Finding Intimacy
As a young man, I hated the month of February. I struggled with sadness and despair during this time, and though I blamed it on the weather, the real cause was my longing for intimacy. The focus on
Finding Intimacy
As a young man, I hated the month of February. I struggled with sadness and despair during this time, and though I blamed it on the weather, the real cause was my longing for intimacy. The focus on
Hope for Adult Children
I joined Alateen in Mexico in the 1980s. At the time, the majority of Al‑Anon members were wives of alcoholics. There were also numerous Al‑Anon groups called Young Al‑Anon. The members of these groups were children of alcoholics,
A Place for Adult Children of Alcoholics
I came to Al‑Anon as a young adult seeking the magic answer to prevent my husband from ever taking another drink now that he had joined Alcoholics Anonymous. I dutifully attended the meetings with him and I loved
Taking My Own Inventory
When I came to Al‑Anon many years ago, I had been married for seven years, and my husband and I had three young sons. Although his drinking resulted in many negative consequences for the entire family, I stayed
H.O.P.E.
Recently at a meeting I attended, the topic was hope. The Chairperson shared her thoughts on what hope meant to her by breaking down the meaning of the word letter by letter. Here’s what she shared: H =
I Learned I Am Not Alone
I discovered at my first Al‑Anon meeting just how much alcoholism had affected me, even though I didn’t drink. I was just as sick as my alcoholic boyfriend—maybe worse. I was obsessed. I constantly searched for alcohol and
It’s Okay to Love an Alcoholic
Before I found Al‑Anon, I thought there was something wrong with me because I loved an alcoholic. I didn’t understand how I could continue to love someone whose behavior was insane when drinking. I felt alone and isolated
Self-Care Replaced Fear and Anxiety
Growing up in an alcoholic home, I learned to focus on how my dad came home and whether my mom was going to be sad or angry. I learned to worry about my sister when she didn’t come
I Put the Focus on Myself
When my 15-year-old son began drinking, I would stay up and wait for him. The happy young son who loved to play the piano after dinner and read lots of books in the living room was now angry
From Pleasing Others to Pleasing Myself
Recently I purchased a vintage red bike at an estate sale. I smiled when I first saw it. It felt right. The first time I rode it, I realized how far I have come in Al‑Anon. I had
Finding True Hope
For a long time I would hope for things that I knew wouldn’t come true. Hope for me was like a wishing well that I tossed a nickel into whenever I needed motivation or a happy place to