Sunderland Al-Anon Family Groups

15/12/2025

Step 7: whats our problem, whats not in our to do...
As we have discussed one of the problem s for the alcoholic is 'wrong size'. This process of right sizing is done with the concept of humility. Knowing understanding my limitations, recognising my mistakes. As Eden use to say 'alcoholics know everything and are never wrong'.
The other problem they have (among many) is self will both in creating chaos (I'm gonna do this and I dont care about the consequences) is the self control discipline doesn’t work in stopping them drinking.(white knuckling)....Everyday Eden promised himself he wouldn't drink, by the end of the day the promise would be broken. In the end he felt , accepted 'I'm gonna die this way'.
The answer is to stop trying, 'stop digging' (it's not working the universe is saying) surrender accept help...use your God given feelings to recognise 'what help is helping'.
For the alanon member their wrong size mistake is 'i can heal this alcoholic through my care.....'
Come to sunderland alanon thurdays at st gabriels church hall, barnes room, 7.30-9pm, were shut xmas day and new years day but open first week back in the new year

04/11/2025

Rock bottom and despair:
Both the addicted member of the family and the family members, can reach places of despair that only they can know. Everyone in the family is entrapped, caught in a vicious cycle they cannot escape. the addicted member cannot stop using alcohol. The family members desperate to stop the addiction 'try everything under the sun' to do so. It always ends up back in the same place, the addicted member is drinking, promising to stop drinking, the family members are raging, in despair or desperately doing all the things they have done before only with more effort.
12 step wisdom....stop digging, give up, ask for help.....
Come to Al-Anon every Thursday, St Gabriels church hall, Barnes room, St Gabriels Av. Sunderland....you only need to give your first name, you dont need to say anything, or you can 'tell all'....i promise you, there are no stories we havent heard before, you are not alone...

13/10/2025

Alcoholism: a two sided illness.

The alcoholic clings to the bottle and the family member clings to them. As soon as they start drinking, our fears rocket, as soon as they stop drinking we calm down. 'The internal chemical cabinet' of the alanon member, means their bodies are on high alert, hypervigilant to danger 24/7. This eventually leads to exhaustion and burn out in family and friends of alcoholics. Come get support, a cup of tea, and some time to think clearly
Sunderland Al-Anon meets every Thursday, St Gabriel's church hall. St Gabriel's Av, 7.30-9pm, zoom access for those unable to attend face to face.

16/09/2025

16/09/2025

Acceptance in working a program:
Acceptance is a key idea in Al-Anon, the family members become obsessed with stopping the alcoholic, trying to do something that is not in their power to do. Accepting the reality of the situation, that the alcoholic cannot stop drinking, that it is not within your power to stop the alcoholic from drinking are the first steps of recovery. The next step is accepting that you need help...this is where Al-Anon comes in.
Come to a meeting every Thursday 7.30-9pm St Gabriel's church hall, St Gabriel's Rd, Sunderland, just walk in the room...

10/08/2025

The courage to face situations:
There is a tendency in the alcoholic family to 'bury our heads in the sand'. The alcoholic denies they are an alcoholic, and the family deny 'all their attempts to stop the alcoholic from drinking' are not working. The boat (family) is sinking, and the al-anon member is desperately bailing with a bean can. The courage to face what is happening is not easy to find, and the support of al-anon family groups is part of 'finding the courage to face'.
Come to Sunderland al-anon every Thursday 7.30-9pm, st gabriels church hall, st gabriels avenue, sunderland

25/06/2025

Come for 6 meetings:
Most people leave 12 step groups very early, mostly after the 1st meeting. Long-term members suspect, but dont know, its 'the God word'.
The advice from Al-anon is come for 6 meetings before you decide. The 1st meeting will tend to be a blur, and most new members as so distressed that its very difficult to take anything in.
Just 'take what you like' and leave the rest. Take the group as your higher power (leave the God bit), take the cup of tea and hopefully a chocolate biscuit, and if you can find one thing in each meeting, your not in the same isolation you were when most people come 'into the rooms'.
Sunderland Al-anon meet every Thursday at St Gabriel's church hall, St Gabriel's rd, 7.30-9pm. Its anonymous, you only need to say your first name...just turn up...walk in ....you will receive a warm welcome

14/06/2025

Just a heads up:

Sunderland Al-anon is on every week at St Gabriel's church hall, St Gabriel's road, Sunderland, 7.30 every Thursday

You just turn up, you only need to say your first name. You don't need to say anything, you can just listen

Al-anon is the sister organisation of Alcoholics Anonymous, its for friends, family and relatives of people struggling with alcohol use.

Al-anon is a international/national organisation that has been running since the mid 1950s. It has 75 plus experience of supporting family and friends of those struggling with alcohol use.

30/05/2025

Topic this week was step 3:
In step 1 we can see that things are out of control. In step 2 we begin to experience and accept help and in step 3 we begin to act on that help. What is that help: wel it can be the wisdom of the group, it can be information from the literature, or it can be calmness from quiet time, meditation, prayer.
New daily routines and rituals form and these help us recover, one day at a time.
If you would like support with your alcoholic, come to Sunderland Al-Anon at St Gabriel's church hall, 7.30-9pm every Thursday.

16/05/2025

Topic this week:
New learning: Al-Anon and other 12 step fellowships see the alcoholic family as 'unwell'. In this un-wellness, stressed family members are reacting in a distressed state, and not really able to step back, think calmly, plan and learn.
If you attend Al-anon meetings regularly you will find there is a lot to learn, and you this will help change the way you react and behave around the addiction.
Simply a focus on yourself, and stopping attempts to control the alcoholics drinking will improve the situation.
Sunderland Alanon runs every Thursday at st gabriels church hall 7.30-9pm...just walk in the room, you dont need to say anything in the meeting and only need to say your first name.

28/04/2025

Confidential helpline - (UK) 0800 0086 811, (Eire) 01 873 2699 or email [email protected]