Hi

I am new to Al-anon and although I have attended a local group twice now, I know I have to take time to get used to it before I attempt to find a sponsor and embark on the 12 step recovery programme which I want to do.  Can anyone tell me where I can purchase workbooks for this programme?  I have searched but all I can find are workbooks for AA members and I am not sure these are suitable for Al-anon although the programmes are based on AA's 12 steps.

Thanks,

Suex

Welcome Sue, As far as I know the only Al-Anon workbook at this time is for the 4th step for which you may not be ready for some time. However may I recomend the book Al-Anons Twelve Steps And Twelve Traditions. It gives a good introduction to all the steps and traditions and is used by most people that I know in working all of the steps. It is a good place to start as well as the daily readers, One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, Courage To Change, and Hope For Today. They are indexed in the back by subject, so you can look up many things you have questions about. Hope this helps. In recovery,

Thanks very much for the advice Jen, much appreciated. I will certainly buy that book. Its great when someone can recommend a book especially when there seems to be so many on the subject. Now I know where I must start! Thanks.

Hi, Sue! Welcome. There are all kinds of different opinions and approaches in Al-Anon. What my sponsor told me at the beginning was that How Al-Anon Works is the main text. There's potent stuff in there! She had me start by reading a paragraph of Step One and write out what struck me from it. The second book I added was Paths to Recovery. It worked for me to first find a sponsor (in my case, a temporary one) who had what I wanted, and then to begin the way she had done. My tendency is to think I have to study up and get an overview before reaching out and asking for help. One of the biggest affects of alcoholism I see in my life is that I'm very resistant to asking for help, to asking someone to explain something. My ability to "do my homework" is like a twisted crippling 'higher power' when I'm trying to control the affects. So Al-Anon gives me a chance to practice reaching out even when I don't understand something intellectually. ~ Molly

Hi Molly

Thanks for your advice.  I have only been to my local Al-anon group two weeks in a row, tomorrow will be week 3.  I feel as though I am ready to make the committment to studying the steps but am hesitant to ask a member for help.  I am not sure how to go about asking for a sponsor!  I may try to find out more tomorrow if there is an opportunity.

Your words have helped to clarify things for me.

I really appreciate it, thanks.  I hope you are getting on well and making progress.

Sue