how to live with was the drinking one and I didn’t like it! I came to Al-Anon to learn how to live with the “new” person I would… Read more »

I keep coming back (over 10 years now) because whenever I leave a meeting I feel better. I am in the solution rather than the problem (and the story). And if I didn’t have a chance to share during the meeting there is always an opportunity for fellowship afterward. I find that if I don’t attend a meeting during the week (3 meetings is the perfect number for me – or more!) I start feeling funky and old ways of dealing and behaving creep in. While I love my morning reading, talking with my sponsor, and phone calls – all… Read more »

Hi all. I came to Al-Anon because the man that I am romantically involved with is an alcoholic. I never had experience with this; as I had been happily married to my husband who passed away after 28 years of marriage. So anyway, here I am dating and falling in love with the first person that I dated after that. I have been in Al-Anon for 8 months and am always surprised at the peace and serenity I feel when I really “Let go and Let God”. The principles of the steps have made me (slowly) realize that this is… Read more »

I’ve been attending Al-Anon on and off for five years. During that time I continued to seek various ways to find comfort, understanding, and hope regarding the effects of alcoholism in my life. What I have learned in the last six months is that Al-Anon provides the most comprehensive and accessible way to help heal my emotional wounds. The program fosters the serenity I need in order to enjoy the wonderful things I have in life. My understanding of Al-Anon steps, principles, and traditions grows stronger every day, and so does my gratitude to Al-Anon and its members. I keep… Read more »

When my husband got locked up for being drunk & violent with me, his best friend (who had time sober in AA) came over to my house that night. He suggested an Al-Anon meeting. I was at my rock bottom. Everything I did to help my husband didn’t work. The very first meeting I heard something that helped me (myself). 7yrs later I’m still gratefully a member.

I came to Al-Anon because the rehab my son was in told my wife she couldn’t see him without first attending two Al-Anon meetings and getting slips signed. I didn’t want to go to an Al-Anon meeting but I just tagged along with her to not be home alone. I began listening to what others were saying at the meetings and heard bits and pieces of my story so I stayed. I got into service which made me feel like I was part of the fellowship. I learned much about alcoholism over the years which changed my perspective about the… Read more »

I am 72. I came to Al-Anon seven years ago. I thought of coming years ago and would beat myself up for not having the courage to do so. Now I know that I came at the right time. I am learning, one day at a time, to love and take care of myself first. When I do that I am much better at loving others. Like many of us, I am a caretaker who forgot that I needed taking care of, too. Life is so much better when we learn to love ourselves.