“Years ago, I walked into Al-Anon. I had exhausted all my ideas and energy trying to defeat my husband’s alcoholism, which I considered a weakness of character. I tried to keep it a secret within our four walls. I lost courage when, to my chagrin, he publicly displayed uncontrolled drunken behavior. My daughter, a medical student, mentioned that if I needed help, I could find it in Al-Anon meetings. I hesitated, and the waiting period was unbearable.”
“Letting Go Saved Us Both,” “The Forum,” May 2026
Read this member’s story at:
🔹 https://t.co/gkdytmNRUh
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #reallife #reallifequotes #mystory #boundaries #healthyboundaries #DetachWithLove
“I used to make decisions regarding the alcoholic without first speaking to my wife. I was committing her to decisions that I had made, which showed a lack of respect. Today, neither of us makes decisions regarding the alcoholic without first checking with each other…At first, this pause in the ‘crisis’ irritated the alcoholic, but today he knows that my wife and I communicate. He can’t play one parent against the other.”
“Better communication started with me,” “The Forum,” April 2017
Listen to members share about how the Al-Anon program helped them deal with a child’s drinking:
https://t.co/2szgqypLmG
#AlAnon #Alateen #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #recoveryjourney #COA #parentingishard #parentingteens #parentingproblems #relationshipmemes #relationshipproblems #relationships101
“Tradition Five also reminds me to encourage and understand my alcoholic relatives. Really understanding the alcoholic pattern helps me detach and have compassion for my daughter’s struggle. Right now, while my daughter has broken off contact, I can’t encourage her with words, but I can encourage her silently by praying for her. When contact is possible, I can encourage her discreetly using the acronym THINK: Is what I am about to say Thoughtful, Honest, Intelligent, Necessary, and, most importantly, Kind?”
“Not a Perfect Mom,” “The Forum,” May 2026
Al-Anon Family Groups provides support to anyone affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Find out more about the program at:
https://t.co/7gnpYf3QPl
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #selfcare #selfcarethreads #freshstart #newbeginnings #shatterthestigma #stopthesilence #parentingishard
“I always felt that I was a loving person, but I often lived life by reacting, instead of responding. I wondered why I could not change the alcoholic, so I tried harder. I made sure that the house was clean and that the meals were good and on time. I made sure to look my best when we went out together. I became obsessed with trying to meet the needs of others. For a few years, I felt needed and appreciated, but I lost someone along the way—myself.”
“I Awakened to My Own Life,” “The Forum” June 2018
Read this member’s story and find out how Al-Anon helped her heal at:
https://t.co/AovXmm6DFo
#AlAnon #Alateen #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #recoveryjourney #COA #selflove #loveyourself #selfcare #selfcarethreads #selfcarematters #behonest #behonestwithyourself #boundaries #healthyboundaries #boundariesarehealthy
“One of my worst fears when I was raising my children was that I was a bad mom. So, it was painful to hear my adult daughter’s angry words on the phone… She took the occasion to blame me for her recent episode and her unhappy life. She expressed complete rejection of me as a mother. Thanks to Al-Anon, I had the detachment to know it was the disease talking. After ending the call as civilly as I could, I decided to look more closely at this fear. I remembered hearing in an Al-Anon meeting that fear stands for ‘False Evidence Appearing Real.’ So, what is the truth? What are the facts?
“The first fact is that I love my daughter—deeply—and I still do. As a mother, I did the best I could and continue to do so with the help of
Al-Anon and God. The second fact is that my daughter has a mental health issue, and she abuses alcohol. She is not in a recovery program. I learned a third fact in Al-Anon literature: Alcoholics tend to distract and blame others to justify their continued drinking… I will never be the perfect mom. But I am—with the help of Al-Anon…better able to love my daughter through this crisis. And I believe this is what moms do.”
“Not a Perfect Mom,” “The Forum,” May 2026
You can read articles by members who are parents concerned about their children at:
🔹 https://t.co/VOytUX2AfC
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #selfcare #selfcarethreads #freshstart #newbeginnings #shatterthestigma #stopthesilence
“‘It is our attitudes, not our relationships, which can keep us trapped in the past. If we choose to be resentful and unhappy, it is not the fault of anyone else.’ [‘Discovering Choices, p. 171] The first time I read this, it felt as if my Higher Power hit me over the head with a cosmic two-by-four! It was painfully illuminating. I return to this chapter again and again. It reminds me I can no longer justify blaming the alcoholics and other people in my life for my misery. The solution is to return my focus to myself and to my program.”
“Remembering to Choose Happiness,” “The Forum,” May 2026
Al-Anon’s book, “Discovering Choices,” is all about recovery in our relationships. Members share their experience, strength, and hope about how they have used the program to improve all of their relationships, not just with their alcoholic loved ones. Read a sample at:
🔹 https://t.co/wxlmeIJLk5
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #selfcare #selfcarethreads #freshstart #newbeginnings #shatterthestigma #stopthesilence
“I went to an interview for a job. During the interview, I gave every reason why I wasn’t qualified for it while the kind gentleman just listened. After I finished, he smiled and asked me if I was an adult child of an alcoholic. I was surprised by the question and a bit miffed that he would ask such a personal question. However, I told him that my father had been an alcoholic. I also asked him why he wanted to know. He said he thought I had the characteristics of an adult child. I asked for an explanation because I had no clue what he meant by adult child. He said alcoholism is a family disease that affects everyone in it and that family members often develop certain characteristics to cope with the disease. I explained that my father had passed away and I didn't feel that his drinking had any impact on me. He handed me a pamphlet which explained the disease. It showed the different characteristics and explained them. I was amazed that my family fit the description like a glove. I was the lost child—withdrawn, emotionally distant, aloof, and very independent. I could no longer deny that I was, in fact, greatly affected by the disease of alcoholism.”
“Back to Step One,” “The Forum” December 2018
Is there a history of alcoholism in your family? Maybe Al-Anon can help:
https://t.co/HCLusOi6NP
#AlAnon #Alateen #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #recoveryjourney #COA #alcoholicproblems #familysecrets #relationshipquotes #relationshipmemes #relationshipproblems
«Antes de venir a Alateen, nunca expresaba mis problemas u opiniones. Lo embotellaba todo. Después de estar en Alateen, me di cuenta de que está bien decirle a la gente cómo me siento acerca de las cosas. Alateen me ha ayudado a expresar mis problemas y sacar cosas de mi sistema. Todavía estoy aprendiendo, pero mi vida ha mejorado ahora que sé que está bien expresar mis sentimientos. Me siento mejor acerca de ciertas situaciones».
«Expreso mis sentimientos» «Al-Anon y Alateen en acción» Vol. 55 N.°4
Información de reuniones:
Electrónicas: https://t.co/geMGqTsTo9
#AlAnon #Alateen #alcoholismo #recuperaciónfamiliar #enfermedadfamiliar #adicción #12Pasos #AA #HAA #rompeelsilencio #dinàmicasdisfuncionales #vidasana #noestasolo #nuevocomienzo #autocuidadoconsciente #autocuidadoemocional
“By practicing the Al-Anon program, I learned that I can change even if the alcoholic doesn't, I can love them without fixing them, and letting go of their problems, lets me live a happier and more serene life.”
~ Anonymous Al-Anon Member
2021 Al-Anon Membership Survey
For more insight into how Al-Anon can help, read articles from Al-Anon members:
https://t.co/hxq7V2dQ9p
#AlAnonMembershipSurvey #AlAnon #Alateen #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyRecovery #FamilyDisease #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #raiseawareness #mytribe #community #breakthecycle #recoverywarrior #alcoholicproblems #familysecrets
“I came to Al-Anon to find new ways to ‘fix’ my son, whom I believed was broken. You didn't give me any great ideas on how to do that. Instead, you gently suggested that he may not be broken but had a disease, a disease I couldn’t cure or find the right doctor to cure. You said he had to walk his own path, find his own solutions, and that maybe my constant chatter and activity were getting in his way. You told me my ‘fixing’ might be disrespectful; still, you never gave me advice or suggested there were absolutes (shoulds and should nots). I had never thought that each time I stepped in—really, jumped in—I sent him a message: ‘You can’t handle this; you can’t figure it out’… So, slowly, I worked the program… I gained compassion for my son. I gained acceptance of his disease and my powerlessness over it… I had thought Al-Anon was supposed to change my son. And he is different. It has been a lot of years. He chose to make many changes, slowly, in his time, not my time. We have the best relationship. It is full of love, life, and mutual respect. He is not sober. That is not my business. My business is to take care of myself, love all that is so lovable about my life, family, and friends, and work my program. When I do that, I am someone I like better… No question, Al-Anon has changed my life for the better.”
“I Like Myself Better,” The Forum, April 2026
Find out how Al-Anon Family Groups helps parents cope with a child’s drinking at:
🔹https://t.co/gkdytmNRUh
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #raiseawareness #breakthecycle #alcoholicproblems #selfcare #freshstart #newbeginnings
Six Conference Approved Literature books are available in electronic format, and they can be purchased from various e-book vendors. Direct links to them can be found at Al-Anon’s Online Bookstore.
🔹 Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses (eA-29, eB-29)
🔹 Hope for Today (eB-27)
🔹 Courage to Change: One Day at a Time in Al-Anon II (eA-16, eB-16)
🔹 How Al-Anon Works for Families & Friends of Alcoholics (eA-22, eB-22)
🔹 Having Had a Spiritual Awakening… (eB-25)
🔹 Alateen—Hope for Children of Alcoholics (eB-3)
Also available in e-book format:
🔹 The Forum, Al-Anon’s recovery magazine
🔹 Welcome Newcomer! (eK-10)
https://t.co/reY4OgAAQp
In May 1951, Lois W., Anne B., and several other volunteers staffed the very first Al-Anon Clearing House. They received mail from groups and typed letters in response.
Today, the Clearing House, now known as the World Service Office (WSO), receives phone calls, emails, direct messages, and yes, even mailed letters from groups and members around the world.
While technology has changed, our purpose remains the same: to serve the worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen, by sharing our collective experience, strength, and hope.
Interested in Al-Anon Family Groups early days? Check out:
🔹 https://t.co/cIxx6NVeA6
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #12Step #AA #AlAnonHistory #AlAnon75
Westside Wednesday AFG meets every Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM Mountain Time at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.
On the first Wednesday of the month, we read from How Al-Anon Works.
The rest of the month, we usually read from Courage to Change or another daily reader. We also sometimes do a topic meeting where everyone draws a topic from our green crockpot.
The fourth Wednesday is our anniversary celebration meeting. We enjoy coffee and treats, and anyone with an anniversary in Al-Anon that month receives a coin and recognition.
If there’s a fifth Wednesday, it’s a Speaker Meeting (if someone volunteers to share their experience, strength, and hope). Otherwise, it’s a regular Al-Anon meeting.
Everyone is warmly welcome. We’d love to have you join us!
When: Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM MT
Where: Our Savior Lutheran Church
Address: 4301 Atrisco Dr. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
Thank you — we hope to see you there!
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #freshstart #newbeginnings #selfcare #selfcarethreads #postivemindset #hopequotes #hopedealer #SerenityPrayer
“Some days, all I notice in my partner are the things that drive me crazy, even though he is sober. My nerves are on edge. It feels like the same tension repeating over and over. How do I interrupt this negative cycle?”
“Courage to See the Good,” The Forum, April 2026
Find out how this Al-Anon member changes her attitude and situation with Al-Anon’s slogan “Let It Begin with Me” by reading her story:
📷 https://t.co/RV9moEi3Rf
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #reallife #reallifequotes #mystory #boundaries #healthyboundaries #DetachWithLove #relationshipquotes
Many people do not realize that living with the family disease of alcoholism – past or present – affects them too. In Al-Anon, members learn about the family disease and its effects and how to recognize behaviors and/or survival skills they may have developed in the past that are no longer useful. Once they can identify what’s no longer working, they can make healthier choices. Learn more about Al-Anon at:
📷 https://t.co/K7wV9sPuET
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #freshstart #newbeginnings #selfcare #selfcarethreads #postivemindset #hopequotes #hopedealer #SerenityPrayer
“Hope for Today” is one of the daily reader books from Al-Anon Family Groups. It contains daily sharings from Al-Anon's adult children of alcoholics that are relatable for anyone who wants to grow in acceptance, compassion, and understanding.
It is available in hardcover (B-27), softcover with large print (B-28), and most recently has been released as an ebook (eB-27).
To learn more or to purchase, visit:
📷 https://t.co/mCpBxru1GH
#AlAnon #Alateen #AlAnonFamilyGroups #HowAlAnonWorks #FamilyDisease #FamilyRecovery #COA #alcoholism #addiction #12Step #AA #AlAnonBooks #bookrelease #bookreview #booktok #book #bookstagram #selfhelpbooks #selfhelpbook #dailyinspiration