I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. My husband admitted to me that he feels he needs AA. I knew that several years ago, before we got together, he had a problem with alcohol. He spent some time in a Christian Rehab program and did well for quite a while afterwards. Then, not to make excuses because it was his choice to start drinking again, his ex-wife, whom he was still married to, decided to start bringing alcohol back into the apartment. After they divorced, he drank only occasionally. We got together 2 years ago, and he would drink also only occasionally. It started to get out of hand about the time his probation was revoked (didn't have anything to do with the drinking), and he hasn't had a drink since early May. Right before we got married at the end of May, we both recommitted our lives to God, and 19 days after we were married, he was sent to prison. We are doing fine, relationship wise, because we put God first in our relationship, and communicate better through letters and visits than most people living in the same house. Through our letters, we have talked about his past drinking and he feels that it's time to face some of his problems from the past, and he's going to AA twice a week where he is. My question, because I've never had a problem with alcohol, is would it benefit me, or him in the long run, if I went to Al-Anon out here? I want to be able to support him in everything we do. We won't be living together for at least 7 years, barring the miracle we're working towards, but what could Al-Anon do for me? Help me understand what he's gone through and what could face him upon coming home?
Just some insight would help me.

Thanks ya'll,
Nancy

I haven't gone to an Al-anon meeting before, so I can't really answer your questions.
However, I just wanted to tell you that it sounds like you and your hubby have a wonderful relationship and the fact that he wants to do AA when he comes home just proves that he is serious about handling his addiction. (wants or needs- he is making the choice to do it on his own and that is good)
I think that if you want to go to Al-anon to understand his addiction a little better and to learn how to handle yourself in all of this, then by all means you should.
It is great that you are totally committed to his recovery!
I hope others come along that can tell you a bit more about Al-anon-
Good luck!

al-anon is great place, really, for everyone..

some areas discussed:
setting boundaries..
detaching..
working on your own character...
respecting yours and others choices...
letting go, letting G-d..
leaning to live peacefully..
working on gratitude, serenity..

definitely can't hurt to try..

alcoholism is cunning, powerful, and baffeling..and the disease never goes away..

take care
francis

Thank you both for your replies. I think I may try a meeting. What can it hurt? Anything that will help Brandon in the long run, and help me to understand what he's been through and struggled with will benefit us both.

Nancy

Nancy, sweetheart you looking at (or reading at) someone who did both. Al-non and AA. He has to work his program for him to surivie and live. Because it is a matter of like and death. Just as Al-non is for you. Al-non is a way of life for someone that is in some kind of realtionship with an aolcholic. It taught me that I can't control it, I didn't cause it, but I can contribute to it by being an enabler. I feel if you both work on yourselfs, you will find your realtionship start to opening up..Good Luck Girl, Jeanne