1. What is alcoholism?
We often refer to it as a threefold family disease affecting the body,
the mind and the spirit. For the drinker, one of the symptoms is an uncontrollable
desire for alcohol.
2. How can I help an alcoholic?
Ultimately an alcoholic must want help, and often help is resisted.
By adopting the Al-Anon/Alateen program we can stop trying to change the
alcoholic. We learn we cannot change anyone. We do this by turning our
attention to ourselves, the only ones we can change.
3. What is Al-Anon?
Al-Anon is a fellowship of family members, friends and co-workers
of alcoholics, men, women and children who try to solve our common problems
by sharing experiences, good and bad, and by increasing our knowledge
and understanding of the disease and our response to it.
4. What can I do to help an alcoholic stop drinking?
By changing our own attitudes we provide a
healthier environment for our families or circle of friends, including
the alcoholic. This may allow the alcoholic to see the problem more clearly
and pave the way to recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
5. How can I change my attitude?
a. By following the Al-Anon program, its Steps, Traditions, and slogans;
b. By attempting to understand the famliy disease of alcoholism and its
effects on us;
c. By attending Al-Anon meeting regularly;
d. By volunteering our time to Al-Anon service.
6. Should I serve alcohol at home or around the alcoholic?
This is an individual or family matter. It depends on the alcoholic's
preferences. For some, it may seem advisable not to at the beginning of
recovery.
7. Should I accept invitations for us to attend gatherings
where alcohol is served?
Let the alcoholic decide whether or not to accept such invitations.
In Al-Anon we learn how to make good decisions for ourselves.
8. Should I stop drinking?
If it makes any difference to the alcoholic it might be advisable,
but this is your personal decision. Some of us learn to enjoy life without
drinking and some of us drink socially without negative consequences.
9. Is there a good time when I can talk to the alcoholic
about the drinking or the other serious problems that often go with it?
This, in most cases, must be "played
by ear." Many have found the alcoholic to be more approachable after
a heavy drinking bout. Try to be calm and detached whenever such problems
are discussed.
10. Should I treat the alcoholic in any special way?
No. Experience has shown that the more attention
paid, the less the alcoholic does. Allowing them to be responsible for
their own behavior is difficult.
11. Will my troubles be over when the alcoholic stops
drinking?
Don't expect too much too soon. Recovery takes
a long time, and not all problems, family or work related, are
caused by alcoholism. Abstinence from drinking often unmasks other problems
which require different responses.
12. Will I still need Al-Anon after the alcoholic
has stopped drinking?
Yes. The adjustment to sobriety can be aided by our continuing to
focus on ourselves and growing in Al-Anon. Many members continue long
after the drinking has stopped.
13. Am I sick, too?
It is well to remember that we are suffering from the effects of another
person's alcoholism, whether in our present life or somewhere in our past.
14. What new or old responsibilities can an alcoholic
take?
Few, unless the alcoholic has sought sobriety. Some alcoholics can assume
responsibilities more quickly than others; the abilities of an alcoholic
who has achieved sobriety may be limitless for some, while others truly
take life one day at a time.
15. How can I help after the alcoholic stops
drinking?
Loving and understanding helps. Recovering from the effects
of alcoholism, the family disease, ourselves, often aids in ongoing recovery
of others.
16 What is a "dry drunk"?
When alcoholics, who have not been drinking, get into a state
of mind or display behavior previously associated with drinking, they
are said to be having a "dry drunk." It often occurs in early
sobriety but is not unusual later in long-term sobriety either.
17. Do I, in Al-Anon have "slips"?
Yes, old reactions are hard to break, and sometimes we unwittingly
slip back into old ways of thinking and acting. Keeping in touch with
Al-Anon members by means of the telephone, reading Al-Anon literature,
and attending meetings helps minimize this behavior.
18. How can I keep the alcoholic away from drinking
companions?
We can't.
