Alaska Al Anon

03/19/2026

“Like most of us growing up with alcoholism, I spent most of my life denying that it had impacted me. Coping that way worked well until it didn’t, and in desperation, I turned to Al-Anon… My desperation overcame my fear—a fear rooted in the vulnerability of admitting to someone else that I was not as perfect as I pretended to be. As a man, I not only felt voiceless while living with alcoholism, but I had also been conditioned by the societal beliefs that men don’t cry, don’t ask for help, and never, ever admit to having problems they can’t handle. It took a lot of pain, shame, and heartache to get past that mindset. As my Sponsor has often reminded me, we all have a built-in pain meter, and we only take action when the pain becomes greater than the fear of taking that action. That is where I was when I finally found my way into these rooms. I had lost everything because of my 'isms,' and I was finally desperate enough to take action. It took a tremendous amount of courage to take those first steps and admit that I may be the biggest problem in my life, then walk into the unknown territory of an Al-Anon Family Group meeting.”

“Clarity, Honesty, and Compassion,” “The Forum,” February 2026

Is there a history of alcoholism in your family? Maybe Al-Anon Family Groups can help.

Meeting info available at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/

03/19/2026

03/11/2026

“From a very young age, I assumed that if I could just get my mom to stop being so angry at my dad, then all would be well in my world… I figured out how to tell time by the age of five years old, but not through traditional grammar school education. Instead, it was through the cold dinners left uneaten as my sister and I sat at the dinner table and watched our mother come to a full boil the moment the jangling of the keys opened the kitchen door and our dad stumbled in.”

“Wherever I Go…” “The Forum,” November 2019

Read this Al-Anon member’s story and find out how someone else’s alcohol-use disorder not only affects children when they are growing up, but also how the effects can follow them into adulthood, https://bit.ly/37n7a9t.

03/11/2026

Has your life been affected by someone’s drinking? You’re not alone. According to Gallup, 37% or more than 121 million Americans have been affected by someone else’s drinking. In local Al-Anon meetings, you can meet with others dealing with situations similar to yours and find ways to help you live a less stressful life. To find an Al-Anon meeting in the US (including Puerto Rico), Bermuda, and Canada, visit goo.gl/DcR3qn. For other areas, goo.gl/V4319R.

03/04/2026

“My husband was scheduled to report to alcohol detox the next morning, and that night I allowed myself to feel the darkness of my despair and waning hope. I’d been angry for so long, and I was so tired… Then I slept, I woke, I mothered our young sons, and I stayed present for four days as my husband detoxed… Over the next month, my husband continued to heal while I suffered. I missed the peace of those four days and had no idea how to get it back. However, Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) was clearly helping my husband, so I decided to try Al-Anon [Family Groups].”

“Seeking a Spiritual Awakening,” The Forum, March 2026

Al-Anon Family Groups provides support to anyone affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Find out more about the program at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/newcomers/

03/04/2026

Check out this article from Al-Anon Family Groups:

🔹 https://bit.ly/3q3kKcN

02/28/2026

“The acronym THINK is a wonderful tool that helps me learn more about myself each time I use it. It serves as a pulse check for my emotional and spiritual wellbeing. By pausing to run through the acronym before speaking or acting, I gain valuable insight into where I am in my recovery and what areas I might still need to work on.

“If I stop on ‘T’ (Thoughtful), I often realize I’m slipping into old, reactionary patterns. If ‘H’ (Honest) makes me pause, I ask myself, what emotion or past experience is keeping me from being truthful? When ‘I’ (Intelligent) gives me pause, it’s usually a sign that what I was about to say or do isn’t wise, and I may need to wait until I’m in a better state. If ‘N’ (Necessary) is where I stop, that’s often a clear indication to detach and let go. Lastly, when ‘K’ (Kind) is what stops me, I know I need to take a deeper look and ask myself how I can bring kindness back into the situation.”

“THINK,” “The Forum,” February 2026

Find out about Al-Anon Family Groups and how the program helps members recover from the family disease of alcoholism by reading our members’ stories at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/newcomers/how-can-i-help-my/

02/28/2026

“I felt I had lost something when my mom got sober. I never liked being the daughter of a drunk but I was used to it. The fights, the shouting, having something to worry about, even always knowing I was expected to do all the work, were familiar things I could count on. I was never bored; knowing about the drinking behavior seemed better than not knowing how her sobriety would turn out.

“I began to feel better when I accepted the fact that living with sobriety had to be different from living with an active alcoholic. No one in Alateen could guarantee that it was going to be better, but everyone agreed that it was going to be different. If I wanted a better life, I would first have to adjust to change.”

“Living with sobriety,” p. 12

The problem of alcoholism in families is nothing new. According to the most recent Al-Anon Family Groups Membership Survey, 7 in 10 members have been affected by alcoholism spanning two or more generations. Families don’t have to suffer in silence and isolation. Support is available for teens in local Alateen meetings. For meeting information, visit goo.gl/dH8Bnn. If there aren’t any meetings in your area, try an Alateen chat meeting at goo.gl/GcKwNg.

02/01/2026

“Recently I had the privilege of listening to a sponsee’s Fifth Step. As they were telling me the many ways they had harmed themselves, I asked, ‘What rule was that due to?’ They burst into tears. That rule was the belief they had internalized as a four-year-old while growing up in a family affected by the disease of alcoholism.

“Since that occasion, I’ve asked members of my Al-Anon group and personally reflected on the question: What rule was that due to? We all provided answers that were similar yet different, based on what our mothers, our fathers, or ourselves communicated to us. We had heard things like ‘Don’t be seen,’ ‘Don’t be too loud,’ ‘Don’t stand up for yourself,’ and ‘Don’t tell anyone.’ Whatever we heard, it stuck with us.

“Now that I’m in recovery, I can ask myself whether that rule is still valid or applicable and whether I would choose it again. If it’s no longer serving me, I can release it. In its place, my Higher Power can give me kinder, gentler, and more loving guidelines instead of rules.”

“Loving Guidelines,” “The Forum,” January 2026

This Al-Anon member shared an excellent example of how ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences, can follow children throughout their lives and into adulthood. As in this example, it could be just one comment, or one interaction, but it can lead to a lifetime of harm.

The good news is that no one has to continue struggling alone. In Al-Anon Family Groups, anyone affected by someone else’s drinking is welcome. Whether you attend local meetings or prefer electronic or virtual meetings, you will find a community full of people who know exactly what you’re going through because they have been there too. You don’t have to struggle alone anymore.

If you’re ready to begin your personal recovery from the family disease of alcoholism, you can find an Al-Anon meeting at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/

02/01/2026

“I can cause myself a lot of stress worrying about and trying to control my loved ones, but I believe my stress can be significantly reduced through practicing these Twelve Steps. I relax when I admit that I am powerless over others (Step One). My spouse, adult children, siblings, parents, and coworkers each need to discover the best choices for their circumstances. I can’t do this for them. I relax further when I come to believe that something will help me fully accept my powerlessness over others and restore me to sanity (Step Two). I become even more at ease as I decide to let go of my will and turn it over to the care of a Higher Power (Step Three). This idea is counterintuitive. I have some ‘great’ ideas for my loved ones, but [Al-Anon’s] Steps gently guide me to let go of my will.”

“Relaxing, One Step at a Time, “The Forum,” January 2026

The Al-Anon Family Groups program doesn’t just help when dealing with alcoholics. It helps us have healthy relationships with everyone we encounter – our partners, children, parents, siblings, and with ourselves.

For more insight into how Al-Anon can help, read articles from Al-Anon members:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/newcomers/how-can-i-help-my/

12/21/2025

“I went back because [Al-Anon] meetings felt safe, and I was hearing positive ways to approach a negative situation.”

“Helping Preserve Al Anon Unity,” “The Forum” May 2017

Many people affected by someone else’s alcoholism have found hope in Al-Anon. To find an Al-Anon meeting in the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, visit goo.gl/ojyYGe. If you’re outside of these areas, visit goo.gl/BYpuFS.

12/18/2025

Find out how Al-Anon members have used the principles of the program to improve their lives by reading their personal stories:

🔹 https://bit.ly/3jXuPDq