Personal Stories

Sharing personal stories

Recovery is about tears and fears, joys and laughter. There are sorrows. There are miracles. There are setbacks and steps forward. Each stage of recovery has its own challenges. Whether you’re a newcomer or a long timer, everyone has something to share.

You don’t have to be a professional writer. The PI & website committee will edit for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. It takes courage to write with complete honesty—but finding that courage is a step forward toward recovery, for you as well as for those who read your sharing.

Guidelines for personal stories on website :

  • Share an experience from the heart with the focus on yourself, not the alcoholic or others.
  •  Relate a personal experience based on a program principle such as detachment, acceptance, a Step, Tradition, or Concept of Service, etc., and give an instance of how and where you used it.
  • Use the first person (I, me, we, us). True personal sharings do not give direction; they express your own experience, strength, and hope. Please avoid the use of the pronoun «you.»
  • Avoid generalities, outside issues, treatment center language, and religious philosophy or doctrine. 
  •  Al-Anon members in other Twelve Step programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous, are asked to write only of their experience in the Al-Anon program.
  • Kindly observe Al-Anon’s Twelve Traditions when sharing.
  •  Articles represent members’ personal views and experiences and the opinions expressed are not attributed to Al-Anon as a whole.
  • Al-Anon India website does not upload prayers or poetry. 
  •  Full name and address (your home address, or your group’s current mailing address) is required before any item can be accepted. Please indicate how you would like your article signed: first name only, first name and Area, initials only, or “Anon.”

*These guidelines have been reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.

We are always very grateful when we receive a sharing from one of our members. If you would like to share your story with other members, please email your story (in not more than 250 words) directly to us on pialanon.india@gmail.com

Personal Stories

I am grateful for the Al-Anon fellowship which gave me comfort when I was miserable with an alcoholic partner.

My life was full of chaos, nothing had gone as  planned, my expectations, the  very basic ones, were unmet and my husband’s drinking continued.

This was nine years back from today. His drinking ruined  not  only him but damaged me also… read more.

Anonymous
Love and Gratitude

I am a member of the Al-Anon family group because my life has been affected by the excessive drinking of my loved one. Alcoholism has robbed me of many things but the worst thing that Alcoholism has done to me is that it robbed me of my self-esteem… read more.

Sarita S
Self Esteem

Not that I was an agnostic but it just did not occur to me that I could surrender and ask for help from a Higher Power. I thought it was my job to handle every thing and every one. I was almost a single parent. My in laws turned us away because of my husband’s drunken and angry outbursts…. read more.

Anonymous
My Story

I am into Al-Anon programme from many many years, my alcoholic was into A.A. some years back ,since then he is in & out from his sobriety.

My alky has severe psoriasis a skin diseases which gives lot of itching & irritation. Doctors have told him that any toxins would aggravate the disease, but he is not able to overcome his craving for alcohol, where the relapses are for 8-15 days every 30-50 days….. read more.

Anonymous
Choosing Happiness In Al-Anon

During the peak time of alcoholism in my life, I used to enjoy little things that required very little or even no money. In the evening after coming from the office I used to take my two children to play in the park. Before going out, when I changed my daughter’s dress in the evening, she used to be very happy wearing her favourite dress… read more.

Anonymous
Joy : Looking in the mirror

Find more personal stories here.

Any individual can join Al-Anon if he or she is troubled by another person’s drinking.
If you are unfamiliar with Al-Anon and are wondering whether Al-Anon might be helpful for you take a look at our ‘Is Al-Anon for You?’ page.
This is the official website of Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups of India.