Al-Anon exists to provide support for individuals with loved ones struggling with alcohol addiction. Close family and friends of alcoholics suffer greatly. They often feel isolated and desperate and have lost hope that their situation can ever change. The fellowship of Al-Anon is not for the alcoholic but for the individuals who are affected by the alcoholic. It is based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Al-Anon is a recovery program where members share their experiences in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Like AA, it’s a program of anonymity. The meetings bring together people who share the same feelings and frustrations. They serve as an outlet and support system that helps people explore ways to cope better with their situation. Al-Anon is a spiritual program but not associated with any denomination or particular religion.
The program asks attendees to find a power greater than themselves to help achieve serenity. Those in close relationships with alcoholics tend to overly focus on the drinker’s behavior and take on the negative emotion associated. Al-Anon encourages its members to remain focused on their own actions. To see the difference between being supportive and enabling and expressing love from pity.
The focus is taken off the alcoholic and placed on improving each members’ life. Whether the alcoholic is drinking or in recovery, the Al-Anon community concentrates on detaching from the emotions of blame, guilt, and shame and establishing healthy boundaries.
How Alcoholism Affects The Family
Alcoholism is a disease that affects entire families. It produces insecurity, anxiety, and broken relationships. Living with an alcoholic can have a profoundly negative impact on the mental and physical well-being of a household. The drinker may become disruptive during family gatherings causing hurt and embarrassment.
The escalation of alcohol abuse can produce fear and anxiety. A spouse or partner may begin pressuring the drinker to stay sober then suffer many disappointments when an alcoholic cannot do it. The result is often anger, resentment, and distrust. The damage to the relationship can be severe and long-lasting, and it may never fully recover. Conversely, family members may want to avoid all conflict and ignore the alcoholism.
Their inability to cope with a combative situation makes them go into denial, enabling the alcohol abuse to continue. In the meantime, the disease creates an unhappy, unpredictable, and unhealthy environment that can be stressful for all. Children who grow up in alcoholic households often grow up to be alcoholics themselves. They can become vulnerable to anxiety and mood disorders that extend into adulthood. An alcoholic home lacks the stability children need to thrive. They can sense the stress in the household, and experience shame and embarrassment at their alcoholic parent’s behavior.
The financial impact of alcoholism on families can be devastating. Abuse of alcohol can affect job performance and induce impulsive and irresponsible behavior. Impaired judgment can cause alcoholics to make poor financial decisions that affect everyone. They may be chronically underemployed, spend money foolishly, or constantly need to borrow money from friends and family. Placing this extra financial burden where it should not be, creates a lot of anxiety in the household. If the alcoholic family member is a student, academic performance will most likely be affected. Grades can decline, or the student may discontinue attending classes.
This action can become a great source of tension in the home, as parents and loved ones get frustrated with these alcohol-impaired decisions. Serious arguments can result from the financial uncertainty created by wasted tuition payments, unstable job prospects, and the alcoholic person’s denial about their addiction.
Al-Anon Support
Family members can feel abused, betrayed and have a lot of anger to sort through. They may have experienced years of hurt, ruined holidays, and isolation because they feel the need to hide their situation. They may feel unloved and unsupported and have developed a pattern of pretending that they don’t care. An Al-Anon support group can help you find a way of coping with the different emotions. Spending time with people who share similar experiences will validate your own and show that you are not alone. Al-Anon is not a substitute for professional counseling but is known to be beneficial in helping members learn simply to take care of themselves. Let us help you take the first step, call today 844-844-3463.