AL-ANON

A FAMILY’S BEST DEFENSE AGAINST THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF ALCOHOLISM IS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISEASE

No one can force an alcoholic to stop drinking.  Only the alcoholic can stop drinking.

The persons closest to the alcoholic often times need more assistance and counseling than the alcoholic.  The best way to help an alcoholic recover is to learn about the disease, change attitudes and have the courage to practice Al-Anon principles when dealing with the Alcoholic.

The alcoholic’s weapons used against family

            1. Ability to arouse anger:  
                         The anger displayed by the family than confirms the alcoholic’s image of self-hatred and
                          justifies the past drinking as well as future drinking. This anger enables the alcoholic to blame the
                          family for his problem.

            2. Ability to arouse anxiety:
                         Anxiety aroused in the family often leads the family to cover up the alcoholic’s mistakes
                         because the Alcoholics don’t take responsibility for themselves.

Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds whose lives have been affected by the compulsive drinking of a family member or friend.  The purpose is to help these family members and is achieved by:

§         Offering comfort and friendship

§         Sharing of experiences

§         Confidentiality which provides feeling of safety to share with others.

§         Growing spiritually through the 12 steps adapted from AA

§         The knowledge they are not alone

Check the AA schedule page for times and places of the Al-Anon meetings.

                                                                                                                                                    2/2007