Quote:
Originally Posted by Moneyguy1
Scott:
I went to Al-Anon for three years and learned that there is no way the non-addictive partner can ever fully understand what is going on within the addict's head. The primary goal of the "enabler" is to understand him or her self and to get out of the cycle. No one gave advice, they shared their stories and related how they coped. What I learned about addiction was I didn't cause it, I can't control it and I certainly can't cure it (the three c's)
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Went to my first Al-Anon meeting last week... wasn't really sure WTF was going on but it was very interesting.
Bob, is Al-Anon only for friends and family of addicted people or are addicts invited also?
Still not sure where I am at with all this... from my mid twenties to forty I dabbled with drugs and alcohol... at forty I decided that drug culture was for kids and walked away from it... but of course alcohol is alway available and accepted in our culture so I continued to use it. I went to AA meetings and heard things like "if there is any alcohol in the house I will find it and drink it" and "once I start drinking I don't stop until I pass out" and for me I can have a bottle of whiskey in the house for a year without touching it or when I do drink I have three or four or whatever until I have a nice buzz then stop.
But if I get around anyone who is in the program they act as if you drink at all you have a problem. I know I am and have been a self medicator (sp) but I don't know if that automatically equals being an addict.