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Compulsive behavior
(Preview)
I mentioned earlier that my ex-AH is staying with us for a while to see our kid. He is a binge drinker and he is not drinking at this particular juncture - in fact he is so feeble that I would be surprised if he could get out to buy any alcohol. We don't have a car and although we are in a city, I think the neares...
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Mattie
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7
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342
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tired of living with Alcoholism
(Preview)
I've been trying to write this post on and off for more than a week but I just can't figure out exactly what the point of it is. So I keep deleting it and starting over. This time I am going to get it out. I feel like I'm starting to accept that my AH is in fact an AH and that our relationship isn't healthy. ...
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KT2015
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11
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378
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what is denial???
(Preview)
what is denial and what does it look like in daily life? detachment with love? when is it denial and when is it detachment and how do i tell the difference.
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runi
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8
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525
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4/12/17 One Day at a Time in AlAnon
(Preview)
Who of us hasn't felt despair at one time or another, especially before recovery: the feeling of hopelessness and no way out. Today's page describes despair as an absence of faith, felt when we expect solutions to come only from us. Perhaps we lost our faith, maybe we never had it. AlAnon gives us the op...
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Enigmatic
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3
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434
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can't look away. long long reflection
(Preview)
Coming out of denial is a bit like chipping off a cast. At first, little pieces come away and you can see the bits underneath. You keep chipping away, little pieces keep falling, then get bigger. Keep chipping, chipping then in a soft but fast crumble, the whole thing is revealed and its Very different t...
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a4l
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3
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258
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Now I'm the selfish jerk. Ugh.
(Preview)
HE has a court-date tomorrow morning. I've been worried about it and the high potential for jail-time, but when I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago he told me he'd spoken to a lawyer who said he was sure he could get an adjournment as he needed time to review the case etc. So I put it out of my mind until there w...
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MissM
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6
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585
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Kids and Medicine
(Preview)
I'm adjusting to a new norm of having someone who steps in where in the moment don't have the ability to always be there. I enjoy some aspects of it .. however I still have triggers that are very valid based upon the issue of dealing with someone who lacks common sense and was in an altered state of mind. T...
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SerenityRUS
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5
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227
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I am stoked!
(Preview)
What a beautiful day! I just want to share my day w you. The sun is shining on this beautiful spring day. I am so excited to get out & enjoy the sunshine. We have had a long winter & it is time to get out finally! I am so grateful for anything positive that happens to me. It is my God-given gift to share t...
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Hoot Nanny
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4
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363
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Sometimes I complicate it
(Preview)
Al-Anon provides me with simple tools to make my life more manageable. But sometimes I make it complicated, by overthinking a process, a step or a slogan making them complex and confusing. I get stuck in my head and I'm unable to move forward in my recovery. This is when I have to remind myself to "keep it...
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_bunny_
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4
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414
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my anxiety response to the anger, help!
(Preview)
So yesterday I found myself in a mess of my own doing. Wallowing and such... I quickly recognized and tried to change my attitude around. Jump to today. Sundays are always the hardest. I wake up with anxiety wondering if my A was going to follow thru on plans and promises he has made to the boys. Today is no...
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pumkin26
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21
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553
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Apr 11 hope for Today
(Preview)
Good morning Everyone: Today's reading is about the influence of alcoholism on our feelings. Do we try to draw attention to ourselves? Do we avoid having attention on ourselves? Do we try to control and manage our feelings? Personally there are two points that stand out to me in today's reading- one...
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yanksfan51
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2
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279
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The Insanity of the Disease....
(Preview)
We all know, experience and hear how cunning, baffling and powerful this disease is.....For me, yesterday was an interesting day. I say interesting instead of maddening, sad, crazy, insane as it was all that and then some. I'll be as brief as I can - nobody likes to read long, long posts. My oldest so...
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Iamhere
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32
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810
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This isn't the roller coaster I want to ride
(Preview)
This is my first post, I've read many of yours and hope I'm following group guidelines. I've been to two meetings the last two weeks after avoiding them for months. I suppose I don't want to admit that this is my new normal, that this did indeed happen in my life. I have an AH who was mostly sober for 13 years...
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Foomamapop
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5
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220
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Awareness,acceptance,action and people pleasing
(Preview)
Today I'd like to share on the 3 As and people pleasing,and jade. ive come to realize that I am still a people pleaser even when sick,and then jump to jadeing ,justifieing defending and explaining as to why I can't do some things when I'm sick,as in not get out around others to spread my virus,or just real...
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lookingup
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8
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298
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Arguing with a fence post ..
(Preview)
I seem to attract difficult people who have little to do with me in all reality. They always seem to be on the outskirts of my life. The good news is I am learning that trying to talk rationally to some of them is like arguing with a fence post .. and as someone very close and wise recently pointed out to me ....
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SerenityRUS
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3
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367
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Nervous...
(Preview)
Briefly, my A is being discharged today, after weeks in detox followed by in-patient. He'll be doing out-patient at the same facility, but we pick him up tonight after that. My son is worried...rightly so...about "who" is coming home. And you know what? So am I. I've had my ups and downs this who...
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ForwardMotion
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3
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344
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A wolf in sheep's clothing
(Preview)
Today my A ex=bf called me and started talking about how I do not want to see him. Last night he was depressed and called me. I actually have not said that I did not want to see him, I just do not want him spending the night at my house. He does not drive and he is expecting to be able to get someone to drop him off a...
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shrnp
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4
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229
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4/10/17 Courage to Change
(Preview)
Today's author notes how we may view ourselves as victims, especially as it relates to the effects of the disease of alcoholism. Work in Steps 4 and 8 can help us see and address where we, too, have caused harm to others. This is an opportunity for balance, for not swinging from one extreme to the other by...
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Enigmatic
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4
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390
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How we teach others to treat us ..
(Preview)
One thing that keeps coming back to the forefront of my mind is how I teach others to treat me. The biggest thing I ask myself is what would I say to my best friend if she came to me telling me the same story? Since finding Alanon it is easier to be gentle with myself and ask harder questions in terms of if thi...
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SerenityRUS
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9
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538
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Oh the Anger....
(Preview)
WOW. I've been on the receiving end of my AH's anger before (not physically, just emotionally and verbally) but DANG, he's on a new level this weekend. Maybe it's because he can't drink and he knows it. He's on his last leg at work and his oldest child refuses to even speak to him since he missed her bir...
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SoLost
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2
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340
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Did You Ever Consider This?
(Preview)
My AH is still actively drinking. Not pass out drunk anymore, but the kind where he tries to hide it, all the while promising he will get help. He never follows through on that. I have moved on to ACCEPTANCE, b/c I have to.But because of his continued usage, he health is deteriorating. He has some decent...
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PosiesandPuppies
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6
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397
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Odat Reading (4-9-2017)
(Preview)
The ODA T reading for April 9 talks about being in a crisis that lasts for what seems like an eternity. When we are involved with these difficult experiences, we can find no escape and the problem occupies our thoughts continually. This is the time that we must remind ourselves that we need to recal...
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hotrod
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6
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357
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Feeling like a jerk
(Preview)
So this weekend, hubby and I need to call the A (hubby's brother) and the A's fiancee and let them both know very clearly that we will not be paying A's bills, handling his paperwork, finding new housing for him, or all the other myriad things that A has chosen not to take care of while he drinks and gambles...
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makebelieve11
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6
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400
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Being and staying sick
(Preview)
ive heard a lot of folks talking about being sick all the time around my town,with upper respiratory infections,stomach problems. same with me,now it's eco me a concern of mine, i live in a small town,old house. a year ago,a man had to go up into my attic,(very small crawl space), when he came down he imm...
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lookingup
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4
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392
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the straw breaking my back
(Preview)
in despair. my partner/fiance has been sober 5 months. yesterday he broke into my phone and read my journal. we've been down this road before. previously he broke into my computer, put in spyware, altered my contacts, then wrote to my ex boyfriend to try to replace some information he had deleted. he w...
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Junenine
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13
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579
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stuff
(Preview)
I had the most ridiculous conversation with my drunk mother. When she dies, she wants champagne and flowers and she doesn't ever want to be buried with the spiders and the slimy things and yuk. Then she spoke of my death like it's going to happen next week. She asked me to plan my tombstone. What do I want i...
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MissM
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3
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441
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Financial advice please!
(Preview)
I am asking for help here, I have seen messages from other members talking about minimizing the terrible financial toll of an alcoholic spouse and I need some guidance!
My husband has been out of control with money for a while - pretty sure he is racking up a personal line of credit at the moment. Is it w...
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VickiR
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7
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448
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Something is bugging me
(Preview)
Last Staurday, the people I live with went to a wedding. As some of you know the husband's mom lives here and has dementia. In lieu of rent I take care of her while they are gone out to work, dinner, etc. The wedding was at 5. But that morning, they both got up showered and got ready and the woman informed me...
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Marie71
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7
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468
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Tonight, I did things differently
(Preview)
This is my first time posting. I've only been to 2 meetings, but I could immediately tell I was in the right place. My 32 year old brother and my father are both alcoholics. My brother lives with my parents (major enablers) and recently I've been working on my own boundaries - taking more space from them....
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Bon17
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3
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355
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Courage to Change (C2C) 4/7/17
(Preview)
Today's reading discusses humor, expectations and right-sizing our life and recovery. It gives an example of a member anticipating speaking at a meeting. She envisions a large group of serious minded members, in a perfect location with a perfect format. She of course gives a marvelous share co...
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Iamhere
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3
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349
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Anxiety!!!
(Preview)
My little brother was a wonderful person, and an alcoholic. He passed away suddenly last November. He had lived with my alcoholic parents and took care of a lot for them...cleaning, yard work, etc. I have talked to my parents every day since he passed away, and I get very anxious when I call and leave a m...
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katiebug76
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9
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666
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Learning, forgetting, relearning...
(Preview)
So for those of you who read my first post, you'll know that I've been in panic-mode a bit after the last contact with my A who is currently in rehab. While in intensive detox, he was communicating with me daily. But when he transitioned into rehab they cut off all his contact. A very combative phone cal...
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ForwardMotion
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1
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368
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Today was a day for resentment
(Preview)
Before I posted this, I was reading other posts, trying to absorb some ESH. So thank you all for posting... it helps more than you know... or maybe you all DO know! Why was this day a "resentment" day? Mainly b/c I get so sick and tired of my AH focusing on himself all. the. time. My AH works very weird hour...
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PosiesandPuppies
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5
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403
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Explaining ah is leaving to a 9 year old
(Preview)
Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to tell kids. My daughter is 9 and her biological father has been terrible with her and she thinks of her step dad as her best daddy. However, he is a alcoholic that just can't stay dry longer than a couple of months. He moved out before and she begg...
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Helpangel
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6
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368
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Courage to Change (C2C) 4/6/17
(Preview)
I love how the daily readings always seem to align with what I need to hear - one day at a time. Today's reading in Courage is about Alcoholism being a family disease. Because this sums it all up, I am starting with Today's reminder - "My acceptance of this family disease allows me to stop wasting energy...
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Iamhere
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9
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367
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Little heartbreaks...
(Preview)
Logged on to social media today and clicked through to an friend's engagement video...and felt so defeated and loveless and unloveable. Because there's part of me that can state unequivocally that I don't have that kind of relationship. Mine isn't founded in joyful moments anymore. Mine's g...
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ForwardMotion
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6
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329
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New to the forum, old to the story
(Preview)
New here, and coping but not really succeeding at much more than that. Brief recap:left an extremely abusive marriage to an addict many years ago. Stayed resolutely single whilst working on self and raising special needs son. Five years in, fell in love and took the risk. Fast forward to a decade...
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ForwardMotion
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15
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522
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At the end of my rope
(Preview)
Hello - I just recently found this message board and have read some wonderfully helpful things here. My AH is on another terror. I'm doing my best not to react but he's pushing me to the limit. He's got a great job, if he actually went to it and wasn't hung over he could make a ton of money. Instead he ju...
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SoLost
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7
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474
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2 adults living with me drink, influencing their children
(Preview)
2 adults live in my home. they drink most nights, i have never seen them drunk. but.......their drinking bothers me. i do not drink one of their children is getting into trouble with substance. when they moved in i said i liked my home a safe non alcoholic home and asked them to consider that. they...
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runi
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3
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362
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help i need advice
(Preview)
I am new to Alanon. i am struggling terribly depression anger resentment. my husband went to rehab sept 2016 to mid november 2016, to get off his fentanyl patch due to severe work place accident, he is alcoholic. angry drunk. I also live with 2 of my 4 teenagers. my daughter was raped in 2014 and been down...
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jenn6
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5
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501
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Love the Addict, Hate the Disease
(Preview)
I'm at a loss and am completely exhausted after a few days in hell with my AXBF. Long story short, we've been dating long distance for 8 months. He lost his job (due to his step-dad, not himself), and I offered for him to move in with me (I know, I know) because I thought maybe being in the same city would mak...
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thekentuckygent
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5
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422
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terminal uniqueness
(Preview)
I'm so over it. Not that i don't recognise it in my alanon self, because boy do I, but this is a written antidote to swallowing the lie.
We are all ok and safe and getting on our feet. Actually there's a lot to be grateful for, i need to remind myself of that. Over here, they tend very well to the physical set u...
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a4l
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6
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617
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So thankful for the tools I have learnt
(Preview)
This may end up being a long post.......needing to get a few things off my chest. Mostly because I am learning....less about my A (the 3Cs) so the focus is more on me. I started off this past weekend doing a special day for my youngest two and visiting with my oldest who I don't get to see that often (or I sho...
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Curlyblu
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4
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2015
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How to be there for someone in rehab
(Preview)
I recently started seeing a male friend of mine but it started during a bad time in his life and he ultimately ended up in rehab. He is now in intensive outpatient at the facility and has his phone. Everytime i reach out he seems angry with me. I know this is to be expected and he has voiced frustration wit...
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Mandi2413
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11
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246
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Detachment = coldness
(Preview)
Sorry if this is long. I am sitting here alone another night. I posted last week, but my AH and I had a particularly bad week last night, he was drinking every night and didn't come home after work a few times and then Friday he stayed out until 6:30 in the morning doing god knows what. He missed a family outi...
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VickiR
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1
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325
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preventing a crisis
(Preview)
I went to my first meeting last night, it was great, everyone was so kind. I was reading the detachment paper, and it says don't prevent a crisis if it is the natural order of events. Here's the thing, I an not with my A, but because many of my issues (control, people pleasing) have carried into my relati...
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Marie71
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6
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258
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Enabling ..
(Preview)
I used to think that there was only one way to enable and now I am seeing there are more ways and how devastating those can be to loved ones. One thing I have become very aware of is allowing the people around me to make their own choices regardless if they are right or wrong in my mind. After all I have it so g...
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SerenityRUS
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5
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252
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Jealousy - Resentment
(Preview)
Hello - I'm new to this board, but not new to Al-Anon. I am a mother of two adult addict sons, a sister to an addict and a daughter of two alcoholics. I struggle daily. Today, I am really struggling with jealousy and resentment. I have been trying to see my sons as well as my sister - to spend a little tim...
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mheather
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6
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1176
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He relapsed
(Preview)
My AH relapsed last Monday after almost 9 months. He came to me and told me about it. We began to have the same old conversation that goes with the old way of life...."If you loved me"....etc. At some point just a few minutes in I was able to recognize the insanity and walk away from it! I have wondered ho...
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Kim C
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6
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580
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Good News ..
(Preview)
It has been a week of birthdays in the literal sense of the word. I have had some frustrations and a lot of gratitude regarding my relatively new relationship and the fallout from his choices. Some days I'm ok with it and some days not so much. This week I have struggled to focus on the positive of what m...
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SerenityRUS
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6
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399
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4/5/17 One Day at a Time in AlAnon
(Preview)
Today's page describes the 12 Steps as a desperate person's shortcut to God, allowing us to access our good qualities and abilities. Though we may be aware that working the steps will bring relief from the confusion, fear, anger and self-pity we suffer from handling alcohol on our own, we don't alway...
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Enigmatic
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2
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226
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Struggling not to be angry when my alcoholics lie to me
(Preview)
I find myself struggling not to respond with anger when my alcoholics lie to me about various things, but especially drinking. I have only been going to al-anon meetings for a few months, so I guess it's not too surprising that my reactions haven't changed yet. I do my best to at least not snap at them w...
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katiebug76
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10
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463
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Worse than we thought (gambling)
(Preview)
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my brother-in-law, who had finally gone through detox, and we were trying to find AA meetings and other treatment for him. I had hoped he was staying away from alcohol after the detox, but now know that he went right back to drinking as soon as everyone's back was turne...
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makebelieve11
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6
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643
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Hope for Today April 4
(Preview)
Good morning everyone- Today's reading is about the relief we feel when we turn away from resentments and toward forgiveness. The energy it takes to hold onto and feed resentments is not only draining, but leaves us with little room for the positivity forgiveness will bring to our lives. The writer...
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yanksfan51
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3
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349
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4-3-17 One Day at a Time in AlAnon
(Preview)
The AlAnon program makes it possible to believe in miracles because we get to see dramatic change in ourselves and others: Fear, confusion and hopelessness turn into hope, understanding, and serenity, sometimes without change in the qualifier's behavior. We are grateful for the wisdom of this sp...
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Enigmatic
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7
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264
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Fighting to stay present
(Preview)
Im struggling to stay present and focused on myself today. My A is still very much active and to my knowledge has stopped attending meetings as he told last week he didn't "need them". I didn't comment, just turned and walked in the house. I guess I'm learning to separate the man and the disease, but I'...
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pumkin26
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8
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464
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Step parenting is a tough job
(Preview)
Not sure how many of you have ever been in this position, but dang, I am really struggling in my role as a step parent (well, we're not married but technically it's my role here). It's more thankless than being a parent. You don't have a parent/child relationship with someone else's kids. You can car...
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andromeda
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8
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504
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How to move your focus to what is good in your life
(Preview)
Can you share how you stop your mind from going back to the negative thoughts and memories, worries and instead focus on what is good. Because, of course, there is always so much good in everyone's life if we just move our attention there!!
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lgnutah
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7
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436
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Why can't I "get" it ?? I'm back again, for yet another serving of ESH
(Preview)
Things have been going well - everything in my life is very good - I have so much to be thankful for - of course, my heart still hurts all the time knowing the type of life my adult son is living, but aside from that one thing, all else is very good. Still, knowing the power of this disease, I've been going to a...
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texas yankee
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14
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912
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A messy ramble about how MEAN everyone is...lol
(Preview)
I had lunch with my parents yesterday. It was pleasant, mostly, although we had a moment when I was trying to discuss a recent parenting decision I had made and instead of listening they were lecturing, and not politely. Note- I didn't bring it up and would have preferred not to discuss it. And probably...
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MissM
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11
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550
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