For the Media/Press Release

Al-Anon helps=20 members reach beyond their fears
Families and friends of = alcoholics=20 can
find hope and help in Al-Anon/Alateen

Those who = live with=20 alcoholism often live in fear: fear of abuse, fear of anger, fear = of=20 trusting others. Al-Anon Family Groups (including Alateen for = younger=20 members) is a source of understanding, help, and hope to families = and=20 friends of alcoholics. The following story, originally published = in=20 Al-Anon=92s monthly magazine, The Forum, illustrates some = of the=20 fears experienced.

My pattern of isolation = began in=20 childhood when my mother=92s abusive behavior became a source of = sadness and=20 embarrassment. I coped by being a good little girl and keeping my = feelings=20 to myself. Years later, while I suffered from my son=92s = alcoholism, I=20 withdrew again. When the pain became intolerable, I decided to try = Al-Anon.

It was scary = walking into a=20 room that was full of strangers, so I put on my everything=92s = okay mask.=20 Then the members began to share their stories. Everyone=92s words = carried=20 such depth and honesty that I began to feel hopeful. I thought = maybe I=20 could let my guard down, too. Maybe somebody would finally=20 understand.

Continuing to attend meetings, I confronted = longtime=20 habits of self-pity that kept me stuck in misery. It was pretty = difficult=20 to feel alone and sorry for myself when I sat with people whose=20 experiences were the same or even worse than mine.

When I = was=20 little, I often blamed myself for Mommy=92s anger. Later I felt = somehow=20 guilty about my son=92s alcoholism. Al-Anon told me I did not = cause the=20 disease and that I could not control or cure it, either. The only = thing I=20 could change, I learned, was my own response. As I gradually let = go of=20 guilt, I felt a new sense of lightness and = freedom.

Sometimes I=20 still find myself sliding back into isolation, but now I have a = choice. I=20 can stay in a dark, lonely place, if that=92s what I choose. Or I = can keep=20 coming back to this program, into the healing light of intimacy = with my=20 fellow travelers on this journey we call life. =

--Kathy S.
(Al-Anon members maintain personal = anonymity in=20 print)

Al-Anon=20 members, like Kathy, may have several relationships to alcoholics: = children, parents, spouses, partners, family members, and friends = of=20 problem drinkers. All are welcome in the over 26,000 Al-Anon = (including=20 Alateen for younger members) meetings held in 131 countries. Local = meeting=20 information can be obtained by checking the local white pages = under=20 =93Al-Anon,=94 or by calling the national (US and Canada) toll = free meeting=20 line, 1-888-4-AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666, Monday through Friday, 8 am = to 6 pm=20 ET). Additional information and listings of local Web sites are = available=20 on the Al-Anon/Alateen Web site, = www.al-anon.alateen.org.

# #=20 #

Privacy=20 Statement

Al-Anon helps=20 members reach beyond their fearsFamilies and friends of = alcoholics=20 canfind hope and help in Al-Anon/Alateen

Al-Anon helps=20 members reach beyond their fears
Families and friends of = alcoholics=20 can
find hope and help in Al-Anon/Alateen