I am new to the alanon program

christina · Newbie

I am new to the alanon program

amanda2u2 · Senior Member

I'm not going to tell you that you should or that you should not,,, that is up to you to decide. but I will share my experience, strength and hope with you. I did not have a sponsor at first as I was in a temporary situation, but I started the Steps using the AA 12 step book, and then the ACoA 'The 12 Steps for Adult Children', and I know others who did the same thing. It seems that people do better when they consult others who have gone before and understand what the Steps are about and what the principles and concepts are, either people in the group, some individuals after meetings, a specially respected person that seems to understand the program well, or the Step literature from that program. If one have nothing and no one else, the Steps on this board are pretty well outlined, and one can scroll back through the pages to give a start.

welcome to recovery. I'll be looking forward to your continued participation.

amanda

dot · Senior Member

Hi Christine - For some reason Step One is hard for many of us when we first come to Al-Anon. We seem to think that we have been in control when really alcoholism has been ruling our lives and making us miserable.

For me the three A's come in here. First I had to become AWARE that all the things I had done to change the a and our situaton hadn't changed a thing - then I had to ACCEPT this fact and realize that my life was unmanageable - then I needed to decide on the ACTION I wanted to take.

I could go on the same way and stay miserable or I could accept that I was powerless over alcohol and the alcoholic and that my life was unmanageable.

This First Step was the beginning of a journey through the 12 Steps that changed my life and made it possible for me to be happy whether the a was drinking or not.

A sponsor can be a great help. Listen at your face to face meetings and choose someone who makes you feel like you'd like to have what she has. Also our book Paths to Recovery is a good study of the Steps.

Feel free to e-mail me at Dot48730@webtv.net

Love and hugs - Dot

-- Edited by dot at 17:47, 2006-06-25

amanda2u2 · Senior Member

thank you, dot. I had not heard of the 3 AAA's like that,,, but am going to remember them. See? always learning something new, no matter how long in recovery.

Step 1 was scary for me,,, and, in fact,, impossible without Steps 2 & 3. I had to know that if I didn't have control that there was some kind of control somewhere,,, and a loving God is even better than anything or anyone else I can think of.

thank you, dot, for being here, and sharing your experience, strength and hope so consistently and perseverantly. You have gained a lot of wisdom through your years of journey,,, and even more since I have 'known' you. It is a lifetime process, isn't it? If we remain teachable, even after 18 years.

love in recovery,

amanda

RunningGirl · Newbie

hi all, i am just begining to admit that i cant live anymore with my addiction to amphetamines to keep me going. My head is going to end up like mush.No one around me knows how much i am on and dont want them to know.My bones ache wen i dont have any and i dont want to be like this any more. Can anyone help Pls x

amanda2u2 · Senior Member

It is better to see a local professional who can examine you and treat you, than for us to try to give you specific advice. My advice is to see a professional near you for detoxing. The 12 Steps is a support group wherein we peers support each others recovery, and help each other to learn about the 12 Step program. I hope you do both - see the professional and keep coming here, as well as to a local 12 Step group. There should probably be an NA group near you. Keep us posted, okay? You'll be in my prayers. Any questions about recovery and the 12 Step programs we'll be glad to give you information about.

love in recovery,

amanda

Vicky R · Senior Member

hi Christina , welcome . Well sponsors are recommended as are any of the tools of the programme but we also say 'take what you like and leave the rest' . So it's not that you have to have one but some kind of sharing I think would be recommended as there can be a tendency to be too harsh on ourselves if we attempt the steps on our own entirely. If possible f2f meetings could be somewhere to share little bits of things , taking phone numbers from there too , or if that is not possible you might be able to get an online sponsor through one of the email groups listed on the main website . I have met many members who have never had a sponsor but that do alot of sharing amongst themselves as a group if you see what I mean , it's quite flexible , just try to find your own way to make it as comfortable as is possible for you ,

llol Vickyr x

Learn how the 12 Steps work. Participate in your own recovery as well as the recovery of others, by being active on this board as we go through the 12 Steps of recovery together! We discuss each of the Twelve Steps In the order they are written, one step at a time, every two weeks.