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.
Hi, my name is Frank I am looking for an online chat to help me. I am new to al-anon but need help starting out. I went to #al-anonchat on irc.chat4all.org . I was greeted by a few ppl there but they told me they could not be of help and i should find an online chat meeting. a person named Tahoe asked a lot of questions and was very creepy but offered no help. Could someone please help me?
Welcome to MIP Frank - glad you found us and glad that you shared...I appreciate that you are new to Al-Anon and can best offer our discussion forum 'here' if the chat room wasn't suitable.
We have a search function at the top of the page that might help you with specific topics. I can also suggest you visit the official Al-Anon website which has tons of information about the program, the steps, meetings (local, online, face-to-face, phone).
Recovery does suggest that men find and work with men sponsors and vice versa. I assume by your name that you're male and am hopeful that our guys will stop in and say hello.
Here's a link to the official Al-Anon site: al-anon.org/
Please keep coming back - ask questions you may have and we will share our ESH (Experience, Strength & Hope) as best we can!
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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
Aloha Frank and welcome to the MIP Al-Anon program which I have been a member of for years. I am a male and found my way into the program a very difficult endeavor because I was carrying my own personality of self direction which wasn't helpful because I didn't know nd didn't know that I didn't know anything about alcoholism and drug addiction and more. I finally arrived at some simple instruction...Listen, Learn, Practice and I sat and learned from the old timers who knew the disease and the successes that came from meetings, literature, and humbly (hated that word or suggestion) allowed myself to be directed by those who knew how to do this.
Keep coming back often and practice what you hear.
My name is Jerry F...I was born within the disease, married within it several times and divorced. My start date is 2/8/1979 and I practice daily. I have included college education as suggested by my sponsor so that I could come to understand along with this program. Alcoholism is a fatal disease if not abstained by total abstinence.
My first introduction to Alanon came from a quick internet search for program basics and face o face meetings. Things have changed quite a bit due to Covid, a bit harder to meet up with others.
Something that I utilized early on and recommend to everyone starting out is to take advantage of Alanon publications. The information, ideas and guidance is with you at all times, helpful for times you are unable to connect virtually or in person.
Paths to Recovery - Alanon's Steps, Traditions, and Concepts is a guidebook to Alanon that answers many of the questions that newcomers have about how Alanon works. There are also daily readers like Courage to Change, One Day at a Time in Alanon, Hope for TOday are available on al-anon.org take a small topic from Alanon each day and considers how other members have used the recommendations and tools to great benefit.
Hope to see you around, have a good weekend
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Frank - you're in good hands with both Jerry and Paul! Please keep coming back - we're here to help each other as best we can!
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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
Took the most important time to go and participate in a morning meeting. I sat and listened deeply and found myself being supported by my Higher Power. I know my Higher Power's voice and care process and I was certainly being supported and cared for. Mahalo, Thank you Father I spoke to one of the members after the meeting mentioning this and where and when in her sharing that she was being very supportive, My Higher Power is looking over my shoulder as I type this seeing that her support is not being lessened. ((((Hugs))))