Great Idea!

[Yasha]

Tomorrow I am going to attend my first ever Al-Anon meeting.

Reason, last time I needed to deal with my young adult son's crack cocaine habit, a year ago, I nearly had a meltdown....and I KNOW better. Despite the support systems employed through outpatient group and family sessions and family and friends and the Lord and private journal time(prayer life)...I needed to see and hear the 'common ground' that I shared with so many other caregivers in similar situations. And 3 weeks ago, we started all over again...well, things are different, growth has interupted the stronghold of addiction, the drug has lost a lot of respect and the surrender happened much more quickly this time...progress made is notable...yet, here we are again. Seeing the familiar faces and hearing the familiar voices of counselors and caregivers who helped out last time.

Thanks Erwin, for a timely idea for me. I really think quite a bit of your huge fellowship pool gathered here together in His name. We move many mountains big and small...from avalanches to dustbunnies...the earth MOVES in this place. Praise God for your faithful and accountable stewardship in the provision of this haven.

 

[Yasha]

 

[lonelypilgrim]

I can only imagine what you must be going through. I will be praying for you and your family as you go through this trial.

If I may, I would like to encourage you with a verse of scripture.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

If you need to talk...I'm here.

 

[California Dreamin']

I have been a guest to AA because of my stepfather, sober since he got engaged to my mom in 2002.

 

[Yasha]

I forgot I ever even wrote in here until I got this response today.

I am tired but encourqaged in the caregiver hats. My son is in treatment and doing really well, at this point. It was a LONG road to that sentence.

It's up to him. Ushering is a lot more work than we expect sometimes. Service in any capacity is a drain. I am enjoying 'me time' for the last two weeks. People at his end, and he,himself, are doing their jobs. I'm catching up on my world.

Blessings for you both.

 

[California Dreamin']

I am glad to hear that you are ’catching up on your world’!

 

[If Not For Grace]

first ever Al-Anon meeting.

Good for you. I've been a member for 10+++years. It saved my life. (It sure helped those around me too).

It was not what I expected. The focus is for YOU.

You learn how to treat yourself well, as well as your loved ones.

It is a "step" program, and the sernity/peace they promise you does not COME overnight, but it does come. I guarntee, if you work the steps, you will find success. It's a pity churches don't use 12-steps in conjunction with their teachings, it's great.

I will recommend some sites to you after you have a few meetings under your belt. PM me if you like after attenting or anytime. There is a bond between alanons just like army buddies, or faternity brothers. It is a family of people WHO HAVE BEEN THERE--and understand and have FOUND PEACE.

I'm so pleased for you---BIG HUGS---

 

[symphonyb]

my ex husband was an alcoholic-drug user.I attended ala-non a few times,and felt it could have been the key to staying together.he felt otherwise.Bless all on here.

 

[Wildwood]

It's amazing how God plants an encouraging word in a post six months before you need it so that it will be there when you do.

What a wonderful God we serve.

 

[Yasha]

Again, I haven't been back here to this post for a long time. I keep forgetting that I came here once.

When I came, I was the only one who really had started any thread, I seem to remember.

Now I see a bunch of you have gathered. Praise the Lord. I have been participating most heavily in the Survivors of Abuse forum, recently, as it best serves the fuller scope of my current concerns, oft times. My son and husband are abuse survivors, as a result so am I, which is what leads to all this other mess.

I have come a long way in caring for myself since January, by the way. I have returned to college for Web Design and quit my 15 year long job, after becoming incapable of doing anymore following an auto accident. I am currently in the job application process and finding the need to choose the right job an interesting and scary endeavor. My husband has been supportive, though he can be known to go off, occasionally, because it is scary for me to be unemployed with no income at all. He is mostly great about it, though. I am actively applying and praying for the Lord to deliver me to the place best suited for me to serve Him in making the money that we need. I am still interested in the 12 Step programs. I even posted a little ditty about them in the other forum segment just last week. 12 step post.

My son is doing very well, public speaking engagements and all. New job with a program fellow. New apartment with other program members. I have never seen so much change in him in any other attempt to achieve sobriety. This is the first time HE has embraced the program as well. I am so relieved.

I am getting to focus on me, and this is a long overdue and very necessary growth for me.

I have not actively been participating in Al-anon, again. I need to try the one closer to me. Unfortunately, I have been detered by negative feedback about our local meetings. I live in an affluent area and have heard that the clickiness within the groups is a very negative aspect. I just found one that meets in another town nearby that meets tonight, so I am hoping for the fortitude to try it out. Last Wednesday I talked myself out of it by nighttime. Pray I don't do that again...or that the Lord stirs me to go there.

Anyway, thanks to each of you for your responses. I think He used Wildwood to call back to this focus again...Wednesday of all days...go figure.

 

[Wildwood]

I felt led to reply to the thread, even though it had been silent for a few months, because it had blessed me and by bringing it back it could bless other caregivers who might come to the forum. It's touching that God was leading me so that He could encourage Shachah.