I Can’t Do This Alone Anymore
It was a normal, nice day. Things seemed to be going so well—until it happened. Not again! I thought. This time, I called my husband, crying, feeling so overwhelmed, lost, and confused. Part of me was so angry,
Happiness Is Here and Now
I came to Al‑Anon years ago looking for tips on how to fix my alcoholic husband. I got a big surprise when you told me that I could only fix me. I am so glad that I stayed
Your Group Services Team Talks Rotation of Service
Being introduced to service positions as newcomers helped us to feel part of the group at a time when we might otherwise have found it difficult to connect with others. For some of us, the simple contribution of
Reaching Out to My Daughter with Kindness
When life throws me another curveball, like my alcoholic daughter having a baby, I start obsessing about how to fix her before the baby is born. To break out of this pattern of thinking, I go to Al‑Anon
Learning to “Live and Let Live”
Before I attended my first meeting, I was much too focused on my alcoholic wife’s behavior and not nearly focused enough on my own. In fact, I was heavily focused on anyone’s behavior besides my own. I tried
Prioritizing Serenity
When I first came into the program, my priorities were informed by the family disease of alcoholism and the recent death of my father. My immediate priority after losing my dad to alcohol abuse was to save my
Social Media Policy Updated!
The 2022 World Service Conference approved changes to the “Public Outreach” section of the “Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies” related to social media. These changes are reflected in the 2022–2025 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) v2. Over the
Honoring Al-Anon’s Singleness of Purpose in Policy-Making Service Positions
Very often, I meet up with my Higher Power while hiking in nature. As a kid, I would ramble through the creeks and woods in my grandparents’ backyard. Through the years, I learned to be respectful of the
Dilution of the Al-Anon Program
When I first came to Al‑Anon, all I wanted to know was how to get out of the mess I was in. I had no idea what it meant to form an Al‑Anon group or support the group.
“Do You Love Me Today?”
Growing up in an alcoholic home, I lived amidst instability and insecurity daily. Unlike children who grew up being told they were loved “to the moon and back,” or “this much” by someone with arms spread wide, I
I Tried Everything
As I reflect on my early days of recovery, I realize how thankful I am for Al‑Anon. I did what many other members did with their alcoholics—emptied out liquor bottles, yelled, screamed, cried, and begged him to stop
I “Do” Belong in Al-Anon
All my life, I’ve struggled to feel that I belong. As the only girl, I felt distinctly different from my three brothers. As a “feeler” in a family of “thinkers,” I felt alienated. Coming out as a lesbian