@AlAnonWSO
Al-Anon provides support to those affected by someone's alcohol use.
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Welcome!
How Can Al-Anon Help Me? Our personal situations may be different, but we share as equals because of what we have in common: our lives have been affected by another person’s drinking. Al-Anon is a mutual support group. We can find understanding and support when we share our common experience with each other. Some of us
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Al-Anon & Alateen Members
Al-Anon & Alateen Members
Recent articles
A Family Disease of Attitudes
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. But much to my surprise, I found even that first meeting helpful, despite being uncertain about what
Uncovering the Beauty Within
Uncovering the Beauty Within
What Compassion Really Means
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 other way but still fixed whatever he did that caused problems. I thought I was having
From Victim to Victory, Using the Tools of Al-Anon
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 victim outlook. I placed an enormous amount of importance on things outside myself: my circumstances,
Letting Healthier Parenting Begin with Me
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 out most clearly. I was in the middle of the kitchen talking to my adolescent daughter. I
I Found My Safe Space
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 I craved the feeling of community I witnessed there. One night, the day after my birthday, I
The Right Time for Recovery
The Right Time for Recovery
“When is the right time?” I was asked this question recently at a meeting by a young man who felt lost and confused about his spouse’s alcoholism and came to Al‑Anon as his last hope. This brought back memories of when I had contemplated divorce and wondered when the right time for it might
Supporting Alateen Members Moving on to Al‑Anon
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 teens with the same love and compassion as I do in an Al‑Anon meeting. The teens’
Understanding how alcoholism affects my son—and me
Understanding how alcoholism affects my son—and me
In 2017, I was 5’2” and weighed 117 pounds. My six-foot son weighed 116 pounds. The swirl of confusion and chaos in my head was ever-present, making it difficult to engage. Every boundary I set was crossed, and I said nothing. Every time I made excuses for my son, I became more resentful. And
The Dinner-Party Test
The Dinner-Party Test
I recently attended a dinner party with my husband, my recovering alcoholic son, and my son’s girlfriend. The host, not knowing about my son’s membership in Alcoholics Anonymous, asked my son what he was drinking. “Water will be fine,” he replied. The host persisted. “Are you sure I can’t get you something stronger?” he
When I Let It
When I Let It
Pledge to Myself as the Wife of an Alcoholic
Pledge to Myself as the Wife of an Alcoholic
Today, I will be still and listen to myself. I will drop the fallacy in my thinking that holds me solely responsible for the success or failure of my family. I will release a dream to which I was never entitled in the first place. Today, I will show up in my marriage as I
The Family Situation Can Improve
The Family Situation Can Improve
One morning I was riding my bicycle with a group of friends and really enjoying the beautiful day. I have found that little “Aha!” moments sometimes happen unexpectedly when I’m on my bike and my mind is in a peaceful and serene place. For so long I had felt, as so many do, that I
Home at Last
Home at Last
I’ll never forget my first Al‑Anon meeting. The image is burned into my memory. It was in a large basement room of a church, and about 30 people were in attendance. The room was painted white, and the overhead lights shone down to brighten up the room even more. That color resonated with me;
Obedience to the Unenforceable
Obedience to the Unenforceable
The purpose of forming and registering an Al‑Anon group with the World Service Office (WSO) is to gather together for mutual aid and to offer help and hope to anyone affected by the family disease of alcoholism. We do this by using the Al‑Anon tools: meetings, the Twelve Steps and Traditions,
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