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 almost talked myself out of going to this meeting. I have been doing good with just reading posts here. For some reason, on my way home from work, I started feeling alot of anxiety over my A. I was getting a headache, had alot of tension in my neck and felt like crying. I don't know what came over me. I started reading a book about prayer that I have been into. I laid down in my bed trying to make a decision whether to go to this meeting or not. I prayed about it and finally got the answer. Get up...get a shower...and go! I believe it was my HP giving me that anxiety. I think if I would have went home feeling good like I had been feeling, I would have talked myself out of going. I am very happy that I went. It was a step meeting on step 3. I really enjoyed it and I want to really start working the steps. I am going to look for other meetings in my area because I really feel I am ready for a sponser. I was a little uncomfortable after the meeting ended as everyone sort of went into their own little conversations and noone said anything to me. I just left and did not let that affect me. I will go back next week. Everyone seemed nice and I am sure if I would have stayed around a little while longer someone would have talked to me.
I am so grateful for this program and am very excited to find out what is in store for me as I am doing the steps.
Good for you Gailey! I kind of feel that going to the meeting is definitely doing something to better myself. I may cry while I'm there, but there are others crying with me, and when I leave, I have a measure of the serenity I hope to find every day. Keep coming back!
Hello, Gailey, I'm so glad you went to a face to face meeting. Something amazing and powerful really happens in the meetings. You will find serenity there! And if there's another meeting in your area, go to that, too, to see if you like that. At some times in my life, I have gone to 3 meetings a week. In my experience, when you are looking for a sponsor, don't be put off is someone says "no" when you ask. In Alanon, we learn to tell the truth!!! And invite your HP to find a sponsor, too. Working the 12 Steps is really what the program is about. They have changed my life. Keep coming back! It works, if you work it! Blessings, mebjk
I'm so glad you made that meeting and can't help but chuckle about the 'little nudge' your HP gave you to get there. You deserve a better life. For me face to face meets really helped with rebuilding my social confidence. I hadn't found online Al-Anon then and good job really, it would've been way too easy for me to attend meets in my p.j's. I had to get showered and dressed and by getting out to a meet it helped me begin to break the cycle of isolation and depression I had slipped into. Also, I was tempted not to attend when I knew my 'all's well in my world mask' had fallen. Of course all wasn't well in my world or I wouldn't have needed Al-Anon and my groups knew this and loved and accepted me anyway. I needed 3meets a week in my early days to keep me anywhere near sane... I hadn't achieved serenity by any stretch of the imagination!
I find it easier to talk as a faceless nickname and in some ways it was important for me to 'own my stuff' openly, without fear, shame or embarrassment and get past 'the need to keep the secret'. We're only as sick as our secrets.
It was also a fantastic way for me to do service as I became more well and my life became less chaotic. I really felt a need to put back a little of what had been so freely given to me. Ironically, my desire was to serve the group yet I got so much out of service on a personal level. It helped me to grow in ways I had not conceived.
I'd like to think that if you had stayed a little longer someone would've approached you. I think it's important to greet and welcome the newcomers before and after the meeting. As a group though you have to be careful not to 'pounce' on them. Some groups elect a Greeter, this way everyone knows that some contact was made without overwhelming the Newcomer. Were you offered a Newcomers Pack? If not, ask if they have them the next time you attend. I found mine very useful. As a Literature Secretary it gave me an opportunity to greet the newcomers and have a little chat.
I wish you well on your continued journey of recovery and discovery.
