Alanon is a program of recovery for family members
and friends that have alcoholics in their lives. Before
Alanon, many of these people lived life through the
alcoholic, engaging or disengaging in behavior in order
to appease the alcoholic and stay out of conflict. Many
of these people stopped living life for themselves and
had started letting alcoholism run their lives. Alanon
provides another way of life for the family and friends
of alcoholics and Alanon support groups offer a safe
space in which people can come and share their experience
with alcoholism.
Some people view 12-step programs as a sign of weakness
or giving up, however the 12 steps provide people with
a way of life without the worry alcohol addiction once
caused. People also shy away from Alanon thinking that
it will make them stop loving or caring about the alcoholic
in their lives, however what Alanon really teaches is
how people can love and care for themselves and still
care about the alcoholic.
The Alanon Family Group Headquarters website provides
a list of 20 questions used to determine whether a person
needs Alanon. Here are a few examples:
· "Do you tell lies
to cover up for someone else's drinking?"
· "Are you afraid
to upset someone for fear it will set of a drinking
bout?"
· "Do you think that
if the drinker stopped drinking, your other problems
would be solved?"
· "Do you feel there
is no one who understands your problems?"
If you answer yes to any of these questions or any
of the other questions on the Alanon website, Alanon
may be able to help you find a new way of living. Through
the use of the 12 steps, sponsorship, fellowship, and
meetings, Alanon members learn how to share with others
so that they can recover from the family disease of
alcoholism. Alanon helps alcoholics by helping their
families better understand them.
While Alanon is not affiliated with any group and does
not support any causes aside from its own, treatment
programs and therapy can also be useful to people involved
in the life of an alcoholic. At Spencer Recovery Centers
we understand how hard it is to watch loved ones suffer
and we offer programs and suggestions to family members
and friends to make the recovery process easier and
less painful for everyone involved. If you are a loved
one of an alcoholic and do not know where to turn for
help, Alanon and Spencer Recovery Centers can help.
Please call Spencer today at 800.334.3094. |
