gardner

work with acoa as well as alcoholics themselves? I am a recovering alcoholic dealing with 2 parents who are active alcoholics. I am ready to start to heal. I haven't been ready in the past but I must find a way to stop these patterns. My relationship with my alcoholic mother hit a rock bottom this week. I am finally ready to cut off all contact until she addresses her drinking/drug issues but I know I need a lot of help. I am ready to try the 12 step programs. I have resisted in the past but I cannot keep fumbling around in the darkness. I have made the important first steps.

At the moment I am feeling quite helpless.

LexieCat

I've been in Al-Anon AND AA, but at different times in my life. I mainly participate in AA at the moment, but part of the reason I like SR is for the Al-Anon component.

I know a lot of people who are "double winners" (in both AA and Al-Anon), and my suggestion is that you might ask around in your meetings to see whether there is someone else in the same boat. Or simply find a sponsor in either program to take you through the Steps (both programs use the same 12 Steps--in either one you admit powerlessness over alcohol--in AA as the alcoholic, and in Al-Anon as a support person), and attend both kinds of meetings to get fellowship and support for both aspects of your involvement with alcoholism.

Sylvie66

Good for you for making such a weighty decision! Yes, there is help for your situation... the 12 steps apply to a lot of different patterns. It's all about changing what we can change.