As a newcomer you may feel that you are here tonightto help the alcoholic . . . that your presence here mayteach you to stop his or her drinking.The truth is you are here because of the alcoholicnot for the alcoholic.You will soon learn that you did not cause the alcoholic to drink, you cannot control the drinking, nor can you cure the alcoholic. You are here for yourself. You and you alone are responsible for dealing with your own pain. This is your program; it is your recovery from the effects of the disease of alcoholism.
You will find love, understanding, and a lot of hope from the Al-Anon Family Group. The people around you tonight are experiencing in varying degrees the hurt, the anger, the anxiety that you are experiencing. We in Al-Anon share our experiences because it helps us to focus on ourselves and our recovery. We do this with the use of the Al-Anon tools of the program (Steps, slogans, literature) which will be provided to you. Al-Anon will work for you if you allow it to. It's as effective as you make it. It's the safe place, the right place to be. Feel free to ask any questions or you may feel more comfortable just listening. That's fine too. There are no "musts" in Al-Anon. Finally, what you say or hear here and who you see here tonight stays in this room. Your anonymity is protected at all times. |