My husband is considering taking in an AA meeting....I'm hoping he does, but while he is considering I want to start som Al-Anon meetings. Our local paper posts meetings for both. My question is, they are open and closed meetings. How does one get to the point of being able to go to a "closed" meeting? Is there a certain number of open meetings you have to go to before you can go to a closed meeting? I don't want to go to the wrong meeting...
Question about AA Meeting
- Thread starter bby31288
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klmno
Active Member
If he is just exploring what AA is like, an open meeting is probabl;y best. If you want to go with him and you are not in need of AA yourself, definitely an open meeting. If he has a desire to stop drinking, goes alone or with another AA member, it is fine for him to go to a closed meeting. He doesn't have to have made the "commitment" to it yet, but should be a little furhter along than contemplating whether or not he has a problem and wants to do something about it.
The way my difficult child explained it to me is that I can go to an open meeting with her but closed meetings are only for the alcoholic. She took her friend to a meeting and didn't realize it was closed so her friend stayed out in the car. She can go to open or closed meetings, it just depends on day and time available.
As far as I know all al-anon meetings are open, anyone can attend as long as you have a loved one who has an alcohol problem.
Nancy
As far as I know all al-anon meetings are open, anyone can attend as long as you have a loved one who has an alcohol problem.
Nancy
Nancy is right. Closed AA meetings are only for alcoholics, but alcoholics don't have to have gone to open meetings before they can go to closed ones. Closed al anon meetings are only for those who have an alcoholic in their lives. No one will interrogate you about who that person is.
I can remember being totally shocked and horrified when my mother tried to interrogate my husband about who the alcoholic in his life was when husband was going to an alanon meeting. That is part of the anonymous - no one asks those questions!!!
I hope that your husband learns a lot and is able to attend meetings often. They can really transform you life in wonderful ways. I hope the same is true for you in alanon meetings!
I can remember being totally shocked and horrified when my mother tried to interrogate my husband about who the alcoholic in his life was when husband was going to an alanon meeting. That is part of the anonymous - no one asks those questions!!!
I hope that your husband learns a lot and is able to attend meetings often. They can really transform you life in wonderful ways. I hope the same is true for you in alanon meetings!
Terry you don't need a sponsor for al-anon. You need one in AA. I am learning that the sponsor plays in key role. Most sponsors expect a call every day checking in. If they don't hear from you they will call you. The sponsor is there to help when you have urges to drink/use. He/she helps you work on the steps of your program. The sponsor will go to meetings with you and hold you responsible for your sobriety. It is a big decision because you want someone you can click with. At our family meeting last week a member was saying he almost feels married to his sponsor (lol in a very plavtonic way of course).
Nancy
Nancy
