Support for Families and Friends
If someone you know has a drinking or drug problem, chances are you have been affected more than you realize. There is help and support available.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Verbal Abuse
I remind myself that if the screaming alcoholic was a wino on the street who walked up to me and said all those things, I wouldn't give it a second thought.
I remind myself that if the screaming alcoholic was a wino on the street who walked up to me and said all those things, I wouldn't give it a second thought.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Being Unreasonable
I realize that by trying to force solutions to the problems caused by alcoholism in my family, I was basically getting in the way.
I realize that by trying to force solutions to the problems caused by alcoholism in my family, I was basically getting in the way.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Understanding
When I started taking a hard look at myself and the part that I had played in the family problems, then I truly began to understand the powerful disease that I was dealing with.
When I started taking a hard look at myself and the part that I had played in the family problems, then I truly began to understand the powerful disease that I was dealing with.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Trust
Active alcoholics are not capable of being honest with themselves. Why should I expect them to be honest with me?
Active alcoholics are not capable of being honest with themselves. Why should I expect them to be honest with me?
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Serenity
There finally came a point at which the chaos became overwhelming and I had no choice except to admit that my life had become unmanageable.
There finally came a point at which the chaos became overwhelming and I had no choice except to admit that my life had become unmanageable.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Low Self Esteem
I never felt like I was one of the gang. I was different, I had secrets.
I never felt like I was one of the gang. I was different, I had secrets.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Restoration to Sanity
If I put limitations on what my God is capable of doing for me, I am thereby putting limits what I am able to receive.
If I put limitations on what my God is capable of doing for me, I am thereby putting limits what I am able to receive.
How Can I Get Him to Stop?
By the time family members ask this question, the drinker has usually crossed over from occasional alcohol abuse to actual alcohol dependence.
By the time family members ask this question, the drinker has usually crossed over from occasional alcohol abuse to actual alcohol dependence.
Why Do I Need Help? He's the Alcoholic!
The disease of alcoholism affects everyone in the family whether they realize it or not.
The disease of alcoholism affects everyone in the family whether they realize it or not.
Are You Enabling an Alcoholic or Addict?
The following questions are designed to help you decide whether or not your actions and reactions to the alcoholic might be enabling.
The following questions are designed to help you decide whether or not your actions and reactions to the alcoholic might be enabling.
Are You Troubled by Someone's Drinking?
Millions of people are affected by the excessive drinking of someone close. The following questions, from Al-Anon Family Groups, are designed to help you decide whether or not you need Al-Anon.
Millions of people are affected by the excessive drinking of someone close. The following questions, from Al-Anon Family Groups, are designed to help you decide whether or not you need Al-Anon.
Coping With a Family Member in Rehab
Having any member of your family in rehab for drugs or alcohol means that you're inevitably facing and perhaps even struggling with a lot of concerns, questions and maybe some misconceptions about how professional treatment works.
Having any member of your family in rehab for drugs or alcohol means that you're inevitably facing and perhaps even struggling with a lot of concerns, questions and maybe some misconceptions about how professional treatment works.
Addiction Treatment Should Include Family Therapy
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has unveiled the first practical guide for substance abuse treatment counselors to incorporate family therapy techniques into substance abuse treatment.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has unveiled the first practical guide for substance abuse treatment counselors to incorporate family therapy techniques into substance abuse treatment.
Games Alcoholic Families Play
As the saying goes, you are not the cause of someone else's drinking problem, you cannot cure it and you can't control it. But there are ways that you may be contributing to the problem.
As the saying goes, you are not the cause of someone else's drinking problem, you cannot cure it and you can't control it. But there are ways that you may be contributing to the problem.
The Many Facets of Enabling
What is the best way to react to the situation? How do you react when the alcoholic has pulled another one of his stunts?
What is the best way to react to the situation? How do you react when the alcoholic has pulled another one of his stunts?
Al-Anon Topics for Beginners
Some of the topics that seem to be of most interest to those who are newcomers to Al-Anon Family Groups, or who want to learn more about the program.
Some of the topics that seem to be of most interest to those who are newcomers to Al-Anon Family Groups, or who want to learn more about the program.
One Family's Story
This unfortunately is a true story about how many lives one alcoholic can affect, and how alcoholism can spiral into a full-fledged family disease.
This unfortunately is a true story about how many lives one alcoholic can affect, and how alcoholism can spiral into a full-fledged family disease.
What Have You Tried to Get Someone to Stop Drinking?
What efforts have you made to try to get someone that you care about to stop drinking?
What efforts have you made to try to get someone that you care about to stop drinking?
Have You Been Playing a Role in the Life of an Alcoholic?
Though it may be hard to admit it, do you think you could – intentionally or not – be playing a role in the life of an alcoholic?
Though it may be hard to admit it, do you think you could – intentionally or not – be playing a role in the life of an alcoholic?
What Makes the Victims of Violence Stay?
Most people who come in contact with the inappropriate behavior of an alcoholic will simply walk away. But for many others it is not so simple.
Most people who come in contact with the inappropriate behavior of an alcoholic will simply walk away. But for many others it is not so simple.
The Cycle of Violence Repeats in the Alcoholic Family
It took only three months for the cycle of violence to go from the making up stage through the building up of tension, and finally to an outburst of violence.
It took only three months for the cycle of violence to go from the making up stage through the building up of tension, and finally to an outburst of violence.
The Cycle of Violence in an Alcoholic Family
Don't worry, he whispers, it will never happen again. I promise.
Don't worry, he whispers, it will never happen again. I promise.
Another Child Affected by Alcoholism
Because of the insidious nature of alcoholism, alcoholics and even those around them sometimes do not notice that their behavior has slowly grown more extreme and unacceptable.
Because of the insidious nature of alcoholism, alcoholics and even those around them sometimes do not notice that their behavior has slowly grown more extreme and unacceptable.
Chat Meeting Topic - Enabling
Experience, strength, and hope on the topic enabling, shared in an online meeting.
Experience, strength, and hope on the topic enabling, shared in an online meeting.
Al-Anon Meeting Topic: Being Powerless
Before I came into Al-Anon the concept of being powerless was totally foreign to me.
Before I came into Al-Anon the concept of being powerless was totally foreign to me.
The List of Victims Grows in the Alcoholic Family
When alcohol begins to take more and more control of their lives, many alcoholics find themselves making promises that they cannot keep, buying things they cannot afford, and signing contracts they cannot possibly fulfill.
When alcohol begins to take more and more control of their lives, many alcoholics find themselves making promises that they cannot keep, buying things they cannot afford, and signing contracts they cannot possibly fulfill.