The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I'm new to this forum, but have been to Al-anon meetings IRL several times before.
A little bit about me:
I am new to this - "my alcoholic" and I have been together for 7 months. She has had various lengths of sobriety, with this being her first serious attempt being within the last 6 months, and she's had stretches of 1 and 2 months, with the relapses being only one day in length. We are a lesbian couple, I am 29, she is 36. I have a 2 year old daughter and am a divorced mom.
I also currently attend a depression-bipolar support group, inspired by the camaraderie and community found within her AA meetings.
I read the Al-anon literature pretty regularly, and attend one AA meeting with my partner weekly (it's an LGBT meeting and we go out to dinner afterward with the other folks there). I am currently working through the steps on my own, using an Al-anon book as my guide. But I am looking for a sponsor to help me through the steps too. I'd love to go through them several times, as many people do.
Anyway, just wanted to start building a support system and maybe reach out and find a sponsor. I am not in crisis right now - my partner is doing well and I am in a really good place emotionally and mentally. I just want to stock my toolbox for when I have trouble, and so I can cope in a healthy way, and maybe be support for others as well. I spend a lot of time online, so it makes it easy for me to talk to people this way. It's very difficult for me to go to in-person Al-anon meetings because I work full time and have a toddler, so this is the best option for me I feel.
9 pm Eastern Standard time, every day
You see there is a place in the middle of the page where a username is? It starts something like mib
you delete that, and put in whatever screen name you want to use in the meeting room
when you enter the room, you will see who is in the room already listed on the right hand side in a column
sometimes meetings don't have a chair so people just show up and start chatting instead of a formal meeting
Welcome brie925 - glad you found us and glad that you joined right in! Sounds as if you've got a lovely start to recovery - awesome.....we all just 'get up and go' and repeat, one day at a time....
I would encourage you to find local Al-Anon meetings for you too if you can. The online meetings are wonderful yet face to face meetings really give you a support system like no other. I send loving thoughts, prayers and support for you and your partner - do your thing, One Day at a Time!
Keep coming back - it works when we work it!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Welcome Brie.....you came to a great place and there is a step board somewhere here where we can do posts on the steps
Sounds like you have a good start on taking care of you and loving your partner with detachment in that the drinking is her issue...you didn't cause it...you will never control it and you won't cure it either...Its good you are working the literature and steps....maybe if you go to face to face meet you can find a sponsor...I had no luck but found all of mine on line, save for my last one who happens to be my best friend in my whole life....she is recovering alcoholic and I am recovering alanoner, ACA and also CoDa so yea, its good to work all parts of program.....Glad you came....you are not alone in your struggles...Some of us left our mates (due to not being in AA and continued drinking) some of us stay and work on ourselves and let the alcoholic walk their path on their own.....Whether one stays or goes, the bottom line is learning self care and boundaries and learning that the only thing we CAN help and improve is ourselves.........Take care
