Al-Anon meetings? - Al-Anon Family Group

iwishuheaven · Veteran Member

Al-Anon meetings?

abbyal · ~*Service Worker*~

Hello Mike welcome to Al-Anon , the only requirement for membership is that u love or have loved an alcoholic can be a friend you may be concerned about a family member,or spouse. Try diff meetings til u find a couple u are comfortable in the more u go the faster u grow.

Not all meetings are the same but always stick to the basic principles of our program.

No u don't have to speak if u don't want to a simple I would like to pass will do.

No requirements for a newcommer.

Anonymity is the basis of our program so it is a safe place to share what is going on in your life. Good luck Louise

megan · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Mike

Welcome to alanon and your recovery.

Alanon is for anyone affected by someone elses drinking.

The meetings are all different. I suggest if you can to try a beginners meeting.

Let them know you are new. They should have a newcomers packet for you.

In the groups I have gone to we sit in a circle. The leader for the meeting reads the opening message and then we introduce ourselves first names only and we read the steps

Then the leader gives a reading and a topic an d people go around the circle sharing.

During others sharing do not comment, that is called crosstalk.

If you are not ready to share just say that you pass. IT took me a few meetings to be able to speak.

Face to face meetings are wonderful. It is said to try different ones as they all have a particular feel to them.

If after 6 meetings you wwant to quit, alanon will gladly refund your misery.

There are no requirements ox expectations. They will pass a basket most likel;y and if you can put a dollar or 2 in, if not, don't woory you can still go to the meeting

Keep coming back

Megan

iwishuheaven · Veteran Member

Thank you Meagan and Louise.
I am glad to know a little bit more before I go, I think I will try and go to a meeting next week.

Mike.

Rita G · ~*Service Worker*~

Mike,

Good luck on that face to face meeting - for me they have changed my life. I agree and we also suggest that you try 6 meetings before deciding if Al-Anon is for you -

Best wishes,

Rita

dori · Senior Member

Hi,

I remember my first meetings all I did was cry sometimes sob.Everything is ok do what you need to do.No one will expect you to speak if you dont want to .

you will see you have alot in common with most of the people.You will see your story and it will give you comfort .

Be sure to tell them you are new they will give you a new comers packet will have some stuff you can read that helps and phone numbers when you need or want to talk you can call some one ..

I am so glad you are here.

dori

iwishuheaven · Veteran Member

Thanks dori!

DoN4me · Veteran Member

Iwishuheaven,

First I have to say love the screen name and thanks for your share. I am still very new at this as well. I really enjoy my F2F (face 2 face) meetings. I found one not far from me. It has helped me alot. The people there don't know, hard to explain in words but I have a special conncection with. I felt comfortable talking to them the first time I meet all of them. When I came to the program I was so lost and confused. I was a total basket case. Thought I was going to be moving into a padded cell soon . But I am finding out so much about myself and who I am when I take the time to pamper myself and not always my A. I wish you luck in your recovery and remember you don't have to talk all of the time. Just when you are ready and feel comfortable.

Keep it simple (one of my favorite slogans from the program)

DoN4Me

(learning to take care of myself first, how I came up with my name)

iwishuheaven · Veteran Member

Do4Nme:

I am so glad you feel comfortable at the meetings, I sure hope to feel the same way about everyone in the group when I go.

Mike.

nycbt · ~*Service Worker*~

Welcome to MIP. You are not alone. There a lot of people who understand.

World Service Organization Website –

WWW.al-anon.alateen.org

Alanon meetings 1-888-425-2666

Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire
61 Great Dover Street
London
SE1 4YF

Tel: 020 7403 0888

http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

Chat room is open 24/7 there here the link to www.mipchat.net or http://www.12stepforums.net/chatroom2.html

Here are some things that have helped me since in the program.

Go face to face meeting & online meeting.

post on the board here on the site. I have gotten a lot of good feed back.

· In this program u learn that u have choices. In Alanon we don’t give advice but only suggestions.

· Set support system. people do not judge. You need someone who can go for coffee on a bad day, or pick up a phone and call when in trouble. The support is what is important when you first this program.

Have a sponsor. Someone work one on one with you.

You don’t have to do this the minute u come to the program but I suggest that u do it when u can. It help.

Meeting schedule: meetings are in here and run approximately 90 minutes from: Monday-Friday, 9 am and 9 pm EST, Saturday: 10 am and 9 pm EST, Sunday: 10 am and 7 pm EST. Topics are selected by participants at meeting time. UK +5 hours, central -1 hour, mountain -2 hours, pacific -3 hours. Open chat all other times.

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.