A New Year’s Resolution, to Find a Solution
Virginia Beach, VA (PRWEB) December 31, 2013 -- Begin the year with hope for relief from the anxiety of living with someone else’s alcoholism.
Christmas and New Year’s can be stressful for the friends and families of problem drinkers. But, holiday drinking is also a reminder of the stress that continues throughout the year when a friend or family member abuses alcohol. One possible New Year’s resolution is to gain a healthier perspective on alcoholism by visiting an Al-Anon Family Group meeting in your local community.
“One of the most painful aspects of living with problem drinking is the loneliness that goes along with the fear and anger. I felt hopeless and alone before I went to Al-Anon,” said Christine S., an anonymous Al-Anon member in Virginia. “It was a great comfort to find that I wasn’t the only one who suffered in this way. The support I got from other friends and families of problem drinkers was very helpful.”
“I was apprehensive about going to a ‘meeting.’ I’m not a meeting person, and I didn’t want my husband’s drinking problem to be the defining factor in my life,” Christine said. “But, I was surprised at how comfortable I felt when I finally stopped procrastinating, and went to my first meeting. I’m very glad that I was able to do that.”
“New Year’s Day is a great time to make a new beginning. Visiting an Al-Anon meeting can be an important first step toward a healthier lifestyle,” Christine said.
There are no dues or fees at Al-Anon Family Group meetings. No appointments are needed, and walk-ins are always welcome. Meeting attendees can take comfort in knowing that everything said at meetings is kept entirely confidential.
Al-Anon Family Groups are for families and friends who have been affected by the problem drinking of someone close to them. Nearly 16,000 local groups meet every week throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Al-Anon Family Groups meet in more than 130 countries, and Al-Anon literature is available in more than 40 languages. Al-Anon Family Groups have been offering strength and support to families and friends of alcoholics since 1951. Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. acts as the clearinghouse worldwide for inquiries from those who need help or want information about Al-Anon Family Groups and Alateen, its program for teenage members.
For more information about Al-Anon Family Groups, go to http://www.al-anon.alateen.org, or read a copy of "Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2014." Find a local meeting by calling toll-free: 1-888-4AL-ANON.
Pamela Walters, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/, +1 (757) 563-1600 Ext: 1672, [email protected]
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