The material presented
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Hi Friends~ After searching my archives of CAL literature ,I found this to pass on to a friend in the program ,and was reminded of the compassion I need to keep for the alcoholics in my own life~ Hope you all don't mind me sharing it here ;)
An Open Letter to My FamilyI am an alcoholic. I need help. Dont allow me to lie to you. If you accept my evasions of the truth, you encourage me to lie. The truth may be painful but try to get at it. Don't let me outsmart you. This would only allow me to avoid responsibility and would make me lose respect for you at the same time. Don"t accept my promises. The nature of my illness prevents my keeping them, even though I mean them at the time. Promises are only my way of postponing pain. And, Dont keep switching agreements; if an agreement is made stick to it. Don't let me exploit you or take advantage of you. If you do, you become an accomplice to my evasion of responsibility. Don't lecture, moralize, scold, praise, blames, or argue when I'm drunk or sober. Don't pour out my liquor; it may make you feel better, but it will make the situation worse. Don't lose your temper with me. It will destroy you and any possibility of helping me. Don't allow your anxiety for me make you do what I should do for myself. Don't cover up or try to spare me the consequences of my drinking. It may reduce the crisis, but it will make my sickness worse. Above all don't run away from reality as I do. Alcoholism, my illness gets worse as my drinking continues. Start now to learn, to understand, to plan for recovery. find al anon, whose groups exist to help families of alcoholics. I need help. from a pastor, doctor, a psychologist, a counselor, from a recovered alcoholic who found sobriety in AA and from God. I cannot help myself. I hate myself, but I love you. Please help me. Signed,Your alcoholic
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It works if you work it , so work it YOU'RE worth it <3
Thank you for sharing this Carla! It is a great reminder for me. In fact, I am going to print it out and place it in the book I take to my regular alanon meeting. I think reading it on a regular basis will be REALLY good for me.
I think it can be a reminder of compassion but not that WE have to stay with them and save them. We need to take care of ourselves and show compassion and love to our own souls.
