Has Someone’s Drinking Affected You or Others?

This is a paid for piece Sponsored By: Al-Anon

Alcoholism is a family disease that can affect those around them, whether the drinker is still actively drinking or living with them or not. Al-Anon is an anonymous fellowship of families and friends who come together at meetings for mutual support when they have someone close to them who’s drinking bothers them. It is a recovery program based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. In-person Al-Anon meetings are available in the Sioux Falls area. Alateen meetings are currently available on the Al-Anon Family Groups Mobile App. Alateen meetings are for people who are between the ages of 13-18 and Al-Anon meetings are for anyone. There are no dues or fees for attending, Al-Anon and Alateen are supported by voluntary contributions.

The following are some questions to see if Al-Anon or Alateen is for you:

1. Do you think that no one understands your problems and how you feel?

2. Does the drinker’s behavior upset you?

3. Does the frequency and quantity of the drinking bother you?

4. Are holidays, special occasions, or gatherings spoiled because of excessive drinking?

5. Do you think that if the drinking stopped other problems would get better?

6. Are you isolating yourself from others?

7. Do you lie to cover up for the drinker or what is happening at home?

8. Do you feel the drinking would stop if they loved you?

9. Are money problems an issue because of the drinking?

10. Do you fear upsetting the drinker for fear of setting them off into a drinking spell?

11. Do you make threats about leaving if the drinking doesn’t stop?

12. Do you feel a sense of failure because you can’t control the drinking?

Personal story from a member:

“I grew up in a home with an alcoholic father. It didn’t seem to happen all at once, instead the drinking got worse as the years went by. I just thought everything would be better if he would stop drinking. My parents got divorced in my late teens and my dad went to a treatment center, so I thought my life should start improving. In my early twenties I met the man who would eventually become my husband. His drinking didn’t seem any different than what I was seeing in others I knew so I accepted it. It did bother me but I could rationalize and deny that anything was wrong or that once the stress lessened he would stop drinking as much. I felt like I had no one to talk to because they wouldn’t understand. Circumstances eventually would lead me to seek help in Al-Anon because whatever I had been trying on my own wasn’t making me feel better. I couldn’t believe when I started attending meetings that people would share their stories and I felt that they were expressing the same feelings that I had. It took me a few meetings to be able to trust and share what I was feeling. I felt so welcomed and that I was in aplace where people understood me and my pain and the chaos I was living in. Al-Anon has taught me that alcoholism is a cunning, baffling and powerful disease that I can’t control. I learned that I can’t cure it, I didn’t cause it and I can’t control it. I also learned how to address my feelings, set boundaries, communicate, and take care of myself and what I can and cannot control. Attending meetings has helped me find comfort, peace and understanding for myself and others.” —Anonymous member

Meetings are held in various places in the community, online, on the phone or electronically via the Al-Anon Family Groups Mobile App. Meetings are anonymous, which means we don’t reveal who we see, and what we hear at a meeting. Members can share during meetings or just listen. We don’t give advice, we share our experience, strength and hope to solve our common problems, along with using the Twelve Steps.

The Al-Anon membership survey results from 2021 report that 83% of members who attend Al-Anon meetings see an improvement in their mental health within the first year of attending.

Individuals concerned about someone’s drug addiction are welcome to attend Al-Anon meetings to determine if it’s right for them, with the understanding that our program focuses on alcoholism.

To learn more about the help and hope offered in Al-Anon, click the link.

To find meeting information near you:

In the Sioux Falls area call: 605-679-5497

In the Rapid City area call: 605-872-1245

1-888-4AL-ANON

To find a meeting near where you live, literature and information about Al-Anon and Alateen: www.al-anon.org www.southdakotaalanon.org

Find us on Instagram: #Alanon #Alateen

Watch a youtube video on the “Benefits of Al-Anon Recovery” www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4aCeppXO5o