THIS time of the year is perhaps the worst time for families living with a problem drinker.

Everyone seems to be so happy apart from families living with a problem drinker. Every aspect of life becomes horrendous.

My husband’s drinking was out of control and my sole aim in life had become finding ways to stop him drinking. Unfortunately the harder I tried, the more confused, angry and miserable I became and the drinking continued. I blamed him for my misery as I was doing everything humanly possible to keep our family’s heads above water and all to no avail.

I had never heard of Al-Anon Family Groups although I had heard of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) but I thought that alcoholics were down and outs who had the whiskey bottle in a paper bag, a dirty raincoat and lived on the street.

My husband was a professional person as was I. So there was no way he could be an alcoholic!!

Eventually I heard about Al-Anon through AA and went to my first meeting thinking I did not need help and not sure why I was going there.

As I entered the meeting place I heard laughter and assumed that I was in the wrong room but no, this was the Al-Anon Family Groups Meeting room.

The fact that these people could actually laugh kept me going back every week until I had stopped crying and was able to listen to what was being shared in that room.

These Al-Anon members were LIVING THEIR lives and many were living with active problem drinkers. They were supporting each other by sharing their experience, strength and hope. They felt relaxed and happy at their Al-Anon Meeting no matter what was happening at home. They knew that whatever was going to happen they would be able to handle the situation because they had their Al-Anon Programme and Al-Anon friends to understand and help them.

There are so many ways to find help from this insightful, wonderful, programme. There are slogans to use when the going gets tough----eg One Day at a Time, Easy Does It, How Important is it? To mention just a few.

There are many books written by members which all helped me to get better. The whole ethos of support, information, kindness and identification has made me a whole person. I am now able to cope with life’s problems in a sensible, rational way and look at each situation for what it really is and not make mountains out of mole hills.

If you are affected by someone else’s drinking there is hope of a better way of life if you go to Al-Anon Family Groups

All our Meetings are on our website www.al-anon.org.uk or enquiries@al-anon.org.uk

Our helpline number available from 10am to 10pm is 020 7403 0888 where you can be given a local member's phone number and taken to a meeting if you wish to go.

A GRATEFUL MEMBER.