When to Consider Joining a Family Group for Addiction Issues

If you or a loved one knows someone who struggles with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you may benefit from joining an Al-Anon group. What is Al-Anon? Al-Anon is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Al-Anon differs from Alcoholics Anonymous in that it offers an interactive, supportive environment for adults whose close relatives are living with alcoholism and other addictions. Al-Anon begins with the fundamental principle that family members have responsibilities. These responsibilities include taking care of ourselves, working this program to improve our lives and the lives of those around us, gaining perspective on our role in our loved one’s addiction, understanding how we contributed to the problem, pursuing recovery ourselves while supporting our loved one’s recovery efforts, breaking free from guilt and stigma associated with having an addicted loved one.

Should you consider joining an Al-Anon group? The first thing to consider is your overall health. You should be currently participating in a recovery program, such as attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings or perhaps receiving professional help for your addiction. Although Al-Anon is for family members of problem drinkers, it doesn’t just focus on alcoholism. Any drug or behavioral addiction can have a negative impact on the people who love you. If you’re struggling with issues like depression or anxiety in addition to your loved one’s substance use problems, then it might be time to talk to someone about your situation. It’s important to know that Al-Anon doesn’t provide counseling services; therefore, if you need professional help understanding recent events in your life, find support elsewhere to determine whether attending Al-Anon groups is right for you.

For more information on how our addiction treatment programs can help heal drug or alcohol dependence, please give The River Source a call at 866-294-9331.

What Is Al-Anon: What to Expect

If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol and drugs, Al-Anon can help. You can go it alone or with someone else. At an Al-Anon meeting, you will meet people who understand because they have walked in your shoes. If you have been searching for a way out of your addiction to substances and alcohol, Al-Anon support groups offer strength, hope, and recovery.

Al-Anon uses the 12-step approach, which includes admitting that you have a problem and letting go of blame and guilt. After admission, you can begin to take an inventory of your life through meetings and working with a sponsor. The sponsor helps guide you through the steps to begin working on yourself. The program helps you to gain insight into yourself and others, discover new ways of coping, reduce isolation, and improve your relationships. The setting is informal, comfortable, and supportive. By learning more about others and the issues they face, you become better equipped to deal with your own problems of addiction.

Additionally, there are some do’s and don’ts of Al-Anon. The do’s include:

• Do forgive the alcohol or drug abuser
• Do be humble
• Do take it easy because tension is harmful
• Do play by finding recreational activities and hobbies
• Do keep on trying whenever you fail
• Do learn the facts about alcoholism
• Do attend Al-Anon meetings often
• Do pray

The don’ts include:

• Don’t be self-righteous
• Don’t try to dominate, nag, scold, and complain
• Don’t lose your temper
• Don’t try to push anyone but yourself
• Don’t keep bringing up the past
• Don’t keep checking up on the alcoholic
• Don’t wallow in self-pity
• Don’t make threats you don’t intend to carry out
• Don’t be over-protective
• Don’t be a doormat

While the meetings focus on the impact of addiction, not just on the addicted person, they are also designed to help families learn new information and skills that can be used immediately to make their relationships stronger and healthier. You will learn how to live meaningfully despite the pain of being close to someone with a drug or alcohol problem. You will gain coping skills, acquire new confidence and self-esteem, improve your ability to relate positively to others, and experience the support of people who share your common concerns. 

How to Find an Al-Anon Meeting Near Me

Al-Anon groups are based on the premise that friends of alcoholics are eligible to receive help and support in their own right. The support given is usually in the form of listening to others share their experiences and giving feedback on the successful or unsuccessful things they’ve tried when dealing with an alcoholic loved one. An Al-Anon group is open to anyone whose life has been affected by alcoholism, but if you do not have a family member who is an alcoholic, you will need to attend a trial meeting before joining a regular meeting.

Now that we know what is Al-Anon, let’s discuss how to find an Al-Anon meeting near you. The best way to find an Al-Anon group is by searching for them online, usually through a local phone book or counseling center. If you know someone who has attended one, you can also ask him or her who they went to. You can also search for drug and alcohol treatment centers in your area and discuss your options with a professional. There are many ways you can help someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol, including finding a professional therapist who can help them recover from their substance abuse problem.

Family Members Can Help Their Loved Ones by Calling The River Source

Do you or someone you love have an addiction to drugs or alcohol? The River Source provides a highly-effective, 12-step recovery process that is right for those who want to change their life. Our abstinence-based drug rehab program will help you or your loved one identify the risks of substance abuse and develop healthier coping mechanisms. The River Source specializes in helping families recover from addiction together by teaching them how to help each other, manage triggers, and avoid relapse.

The biggest problem for those with a family member struggling with addiction is that you want the best treatment for them. You want them to recover, but it’s hard to find this kind of help. At The River Source, we are here to help you get the care you need for someone who needs rehab in their life. Our team is ready to put everything on hold so that you can get that person into a treatment center as soon as possible. The River Source offers specialized care for those struggling with substance abuse, including alcohol, prescription addiction, and illegal substance abuse. With various services ranging from private counseling to 12-step meetings and intensive residential programs, our experienced staff is here to help individuals and their families break the cycle of addiction. 

The River Source provides a safe, comfortable and non-judgemental environment to help you find your way back. We believe in you and want you to know that you’re not alone on this journey. What you think is a weakness can turn into your strength when you choose to recover from addiction. Learn which insurance companies will cover your treatment options are The River Source. The first step towards building yourself up is calling 866-294-9331 to speak with an addiction specialist at The River Source today.