I won’t speak for others, but when I have spoken about my family background at meetings, it’s used as a way of giving some context to my particular story.
Alcoholism has a wide impact on those who suffer its grip, and recovery from it takes time and can be an arduous journey.
I’ve been to more than a thousand meetings and have heard and seen all sorts of things that I didn’t agree with. But I always try to keep in mind that their recovery is truly their own, and I can’t judge the quality of it. I just hope that the life they have is better than the one they’ve left behind. However that happens is up to the individual.
Agreed.
No matter my Opinion of what Alcoholics label the cause of their Affliction, watching People who had no hope and Family Relationships in ruin work to turn their Lives around in inspiring.
When I attend these Meetings with my Father, I always make a point to encourage those in attendance with positive comments at the end of the Meeting.
My Father is the oldest one in the Group, and the fact that he could give up 60 Years Drinking at such a late stage in life works to inspire those who lose faith in themselves to win the battle.
Nobody who hasn’t faced the challenge of Alcoholism can begin to understand the Personal dynamics at play. Many of those attending AA were forced into attending as part of their sentencing for DUI Convictions. You can spot the “newbies” as soon as you walk in the room.
Many of those same people actually get their act together, but just as many don’t. I’ve met both. It’s either uplifting watching them overcome or very sad knowing that a “substance” can control someone’s Life.