how weird is this? I just came home from my first Al-anon meeting. I will be attending again whereas it was very comforting to know that many other people are dealing with the same thing I am.

these meetings are free. They do pass around a basket for donations, but I noticed most people put in $1.00 so thats what I did.

It doesnt hurt to try it.......make that first step!

i am a greatful memeber for 2 yrs without this group i don"t were i would be. It is the best to know that there are people in al-anon that have been were you are. please go it will be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

Went to my weekly Nar-Anon meeting tonight. It'll be one year in October since I started going. If I miss a meeting, I feel it. Best move I ever made.

I think it is a great idea. I am going to look for one too. People keep giving me that advice as a new spouse of a former addict. The big picture here is you can lose yourself and your energies in fighting his addiction and you want to keep healthy. I would also encourage you to look at a Celebrate Recovery ministry , google it. They address the strength and healing that can come from God and have a group within their walls for partners of addicts as well as something for your fiance...free as well. Good luck to you...

I've been a member of Alanon for a little over a year, I went to several meetings before finding one that felt right to me... (they are all the same in most ways but can have very different feelings) my home group is all women.

you do not have to give any money, especially as a newcomer. the onl thing you will be asked to do is introduce yourself by your first name and sometimes at the end they may hold hands and do the serenity prayer.

there is no right or wrong when you go and don't feel weird if you cry... it is common for a lot of emotions to come to the surface... a lot of us haven't felt safe or understood in a very long time... nobody will judge you.

I was very suprised how little they talked about the addict when i first went there... seeing as how he was the reason I went there and i had spent so much time thinking only of him... but this isn't about him, it's about YOU and taking care of YOUR needs. I was very uncomfortable with that idea when i first started.
I was also turned off by how well-adjusted everyone seemed... like... there was no possible way they had the same experiences I did or they wouldn't be so happy or calm, but I soon found out there was nothing I had been through that at least one person, most likely all, had been through too.

so anyway that's my experience, I hope you do give it a try... if it doesn't feel right, , try about 7 different meetings before deciding it's not for you.

good luck.