angussdundee
01-27-2009, 09:23 AM
We had a fabulous meeting the other evening with no less than 6 new or nearly newcomers present. The whole group got behind them and it turned out to be a most helpful and informative meeting for everyone.
One lady had recently gone home after her first meeting and cleared out all the booze in the house, such was her determination to "take this alcoholism thing seriously" and she shared about the effect that had on her husband.
She said, "he jumped up screaming adamantly that he was refusing to allow me to throw any of the drinks out and it was my problem if I was quiting drinking, not his".
The message we gave her was simple; If a partner or any other family member or friend who is well aware of the harm booze is doing to you and those around you refuses to have alcohol banished from the house of a self confessed alcoholic, then there's a fair chance that that person may well have an alcohol problem too. But he or she is unwilling to admit it.... (yet)..... :P
This problem can be dangerous and even fatal, if one member is fighting to stay sober and the other is fighting to drink then they are both on a collision course.
Very often deep resentment can also create a rebellious atmousphere in the home when a partner stops drinking after all, this is new ground for everyone concerned but it's vitaly important to make it clear that your serious about quiting drinking. So, if the partner won't attend AA then perhaps they might want to go along to an Al-anon meeting just to show a little solidarity, and who knows what might transpire from there.
One thing is for sure though, we have to do it for ourselves and that's where AA come's in. It's a safe haven from all the confusing and conflicting flak and adverse critisism that's sure to start flying in those early days of sobriety.
AA works, it really does!
God help us all,
Anguss.
One lady had recently gone home after her first meeting and cleared out all the booze in the house, such was her determination to "take this alcoholism thing seriously" and she shared about the effect that had on her husband.
She said, "he jumped up screaming adamantly that he was refusing to allow me to throw any of the drinks out and it was my problem if I was quiting drinking, not his".
The message we gave her was simple; If a partner or any other family member or friend who is well aware of the harm booze is doing to you and those around you refuses to have alcohol banished from the house of a self confessed alcoholic, then there's a fair chance that that person may well have an alcohol problem too. But he or she is unwilling to admit it.... (yet)..... :P
This problem can be dangerous and even fatal, if one member is fighting to stay sober and the other is fighting to drink then they are both on a collision course.
Very often deep resentment can also create a rebellious atmousphere in the home when a partner stops drinking after all, this is new ground for everyone concerned but it's vitaly important to make it clear that your serious about quiting drinking. So, if the partner won't attend AA then perhaps they might want to go along to an Al-anon meeting just to show a little solidarity, and who knows what might transpire from there.
One thing is for sure though, we have to do it for ourselves and that's where AA come's in. It's a safe haven from all the confusing and conflicting flak and adverse critisism that's sure to start flying in those early days of sobriety.
AA works, it really does!
God help us all,
Anguss.