It takes great courage to take the risk and go to that first Al-Anon meeting. It isn't easy to go against old beliefs and fears and reach out for to to other people for strength, guidance and support.. Finding the willingness to admit that we need help can be one of the greatest challenges we ever face, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. When we finally realize that we are sick and tired of being sick and tired, we open the door to unlimited possibilities for change, hope and for a happier and richer life.

When it becomes clear that the best thing we can do for ourselves and our loved ones is to get help for ourselves, many of us decide to go to an Al-Anon meeting. Because we may be reluctant to open up to strangers, we are relieved to learn that we can attend Al-Anon meetings without being obligated to say a word to anyone. We don't have to justify why we have come or explain our concerns to anyone. We are always welcome to participate in the meetings and open up only as little as we feel comfortable doing, but no one will ever force anyone to share. We can simply show up and listen until we feel more comfortable getting more actively involved.

In Al-Anon, members do not give direction or advice to other members. Instead,   they share their personal experiences and stories, and invite other members to   “take  what they like and leave the rest”—that is, to determine for themselves what lesson they could apply to their own lives.

You will find love, understanding and a lot of hope from Al-Anon Family Groups. Al-Anon will work for you if you allow it to. It's as effective as you make it, it's a safe place, the right place to be.
Al-Anon's program of recovery is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Steps are the foundation for personal recovery and The Traditions help groups sustain their unity and fellowship.
The Twelve Steps
Study of these Steps is essential to progress in the Al-Anon program. The principles they embody are universal, applicable to everyone, whatever your personal creed. In Al-Anon, we strive for an ever-deeper understanding of these Steps, and pray for the wisdom to apply them to our lives. view here
The Twelve Traditions
These guidelines are means of promoting harmony and growth in Al-Anon groups and in the worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon as a whole. Our group experience suggests that our unity depends upon our adherence to these Traditions. view here
The Twelve Concepts of Service
The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are guides for personal growth and group unity. The Twelve Concepts are guides for service. They show how Twelve Step work can be done on a broad scale and how members of a World Service Office can relate to each other and to the groups, through a World Service Conference, to spread Al-Anon's message worldwide.
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Al-Anon's Twelve Steps, copyright 1996 by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Al-Anon's Twelve Traditions, copyright 1996 by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Al-Anon's Twelve Concepts of Service, copyright 1996 by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Alateen's Twelve Traditions, copyright 2004,2007 by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.