Upstate SC AlAnon Public Information

05/30/2026

“Tradition Five also reminds me to encourage and understand my alcoholic relatives. Really understanding the alcoholic pattern helps me detach and have compassion for my daughter’s struggle. Right now, while my daughter has broken off contact, I can’t encourage her with words, but I can encourage her silently by praying for her. When contact is possible, I can encourage her discreetly using the acronym THINK: Is what I am about to say Thoughtful, Honest, Intelligent, Necessary, and, most importantly, Kind?”

“Not a Perfect Mom,” “The Forum,” May 2026

Al-Anon Family Groups provides support to anyone affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Find out more about the program at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/newcomers/

05/26/2026

Join us for a day of fellowship, food, and fun! Seeking Serenity - 9/19/26. See Registration Form included.

05/25/2026

“When she went into rehab for the second time, I felt sure it was my fault. I thought if I had pushed harder, she would not have needed to return. However, it proved to be the first step on the road to recovery for me, and I have my daughter to thank for that. She suggested that Al-Anon might be a good program for me, and she suggested that a book titled ‘How Al-Anon Works for Family & Friends of Alcoholics’ might explain more about it. I bought a copy and became engrossed in all that it had to say about Al-Anon and the disease of alcoholism. I started going to an Al-Anon Family Group and found loving people who understood what I was going through. They listened to me without judgment when I shared my fears and tears, and I listened and learned from their experiences, as well.”

“I Don’t Want To Hide from Life Anymore,” “The Forum” November 2018

Read a sample from “How Al-Anon Works for Family & Friends of Alcoholics” at:

goo.gl/GUKLR3

05/23/2026

“One of my worst fears when I was raising my children was that I was a bad mom. So, it was painful to hear my adult daughter’s angry words on the phone… She took the occasion to blame me for her recent episode and her unhappy life. She expressed complete rejection of me as a mother. Thanks to Al-Anon, I had the detachment to know it was the disease talking. After ending the call as civilly as I could, I decided to look more closely at this fear. I remembered hearing in an Al-Anon meeting that fear stands for ‘False Evidence Appearing Real.’ So, what is the truth? What are the facts?

“The first fact is that I love my daughter—deeply—and I still do. As a mother, I did the best I could and continue to do so with the help of
Al-Anon and God. The second fact is that my daughter has a mental health issue, and she abuses alcohol. She is not in a recovery program. I learned a third fact in Al-Anon literature: Alcoholics tend to distract and blame others to justify their continued drinking… I will never be the perfect mom. But I am—with the help of Al-Anon…better able to love my daughter through this crisis. And I believe this is what moms do.”

“Not a Perfect Mom,” “The Forum,” May 2026

You can read articles by members who are parents concerned about their children at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/newcomers/how-can-i-help-my/alcoholic-child/

05/21/2026

For 75 years, Al-Anon Family Groups have relied on shared principles to maintain unity and resolve group problems. The “Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual” (P-24/27) continues that tradition by providing a clear and concise picture of the Al-Anon fellowship and its purpose and functions. It illustrates principles to help resolve group challenges and foster unity.

The latest edition of the “Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual” has been released! Get yours today in print, as an ebook, or as a flip book at:

🔹 https://ecomm.al-anon.org/

05/21/2026