I knew my son had a drinking problem even though he didn’t drink in front of me. His lifestyle was indicative of a person who had lost his way. One day he announced that he was going to the Emergency Room to be admitted. From the ER, he went to a treatment facility and eventually became a member of a halfway house.
I was so relieved that he was finally seeking help, but found myself all alone. My daughter‑in‑law suggested I go to Al‑Anon. I was nervous and afraid the day I walked into my first meeting. The warmth and kindness with which I was greeted made me realize that I had made a valuable decision.
My son attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and I attend Al‑Anon meetings. Together with the members of both meetings we are finding peace, understanding, and have gained a new perspective on life.
By Anonymous
The Forum, October 2020
Feel free to reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter, along with this credit line: Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.
Alcoholic Daughter
My son has high anxiety and has been diagnosed as schizophrenia, alcoholism. He refused to take his meds because he thought they made him spaced out. His thought is that if he is able to smoke pot he is able to handle his anxiety without meds. He has been in rehab for alcohol once. He was released in 4 days. He came home and remained on his meds for about two months. He then slowly went off meds and started smoking pot. When he couldn’t get pot he drank and even if he smoked he thought he could just drink… Read more »
Rehab at a 28 day program may be the only hope for an alcoholic that refuses to go to AA. Set boundaries. They go or are not welcomed at family gatherings. Detach! Easier said than done but may save the loved one. We did that with my son and he has been sober for 12 years.
My 46 year old son is an alcoholic and has been for years. I have offered to pay for him help but he says he’s good. I am so worried about him. He avoids me because he is always drinking. I need help to help him. I know it is his choice, but he is not letting go. He is the drunk uncle at every family event. He always has a cup. I am a worried mom who needs help. Thanks
My son is an alcoholic and has been to emergency three times in the past three months. The second time he went to ER (three weeks ago) his alcohol level was 1.58 (not an exaggeration). The ER doctor stated that this level would have killed anyone else, but since my son’s body is so used to excessive alcohol, he was “only comatose” and had to be detoxed; he was discharged the very next day. My son called an ambulance last week Thursday because he was having a diabetic/alcoholic seizure and was taken to the VA, but was discharged that evening.… Read more »
This is my first time doing anything like this. My 22 year old son is struggling with alcohol and I don’t know what to do.
My son is struggling with addiction and I am desperate to find community support – so glad this group exists!
I am looking forward to getting back to Al-Anon again. I’ve only been to a couple because I needed support more from AA then NA. My sister went also to Al-Anon. Now I’m living with a good friend and her son who has a problem with drugs and his mother and I need help helping ourselves and him. He’s started to come off but still has issues.
So useful to me🌹