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.
Alanon's purpose is to help families and friends of alcoholics. We come together to find help and support in dealing with the effects of alcoholism. In time we discover that the principles of our program can be practiced in "all our affairs". But there are times when, in order to work through especially challenging experiences, we may need more specialized help and support, such as therapy or legal councel. Many of us benefited from taking care of these needs in addition to coming to Alanon.
Those who are in need of of more than alanon, should seek help in what ever area it is needed. We in alanon are not professionals , we have no right to give advice, nor should we try. We are just everyday people from all walks of life brought together to share our Experience Strength and Hope , and to share our life experiences dealing with alcoholism. If there is someone who comes into alanon with such needs other than alcoholism , we could suggest kindly to seek more help in the areas that they need.
Alanon's gentle process unfolds gradually , over time. But those who are facing life threatening situations may have to make immediate choices to ensure safety for themselves and their children if need be. Thus the choice to seek help elsewhere is imparative at that time.
Thank you for this post, gardengal. I'm sure others will disagree with me out here, but I often think using the Internet to do Program is a way of not really working the Program. The Program works, if we work it. And it is powerful, if we work it. Spilling our guts is not the only way program works. Working the Steps together with a Sponsor who can challenge us and encourage us is the way the Program works. MY ESH is that the 12 Steps of Alanon really have changed my life, along with other tools to supplement the program, including therapy. The 12 Steps really work miracles, if I work the Steps. I am currently going to face to face meetings, speaking up, and working on Step 4 with a sponsor. This is not the first time in my life I have worked the steps, either. And I am carrying this message to others. That's part of how I get better. Blessings, mebjk
I'm not sure if working the program on the internet isn't working the program. I think the program works in different ways for different people. There are people who go to f2f meetings who might not be working it too.
There are some here who have difficulty getting to meetings or there are no meetings near them. Heck MIP has internet only members who started a meeting in their area.
As for the title of the post 'tapping into other resources', the internet program can be a wonderfull addition. W/ the meetings here I was able to make sometimes 10 meetings a week when I was in a desperate place. Add to this IMing new friends I met and msg board and the step board, and oh yeah, people in chat to bring me back to program or make me laugh while my A was quite active 10 feet away from me were, 24 hrs a day is something f2f just couldn't give me.
Also the online meeting formats made more comfortable in my early f2f meetings and even made me comfortable enough to chair f2f meetings after 2 or 3 months.
Alanon even helped me to turn to some outside resources and to accept and be open their assistance. Some people work better f2f, some online and others varying combination of the two.
Glad your here amongst us.
Bob
__________________
You are a perfect child of God and God and I love you just the way you are! (added by me...in that special alanon way)
I think it is good to be reminded of other resources with boundaries. I have been in 12 step groups where everyone had the same therapists and it became really enmeshed on many levels. I have done a lot of stuff in my life that was enmeshment because I did not know what over involved was. The difference between over involved and under involved is critical isn't it. I know I sometimes long for a sponsor who would be "there" for me 24/7 in the ways some of my friends talk about but in reality that would not work for me at all.
I think it can actually be great to share stategies on finding resources. I also think it can be great to discuss what it is like to find resources and they be imperfect. Some people manage to do it all with al-anon or whatever program they are in. I am not one of them. I am someone who needs many resources and to continually re-tool them so I welcome hearing what other people do.
Hug)) 