Al-Anon Family Group

The Forum magazine articles - June 2006

The following articles from the June 2006 issue are reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Hdqs., Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.  For more articles, check The Forum archive.  
 

 

I’ve been an Al-Anon member for eight years and recently moved from the big city to a small rural community.  I knew I needed my armour to survive, so I found an Al-Anon group as soon as I arrived.  Thank God.  I experienced lots of anxiety regarding the move, new job, and new life.  I went to a group and found something in my life that was the same!      A few months later, my partner and I were pleased to find out that we were pregnant.  I shared this with my new Al-Anon family.  We lost our baby three months later and it was the most difficult experience we’ve ever gone through.  Thank God for Al-Anon!  As soon as the members heard the news, they came to our aid and support.  They allowed me to grieve and to cry during the meetings.  Some members shared their experiences with similar losses.  Again, I did not feel alone.  I am so grateful for this program and for the members who are always there with a hug.

 

I was tense, nervous, and depressed before coming to Al-Anon.  I had poor self esteem.  Feeling that no matter what I did, it was never good enough.  Despite these feelings, I desperately wanted people to accept me, so I performed every project with utmost care and effort.  I paid excessive attention to details, which served to slow down each project.  As a result I rarely accomplished enough to feel good about myself.  Because I was a perfectionist, I couldn’t accept the compliment of a job well done.  I never felt deserving of compliments.      In Al-Anon, I’m learning to accept myself and to give myself credit where credit is due.  Now I say, “Thank you,” for compliments I receive, whether or not I feel deserving.  I’m learning to thrive on progress and worry less about perfection, while still trying to do my best.  I’m doing my part and trusting in my Higher Power for the results.

 

I had no desire to become a counselor, even though I was attending a vocational college to obtain a certificate in alcohol and drug counseling.  The real reason I attended that particular class was to continue receiving my unemployment benefits.  I figured the course might help me understand “those people” when I eventually entered the law enforcement field.  After I completed the didactic courses, my clinical supervisor suggested I attend Al-Anon to better understand what it takes to recover from alcoholism.      I took a notebook to my first meeting and introduced myself as a visitor.  My Higher Power knew I couldn’t handle a large forum, so He placed me in a small group of loving women.  Those women shared their experience, strength, and hope from the Al-Anon program.      Immediately I knew I was in the right place and the Al-Anon members had something I wanted.  They remained so serene while speaking honestly about their fears, wants, and needs.  I continued attending that meeting and went to other meetings as well.      The love and compassion I receive in the rooms on Al-Anon still empower me seven years later.  I’m grateful for the recovery experience.  I didn’t pursue law enforcement, but I became a counselor!      I can’t imagine my life without Al-Anon—where I learned communication skills and how to give and receive what my Higher Power has given me.