Families Anonymous

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Families Anonymous

Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for family members and friends of individuals with drug, alcohol or related behaviorial problems. You are not alone.

We are a welcoming and supportive community, founded in 1971.

10/15/2026

We can't be certain of the genesis of the saying, "One day at a time," but it traces back at least to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, which adopted the phrase as its foundational principle. There's a reason for focusing only on today. "Forever" can't be certain. Even "tomorrow" can't be certain. The future is an overwhelming concept for those trying to maintain sobriety, and it can be equally overwhelming for those trying to achieve and maintain recovery in Families Anonymous. We can become paralyzed with fear because of what our qualifier is doing with their life. Our thoughts project to worst-case scenarios for their future. But FA is here to remind you of something a member of the AA fellowship would tell a newcomer: Just get through today. This would not be you putting off problems. This is you resetting, taking a breath and detaching from the chaos -- most of which is NOT in your control -- so that you can become the best version of yourself and improve decision making. Focusing on JUST TODAY and not what you THINK will happen tomorrow simplifies and clarifies things. It's the perfect starting point for your recovery with Families Anonymous. Find your community. Find the resources you need. Find a meeting today at FamiliesAnonymous.org.

10/13/2026

At Families Anonymous, we're not going to suggest you NEVER look back, as the accompanying graphic would suggest. Even when we drive, it's important to periodically check our review mirror for safety reasons, like when we hear the sirens of an emergency vehicle behind us and before we change lanes. Even in family recovery, it can be important to look back to learn from our mistakes and understand whether our previous words or actions in a particular situation were productive or destructive. But we should not obsess over the past. We can't change things that have already happened and already have been said. To ruminate and wrestle with them can only cause harm to our mental health. When we're in recovery -- whether our drug of choice is alcohol or codependency -- we should be focused on what's next, not what was. Keep moving forward. Change what is in our control, which is ourselves. Embrace new chapters and a positive mindset. We know that this is difficult when our loved one in struggling. But the first three Steps of Twelve Step recovery (powerlessness, spirituality, letting go of things that are not in our control -- crystalize things for us. We grow. We get stronger. We find hope. FA reminds you: Look forward, think forward. Recovery is possible.

10/11/2026

Notice how people recovering from substance abuse say, "I'm in recovery," as opposed to, "I'm recovered." There's are reasons for that. Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease. It never goes away, much like diabetes never goes away. An alcoholic can live a healthy and joyous life as long as they do the right things to take care of themselves -- abstinence, meetings, finding a supportive community -- but the disease stays in the brain. That's where "one day at a time" comes from. Because every day is another opportunity to learn, another opportunity to grow. Which brings us to Families Anonymous. When we begin to attend meetings and speak with others who have walked in our shoes, we are start realizing all of the things we didn't knyow about addiction and recovery. It may feel like our heads are spinning. But we listen and we learn. We read from FA's deep library of resources and we learn more. We try to work our program with consistency and never stop learning. The more we educate ourselves, the stronger we become in our recovery. It follows that we become better equipped to absorb the ups and downs of a loved one's struggles and our decision-making becomes better. Keys to recovery are education and consistency. But the biggest key is you. Let FA help you unlock the door to your recovery.

10/10/2026

At its core, Families Anonymous is a recovery program that focuses on self-discovery and self-care. This aligns perfectly with, "World Mental Health Day," on Oct. 10. The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to, "raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health." There is no need to look far for that mobilization. The community has mobilized right here at Families Anonymous. Our program educates, supports and advocates for those who struggle from having a family member or friend with substance use disorder and related behavioral problems. But our mental health is not something that is meant to be observed only one day a year like a birthday. Our recovery is a 24/7/365 journey. In FA, we have literature, program precepts and meetings to guide and comfort us, and we have others we can reach out to between meetings for support. We face difficult, often traumatic, circumstances in our lives, and we need a program that shows us the path to peace. It's a journey. Let's make each day World Mental Health Day.

10/08/2026

At Families Anonymous, we understand that those who need a recovery program arrive with different backstories. Some of our struggles, like fear and codependency, are common. But our journeys differ. That is why FA hosts several niche group meetings, including one for the parents of adolescents who struggle with substance use disorder or related behavioral issues. Some aspects of our recovery program, like boundaries, might look different, depending on if our qualifier is under 18 or a young adult. Are our recovery tools few and far between if our qualifier is an adolescent? Not necessarily. We can still work a program with boundaries, but some of those boundaries might look different. The parents of adolescents meeting is an excellent supplement to regular FA meetings. It takes place on the second and fourth Sunday of every month at 5:30 p.m. ET. Zoom and contact info is in the attached graphic. Give the meeting a try and let us know what you think. Thanks for being a part of the fellowship.

10/06/2026

Registration is now open for the annual Chicagoland Families Anonymous convention on Nov. 7. This will be a great opportunity for those who couldn't make it to the last FA national convention --and even for those who did -- to attend some great workshops, discover new resources and meet with other FA members. The theme of this year's event: Finding our balance. This is a one-day event with an advanced purchase price of only $55 ($50 per person if you register a group of four). This includes a continental breakfast. While you're in Chicago, experience the sites, museums and restaurants of one of the nation's great cities. Go to FAChicago.org for more information.

10/04/2026

There is a scene in the movie, "Thanks for Sharing," when a character named Charles, a recovering alcoholic played by Isiah Whitlock, Jr., tells his sponsor, "Ever since I put the liquor down, the slightest thing makes me start crying. I get these feelings coming up inside of me, you know?" That's when "Mike" (played by Tim Robbins) responds: "Feelings are like children. You don't want them driving the car, but you don't want to stuff them in the trunk, either." This line perfectly illustrates an important component of recovery, whether we're talking about drugs and alcohol or common struggles (codependency, enabling, etc.) that lead us to Families Anonymous. The FA program is NOT about pushing down our emotions (or stuffing them in the trunk). That's just not realistic. When they hurt, we will hurt. Our emotions are often involuntary reactions, like when a doctor taps our knee with a reflex hammer. When we see a loved one abusing substances and exhibiting self-destructive behaviors, we're going to feel sad, fearful or angry (or all three!). So what should we do? Feel all of the feels. We honor our feelings and process our role in the relevant circumstances because only then can we begin the process of deciding what action is best for OUR recovery The FA program is about recentering ourselves and not letting emotions drive our decision making (or drive the car). This doesn't guarantee our decisions will always give the desired result. But it gives us the best chance for success. The best way to learn more about this is to check in with veteran FA members and lean on their experience, strength and hope. Let your emotions take a back seat. Learn more at an FA meeting today.

10/02/2026

Newcomers often attend Families Anonymous meetings because they're seeking answers for why their loved one is drinking and drugging to excess and exhibiting other self-destructive behaviors. But like other FA members, we stay because of the support. We stay because of the community. We stay because only others in the group can truly understand what we're going through and are able to share their experiences about what has worked for them. To the moms among the Families Anonymous community, we started a special group just for you. FA provides a number of niche meetings, including parents of adolescents, siblings, Spanish-speaking members and others. All of the meetings with contact information can be found at FamiliesAnonymous.org under the meetings tab. The recently launched Moms Only meeting takes place on Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET. The Zoom information is in the attached graphic. For more information, contact Lydia at [email protected]. Thank you for being a part of FA.

09/30/2026

Families Anonymous, at its core, is a self-help program. It shows us ways to take care of ourselves and guides us with processes to make better decisions during the painful and chaotic times of a loved one's abuse of drugs or alcohol. But how do we take care of ourselves? How do we find the quiet -- the stillness -- that we so desperately need? Some recommend meditation. But for those who struggle with the concept of "meditating," simply sit in the quiet for five minutes, close your eyes and focus only on your breathing. Even we struggle to empty thoughts from our head, the mere action of closing our eyes and sitting in the quiet for five minutes will be beneficial. We can do this first thing in the morning, or in the car before we drive to work, even at lunch time if that's feasible. Regardless, we are creating an inner calm that will help us throughout the day. Here is another option that is popular: Take a "5-4-3-2-1 sensory walk." When we're outside, find five things to see, four things to touch, three to smell, two to hear and one to taste. And DO NOT bring any electronic mobile devices with you. When letting stillness find us, it's important to unplug. The Families Anonymous program helps us find what works for us. Because if we seek some semblance of peace, we must help create it.

09/28/2026

There is an expression, "I feel like a lump of clay." It translates to feeling useless, unmotivated and burned out from whatever life is dealing us at that moment. Similarly, when we feel beaten down from a loved one's struggles with substances and related mental health issues, we can feel like a lump of clay. Useless, unmotivated, burned out. We also can become devoid of faith and hope for the future. Families Anonymous, a parallel recovery program for family members of those with substance abuse issues, has suggestion. Rather than view ourselves as a lump of clay, view ourselves as a lump of dough. The two may look and feel the same, but dough will rise if you let it rest. When we allow ourselves a respite from the chaos that has dominated our life -- and that could mean anything from meditating to working out -- we bring our thoughts and emotions back to healthier levels, like 72 degrees on a thermostat. Working a strong and consistent recovery program with Families Anonymous helps, as does connecting with a member of the supportive FA community. We learn that we cannot achieve anything from rushing to put out one brush fire to the next. It saps us of energy and hope and deludes us into believing a loved one's recovery depends solely on our actions and not theirs. Yes, this is the hardest part of our program. Step 1: Powerlessness. But when we begin to comprehend and accept that, ii becomes easier to rest, reset and rise again. We all have it in us. FA shows us how.

Address

701 Lee Street , Suite 670
Street , MD
60016

Telephone

+18007369805

Website

http://FamiliesAnonymous.org/

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