AL-ANON
I once heard a member of Al-Anon, a world-wide group for the family and friends of alcoholics, boil it down like so: “I didn’t cause my mother’s drinking problem; I can’t control it; and I can’t cure it.” But by focusing on our own behavior and feelings – instead of the alcoholic’s, for a change – we may find a healthy path forward. Just walking into an Al-Anon meeting helps break down the secrecy and shame that so often surround addiction. You are not alone. You may not change the alcoholic, but you can certainly improve the way you deal with him.
–Philip Galanes, New York Times “Social Q’s” columnist
another eye opens 