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What can I expect at my first Al-Anon meeting?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:54:33 -0800

What can I expect at my first Al-Anon meeting? I'm gearing up to go to an Al-Anon meeting, and I always feel better going into emotionally stressful situations if I have some idea what to expect.

I guess it's entirely possible that these things vary so much from group to group that maybe no one can tell me what to expect. But any input from someone who's been there would really be helpful. What is a meeting going to be like? Will I be expected to do/say anything as the newcomer? Is anyone going to ask or care about me being completely non-religious, or can I sit around and quietly interpret any "higher power" references in my own non-religious fashion?

If it helps anyone to answer, I am concerned about a long-term partner's drinking, and will be attending a general meeting, not one specifically geared to newcomers. I am not at all convinced that Al-Anon is something I would want to be part of, but it seems like something I ought to at least try.

Twelve-step programs and non-theism

granted — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:52:49 -0800

Non-theist twelve-steppers - how do you reconcile the two philosophies? I've been thinking for years about attending some twelve-step meetings - Al-Anon and CoDA specifically - but as an agnostic, I'm skeptical (heh) about the Higher Power part. I know there are many atheists and agnostics who have been able to interpret this aspect of the process so that it jives with their non-belief, and I'm wondering if there are any of you here who could share how you've done it (in any 12-step program, not just the two I've named above.).

(I'm really not interested in hearing about how cultish and creepy you think these groups are. I respect the opinion, but that's not what I'm looking for here.)

L. Ron Hubbard's Al-Anon? Really?

splatta — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:27:36 -0800

Is Al-Anon related to Scientology in any way? I'd never heard anyone relating the two before reading this BoingBoing story. Google searches turn up a few mixed results, but nothing conclusive, if it's not true, where did the rumor start?