The First Step to Healing
I think for a long time the only power I felt I had was to get enraged. I felt powerless in every other way. It’s funny that I think I’m in charge and intimidating when I get angry,
Lost-and-Found Self
I was addicted to my son. Coming to that realization was a major aha moment for me. For years, I hadn’t been able to separate my son from his disease. I thought I just needed to “fix” his mental
Uncovering the Beauty Within
My adult daughter was visiting me from out of state. Throughout her life, she has struggled with anxiety and depression. When I look at her, I see a beautiful, statuesque young woman, but her appearance shows only her
What Compassion Really Means
Before coming to Al‑Anon, I had a hard time understanding exactly what compassion was. I thought it meant covering for the alcoholic and making excuses for his actions. I thought I was being compassionate when I looked the
From Victim to Victory, Using the Tools of Al‑Anon
When I think of the word victory, I think of achieving success despite significant obstacles. I see it as living my best life with serenity, dignity, and grace. One of the biggest barriers to my own victory was my
Conference Approved Literature—A Vital Aspect of Self-Support
When I first started attending meetings, it was all I could do to listen to members share. I had no capacity in my chaos-filled life to quiet my mind enough to be present and absorb any readings from Conference
A Family Disease of Attitudes
I went to my first Al‑Anon meeting with no expectation of ever going to another one. A friend had said, “I find it helpful.” I figured I would give it one shot and then cross it off my list.
Encouraging Alateen Members to Serve
Service in recovery is like the third leg of a stool—a necessity for support and balance. Many of us find that participating in service provides surprising benefits to our overall sense of well-being. As part of Al‑Anon, Alateen invites
Supporting Alateen Members Moving on to Al‑Anon
As a certified Al‑Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) and an Alateen Group Sponsor, I see how the Alateen program benefits our younger members. As an Al‑Anon member, I share my experience, strength, and hope with the
Continuing to Look at Ourselves with the Help of Alateen
When the 2018 World Service Conference approved the development of a Just for Tonight bookmark (M-81), I was excited that I would have another Al‑Anon tool to “continue to take personal inventory” as I practiced Step Ten. Three
Letting Healthier Parenting Begin with Me
When I first joined Al‑Anon, the slogan “Let It Begin with Me” struck me. It felt like those particular words, in that particular order, were the essence of what brought me to my first meeting. One memory stands
I Found My Safe Space
I first set foot in Al‑Anon because of my mother’s drinking. My partner, who is in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), suggested Al‑Anon, and so did other outside help. At that point, I had been to some open A.A. meetings, and