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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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436
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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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431
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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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623
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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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484
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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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497
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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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511
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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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405
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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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391
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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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744
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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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410
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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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453
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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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415
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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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410
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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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373
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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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568
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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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517
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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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408
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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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547
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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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473
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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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690
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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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2226
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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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292
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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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362
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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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304
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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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301
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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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1228
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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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631
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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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442
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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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276
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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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507
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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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706
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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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397
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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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309
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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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515
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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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547
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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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490
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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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987
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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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604
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A New Day
(Preview)
Ugh. Had a very embarrassing incident last night with AH when we were out to dinner. I was angry, but realize I will need to set some boundaries for the future. The good news for me is that I can see my program tools taking effect. At least for today. I woke up this morning thinking about last night, and rat...
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El
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4
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465
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Step 3 posted
(Preview)
Step 3 has been posted to the Step Boards please join in and share your thoughts. Learn How The Twelve Steps Work.Participate in your own recovery as well as the recovery of others, by being active on this board as we go through the 12 Steps of recovery together! Here is the link http://stepwork.ac...
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hotrod
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0
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342
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ODAT reading 4-2-2017
(Preview)
The ODA T reading for April 2 speaks about the Al-Anon program working because it helps us to take the focus off of our pain and sadness. When we think constantly about our own grievances and blame the alcoholics,our minds are too confused to accept life, the beauty and joys that are al around us each da...
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hotrod
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3
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1685
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Not sure where my role is here
(Preview)
My situation is this. I have an AD, in her late 30's, who lives in another state. When she is high, she calls or texts me nearly every day (wanting to share the un-ending chaos that is her life) then she sinks into depression and I don't hear from her for days. Then when she is taking too much of her prescript...
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lgnutah
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2
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426
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Can an alcoholic marriage everbe healthy?
(
1 2
)
(Preview)
I'm struggling with this concept. Our marriage counselor thinks it's possible, alanon promotes it, I can't seem to live it. I realize alcoholism is a disease, but living with the effects of the disease, especially the fact that alcohol is always #1 can't be good for a marriage. Alcohol is like a mistr...
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Chelle3
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43
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8862
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Just a shot
(Preview)
So this week has not been the best for me and my AH. But, since I am trying to practice DETACHMENT, and using the PAUSE. i am able to not react to the things that have been happening. That's not to say that I am not mad as hell, it just means that I say, "Oh, OK." and walk away... without the outbursts, without t...
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PosiesandPuppies
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7
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495
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Courage To Change 1/4
(Preview)
Today's reading considers the 'three A's'- Awareness, Acceptance, and Action, and how tempting and easy it can be to jump from awareness to action without ever considering acceptance. When a problem comes up and we become aware of it, those of us that are "fixers" tend to rush to fix it as fast as we can...
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MissM
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8
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509
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Allergies or inflammation to Mold?
(Preview)
hi everyone. this is the 3rd apartment I've lived in over 7 years that has mold in the bathroom. the first apartment's bathroom smelled horrendous after the prior tenant left and took her nice-scented things out if it. I got very, very sick. i developed sensitivities to chemicals after that because m...
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WorkingThroughIt
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16
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472
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Struggle to remain open hearted while detaching
(Preview)
I find it really difficult to detach from my AH and then reattach and then detach and try and remain open hearted. I just find myself feeling indifferent about our marriage and kind of dead inside. I mentioned before, my AH is still very active with his addiction. He doesn't come home from work at least a...
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VickiR
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10
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559
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Feels like everything's a battle
(Preview)
I am trying so hard not to JADE (Justify, Argue, Defend, Explain) every day over every decision I make. My AH's rational thought process is diminishing....and he appears so threatened by so much. I feel the need to explain and defend a lot lately. I retired last June and due to health issues, a family d...
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El
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4
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415
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My Wife has a Problem
(Preview)
We have been together almost four years, married for two. I'm a social drinker but she likes to drink every day. She very rarely gets drunk usually restricting herself to one or two glasses of wine after work. When she does drink to get drunk she drinks a lot. After an especially vicious hangover last Th...
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Lucas Buck
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11
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649
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Keeping my cool
(Preview)
I am venting here because venting at home won't lead to any good outcomes. My child and I are living far away from our hometown for a couple of years. This means that child does not regularly see my ex-AH. My ex-AH is an ex-H, but not an ex-A. He is very much a current A, though he's a binge drinker, so he go...
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Mattie
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8
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504
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Trying to mind my own business
(Preview)
My A-exbf has been sober for over two months now. He will die if he drinks because of his liver, so he remains in recovery. Now, he has pain pills. The pills are fairly strong compared to what someone else might get prescribed. He is taking two at a time, and yesterday he took five of them. They are not presc...
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shrnp
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5
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529
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Time Marches On ..
(Preview)
The next few days are so bitter sweet for me. My son turns the big 13 today and my daughter will be turning a very big 18. I can't believe they both survived in spite of me .. LOL! It really is a shock how much time has passed and how quickly it has passed as well. How much time I wasted being focused on my XAH a...
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SerenityRUS
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8
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482
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Courage to Change (C2C) 3/31/17
(Preview)
Today's reading starts with a suggestion that many of us who have lived with alcoholism truly begin to grow up for the first time when we arrive at Al-Anon. We learn to deal with our feelings and we learn to share honestly about our experience. We also learn about ourselves and nurture our spiritual g...
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Iamhere
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6
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489
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Progress not perfection but I'm disappointed and judgmental
(Preview)
My AH has made progress. 4 months ago he couldn't even admit he was an alcoholic. He did 8 days in inpatient rehab in December after admitting he had a bad problem, and 6 weeks of IOP. However the longest he has been sober by my count is 3 weeks. He's been relapsing every couple weeks for 3 months. Sometimes...
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Rhod76
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7
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513
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pushing toward better perspective
(Preview)
i am going away for two nights. by myself. leaving my ABF home alone. i know this bothers him even though he understands it and doesn't begrudge me the need for quiet time away. neither of us have gotten away in a long time. i think it's healthy to have some space and independence in a relationship. i was al...
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Junenine
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5
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455
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Square One
(Preview)
So here we are. AS is back living with his dad. I am grateful that he is out the drug house he was in. His dad is again enabling. His text to me the other day was, T isn't an addict, he isn't taking pills or shooting up. If he wants to smoke marijuana it's okay as long as he doesn't do it in front of me. And... he isn...
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Tannersmom
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5
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504
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Courage to Change (C2C) 3/30/17
(Preview)
Good morning all - can not believe that we are almost to April!!! Today's reading talks about the concept in Al-Anon recovery of keeping the focus on ourselves. So often, when we arrive, we don't understand this concept fully and believe that by taking care of us first, we will be perceived as selfish...
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Iamhere
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6
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453
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So yea, Curlyblu, I know how you feel!
(Preview)
So one night I was perusing the postings and I came across Curlyblu's post about how her Qualifier ruined her favorite blanket. As I read her post, I kept thinking, Yup! I know how she feels. My bedroom (OK, our bedroom) is the one room in our tiny rented house that doesn't look like it was set up with flea-...
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PosiesandPuppies
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7
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479
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Not meaning what I say
(Preview)
It hit me this morning that I have setting myself up, comtaminating my thoughts just by not saying what I mean, mean what I say. I thought I understood what that ment. Of course I was looking at strickly with how I deal with my A when he is active. It is so much bigger than that. It involes me. Me being honest w...
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Curlyblu
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9
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547
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Gathering up my serenity
(Preview)
I posted earlier about my mother riding in the car with my 5yr old son who wasn't buckled correctly.
I have a "date" to talk to her again tonight. I set a time that wouldn't be stressful, and I'm doing my best to stay calm. I hugged friends at work, did some crochet, read my literature . . . I feel like even j...
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Taraxacum
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6
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436
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