Twelve-Step Programs for Families of Alcoholics
There are twelve-step programs that are available and cater directly to those families with loved ones who are recovering alcoholics.
Most 12-step recovery programs, like AA, NA, and CA, focus on the person that is dealing with addiction and recovery, which makes sense that they would need the help. However, the family members and spouses of this addict should not be left out and also need help dealing with the difficult situation they are in. Fortunately for them, there are also twelve-step programs that are available and cater directly to those families with loved ones who are recovering.
Twelve Step Meetings for Familes of Addicts and Alcoholics
Al-Anon is a twelve-step program that is like AA, but specifically for those people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking problem. This can be anyone from a family member, spouse, friend, or even a co-worker. The 12 steps of Al-Anon are almost word for word the same as those from the twelve-step of alcoholics anonymous and has been used as a tool for spiritual growth and healing for millions of people affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Studying and practicing these steps is an essential part of having progress in Al-Anon. The principles they represent universal and applicable to anyone. The twelve-steps of Al-Anon are as follows:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Decided to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Whether or not their loved one admits they are an alcoholic and seeks help, coming to these meetings and sharing common experiences while applying the Al-Anon principles can help the friends and families of an alcoholic can bring positive change to their situation.
How Al-Anon or Nar-Anon Can Benefit You
While there is no magic potion that can help you get someone you love to stop drinking, a twelve-step program will teach you how to cope with the challenges you face from someone else’s drinking. By changing some of your behaviors and actions, you can make things easier for yourself.
It may be challenging, but Al-Anon allows you to learn from other people’s experiences that have been through similar problems as you. They can also help you come to terms with understanding how problem drinking is a family illness that will affect everyone, not just the alcoholic. By listening to others speak at meetings; you can listen to how they came to understand their role in this family illness and how they were able to put themselves in a better position to be a positive role.
As a part of Al-Anon, they also offer Alateen, which caters to and is a fellowship for younger people who have been affected by someone else’s drinking. This allows teens to connect with other teenagers in similar situations as a way to cope and heal from what they have dealt with in their short lives.
On Call Treatment and Twelve-Step Programs
If you are unsure as to whether or not a 12-step program is right for you, ask yourself, Has your life been affected by someone else’s drinking? If the answer is yes, then a 12-step program can offer a lot of help for you. If your loved one is still struggling with alcoholism, our programs are tailored to guide addicted men and women through the recovery process.
