Al-Anon Collective

Al-Anon Groups provide hope for families and friends of alcoholics. If someone else's drinking affects you, I promise you're not the only one.

[al-anoncollective]

It's not important for me to comment on everything I hear. It is important for me to let go and let others make decisions for themselves.

Hope for Today pg. 142

[wrinkleintime]

keep your head up || ben howard

[riffatmatinpoetry]

I’m not going to feel hopeless forever. This is something that I’m going through right now but it will not last forever.

Affirmation of the day. (via riffatmatinpoetry)

[adestinationknown-blog]

Someone said something today in our meeting that really stuck with me.

“I am responsible for healing the wound. Even if someone else caused it. I am the one responsible for taking action to heal it.”

[tide-turning-deactivated2019062]

Just For Today

I will accept others as they are. I will not try to change others, but will try to improve myself.

[al-anoncollective]

[soulsorting-deactivated20190722]

Be passionate about your progression

[thehopefulhello]

[aapigeon]

Too blessed to be stressed

[zodiaccity]

[doggykittyeverywhere]

http://doggykittyeverywhere.tumblr.com

[al-anoncollective]

Need a hug?

[indieteen]

[codeemalia]

[al-anoncollective]

my mom, who has been sober for 6 months, just came home drunk. i have NO IDEA how to handle this.. i'm only living with her because she's supposed to be sober. idk what to do.... i feel so defeated.

Hi, friend. I know you are overwhelmed right now and I definitely understand how deeply upsetting it us to see a parent fail in this way. I also know that your mother must value you’re relationship if she has been attempting sobriety for the last 6 months. My father hasn’t made it more than 3 weeks without drinking. I know it’s frustrating to see her fall, but try to see how far she’s climbed too :) If you are feeling defeated/angry/hurt/tired/lonely that is perfectly normal & you should sit with those feelings... but I promise this is not the end of the world & I’m sure she did not do this to hurt you. She probably did this because she is struggling in some way & in her mind alcohol is her lifeline. I’m going to quote a page from an Al-Anon book that was made specifically for people with alcoholic parents - I hope this helps you.Hope for today, pg 57:“When I first came into Al-Anon, I felt it was not in my capacity to forgive. As much as forgiving others seemed to be the right thing to do, my good intentions didn’t take away the pain or allow me to forget what certain people had said or done. I equated forgiveness with accepting unacceptable behavior.In Al-Anon I learned new ways to protect myself around abusive people, including the alcoholics in my life. Now I know how to walk away from a verbally offensive situation. I can tell someone I feel angry or uncomfortable with their behavior and say what I mean without being mean when I say it. I find that the more I stand up for myself, the more willing I am to forgive. Once I discuss my anger or hurt with the other person, it often becomes clear that my resentment is about a one-time mishap I blew out of proportion. Then we discuss ways to avoid repeating the calamity, often becoming closer in the process. In other cases my resentment is based on a persistent pattern of behavior I’m not willing to accept. I forgive the other person because that’s what I need to do for me. I don’t continue accepting unacceptable behavior. Sometimes forgiving includes letting go of a harmful relationship and moving on. When I forgive before I leave, I can walk away feeling clean, with no negative ties to prevent me from continuing my journey toward health and wholeness. Thought for the Day

Sometimes the forgiveness process fosters deeper unity and connection between people. Sometimes it points to an exit sign. “Through the Al-Anon program I have learned that forgiveness... does not call for going back to an abusive or destructive relationship and saying, ‘Oh well, I forgive you one more time.’ For me, forgiveness is the natural outcome of working the Twelve Steps.”

The Forum, November 1999, p. 9″

[a-joyfuljourney]

Lia Selina

[al-anoncollective]

I hate it when my mom's drunk she's so annoying and it happens often but not often enough for me to talk about it (my dad is an actual alcoholic who lives separately from us). When drunk, she's just always complaining about everything and i get filled with hate when i listen to her and she's complaining even though she can't even form coherent sentences. It's not normal for me to feel strong anger but whenever i think about alcohol it happens. I feel so alone and ashamed.

You are not alone - I promise. I’m going to type up a page from an Al-Anon book that was made specifically for people with alcoholic parents. Each page is a personal story meant to help others cope with their situation. I hope this helps you see that you are not alone, and that there is absolutely no shame in how you are feeling. We’ve all been there and you are so strong for reaching out!! The book is Hope for Today, pg 334:

“I was practically consumed with frustration and anger toward my mother when I first discovered Al-Anon. Although my father was the one who drank, screamed with rage, hit, and eventually abandoned me, I blamed my mother for not protecting me and for refusing to admit how harrowing my life had been. 

In Al-Anon and through the love and patience of my sponsor, I found acceptance and understanding of my feelings. I was introduced to the idea of “Live and Let Live.” Gradually I put aside my resentments by accepting my powerlessness over both the disease and my mother’s reaction to it. As I continued my recovery, I discovered compassion for her and ended my struggle to force her to break her denial. 

Today I can put the past where it belongs and focus on taking care of myself. I needn’t wait for someone to do it for me. I am no longer a victim of my emotions or of circumstances beyond my control. Instead, I am free to enjoy what I have received through this fellowship - serenity, courage, wisdom, and love.”

[justanotheralateen]

[al-anoncollective]

Today I know that for unity to exist in my family or in my group, all of us must have a voice.

Paths to Recovery, p 139