Alateen WSO

Alateen WSO has moved! Find us at Al-Anon WSO!

Beginning October 1, 2021, Alateen WSO will join forces with Al-Anon WSO. To continue enjoying our recovery posts & Al-Anon & Alateen news & notifications, consider liking & following Al-Anon WSO.

Alateen . . .

🔺 Is for teens who have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

🔺 Provides a safe place where teens can share about their personal problems without the fear of being judged.

🔺 Helps teens understand the family disease of alcoholism.

🔺 Is a place where teens share how to feel good about themselves.

🔺 Encourages teens to change their attitude instead of reacting to the situation.

🔺 Helps teens understand what it means to detach with love.

🔺 Is anonymous—Alateen members don’t discuss what they hear or who they see at meetings.

If you’re a teenager and your life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, an Alateen meeting may be helpful for you.

For meeting information:

🔺 Local: goo.gl/dH8Bnn

🔺 Electronic: goo.gl/GcKwNg

“The Forum” is an international monthly publication from Al-Anon Family Groups. It is Conference Approved Literature and can be used in Al-Anon meetings. Each issue is jam-packed with experience, strength, and hope from members of our worldwide fellowship. Besides featured sharings, additional departments in the magazine include “CAL Corner,” “Instant Meeting,” and “Our Three Legacies,” along with Alateen pages and news from the World Service Office. Topics are timely and thought-provoking. For less than $1/month in the US, including Puerto Rico and Bermuda, and less than $2/month in Canada and other countries, you can give the gift of Al-Anon recovery to yourself, your group, or someone else.

Subscribe now:

https://bit.ly/3x2LbQM

“Reacting to someone’s behavior is a choice. The difference between acting and reacting is the thinking involved. When I react, I do things based purely on circumstances outside my control. Very rarely do I think through what I do before I do it. When I act, I consider my options and do what is best for me.”

“Living Today in Alateen,” p. 231

Alateen is for teens who have been affected by the family disease of alcoholism. Most Alateen groups are for teens from age 13-18. Information about Alateen is available at:

🔺 https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

“If you ever have any doubts about your loved ones needing Alateen, keep this in mind: You don’t have to drink to suffer from alcoholism.”

“Alateens Share with Adults in Their Lives,” p. 5

Find support in a local Alateen meeting.

For meeting information:

🔺 Local: goo.gl/dH8Bnn

🔺 Electronic: goo.gl/GcKwNg

Alateen is for teens who have been affected by the family disease of alcoholism. Most Alateen groups are for teens from age 13-18. Information about Alateen is available at:

https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

It’s been a long time since Lois W. mailed letters to the early Al-Anon groups. Now, any member can easily sign up to receive “In the Loop,” Al-Anon’s World Service Office (WSO) newsletter filled with information about events, service, resources, Al-Anon literature, and of course, experience, strength, and hope. Emails are sent usually once a month, but sometimes there is a need for special editions!

Subscribing is free and easy at:

https://bit.ly/2WghGOD

“I didn’t have to keep anything a secret in Alateen. Nobody minded where I was getting help, as long as I was getting it. I can’t tell you how happy the Alateen welcome has made me. I’ve changed a lot by working the Twelve Steps of Alateen, but nobody made me do it. It’s not like homework or tests at school. The only test that counts is how I feel.”

“Courage to be me—living with alcoholism,” p. 15

For meeting information, visit:

🔺 Local: goo.gl/dH8Bnn

🔺 Electronic: goo.gl/GcKwNg

“Alateen members express themselves openly, without regard for saying something ‘correctly.’ When I listen to an Alateen member, I am getting the unvarnished truth… When I hear someone speak so openly [I feel] that I can be more honest with myself by following the example of openness and honesty....”

“More Honest with Myself,” “The Forum,” September 2021

One way Al-Anon members enrich their own personal recovery is by participating in service work. Some have chosen to do their service work as Alateen Group Sponsors. In order to become an Alateen Sponsor, they must:

🔺 Meet their area’s Safety and Behavioral Requirements for Alateen,

🔺 Have completed the area certification process,

🔺 Be willing to commit time to an Alateen group.

More detailed information about Alateen Group Sponsors can be found at:

https://bit.ly/3rNdMXT

“I have been an Alateen member for a year and a half. It feels good to listen to other Alateens talking. Our Sponsors are nice; they share with us when we can’t relate to the topic… I’m only ten years old and I hope to keep coming. I learn a lot from Alateen.”

“Alateen Talks Back on Serenity,” p. 8

Only Alateen members and the Alateen Group Sponsors attend Alateen meetings. Alateen Group Sponsors are Al-Anon members who meet area safety requirements, have completed the area certification process, and are willing to commit time to an Alateen group.

More detailed information about Alateen Group Sponsors can be found at:

🔺 https://bit.ly/3rNdMXT

Many teens wonder if their parents really love them when they don’t act like they care. What teens don’t understand is that love is distorted by the disease of alcoholism. Often an alcoholic parent takes out their hostilities on their children and other family members in irrational ways and may not be able to express love appropriately. Family members that live with an alcoholic may act irrationally as well.

If you’re a teenager and your life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, an Alateen meeting may be helpful for you.

For meeting information:

🔺 Local: goo.gl/dH8Bnn

🔺 Electronic: goo.gl/GcKwNg

Please share with us on the new Al-Anon Blog topic: “How do I stay motivated in my recovery journey?”

If you want to share more in-depth without worrying about your anonymity, you can share at:

https://bit.ly/3gOqtim

*Sharings on the Member Blog may be used in future Al-Anon publications.

“I’m grateful for the adults who care enough to spend their time and energy sponsoring Alateen. The Sponsors in my group helped me when I was having a hard time accepting my parents. I resented my alcoholic mother because of what she’d taken from our family, and I hated my father because I felt he could have given me more than he did.

“Our Alateen Group Sponsors didn’t try to act like parents to me; they didn’t even try to defend my parents. They simply accepted what I had to say with understanding. Then they introduced me to a few other members of Al-Anon and A.A. When I listened to these people, I realized how my parents felt. In time, I met some Alateens who had no parents at all, and it occurred to me that I had a lot to be grateful for after all.

“Today I realize my parents have lots of love inside of them. Although they don’t always know how to show it, I know they’re trying to do their best and that’s fine with me.”

“Alateen—a day at a time,” p. 82

Only Alateen members and the Alateen Group Sponsors attend Alateen meetings. Alateen Group Sponsors are Al-Anon members who meet their Area’s Safety and Behavioral Requirements for Alateen, have completed the Area certification process, and are willing to commit time to an Alateen group. More detailed information about Alateen Group Sponsors can be found at:

https://bit.ly/3rNdMXT

Alateen . . .

🔺 Is for teens who have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

🔺 Provides a safe place where the teens can share.

🔺 Helps teens understand the family disease of alcoholism.

🔺 Is anonymous — members don’t discuss what they hear or who they see at meetings.

“Alateens Share with Adults in Their Lives,” p. 4

Find information about the Alateen program at:

🔺 https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

“Acceptance and surrender are attitudes that open doors to living. When I let go of my stubborn self-will and accept the fact that I can’t control everything and everyone in my life, it’s a big step in my own growth. It gives me time to work on me and that’s the real purpose of the [Alateen] program.”

“Alateen—a day at a time,” p. 20

Many teens come to Alateen to learn how to cope with a loved one’s drinking, but soon find out that the coping skills they learn can be applied to many situations.

For meeting information:

🔺 Local: goo.gl/dH8Bnn

🔺 Electronic: goo.gl/GcKwNg

“When I arrived at Alateen, I was a scared teenager with many problems that I didn’t know how to solve. I came to my first meeting thinking that I would not come back. But instead of hiding behind my wall like usual, I opened my heart and trusted the group with one of my problems. Afterward everyone applauded. They shared similar experiences and how the program had helped them. I left feeling so good that I continued going to meetings. Although the problem itself was not a big deal, sharing about it was the beginning of my recovery.”

“Living Today in Alateen,” p. 39

Find out how Alateen has helped teens affected by someone else’s drinking by reading members’ stories at:

🔺 https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

“My first experience with Alateen happened when a friend of mine died in a car accident involving drinking and driving. I didn’t know how to handle my rage and my grief. Another friend took me to an Alateen meeting…At first I was scared to say anything because I thought they might laugh at me. But after listening a while, I found my voice and was able to spill out the pain I had been storing. Nobody laughed. Instead they comforted me and shared how they had used the [program] to help them deal with their own pain.”

“Living Today in Alateen,” p. 267

“I was a great one for dragging yesterday into today. I worried about all the mistakes I’d made. It didn’t matter that those days were gone forever; I had to hang on to them until I’d made up for all the problems I’d caused. What a mess! My brain was so overloaded with thoughts of the past that I couldn’t find a moments’ peace to enjoy the present. That’s why it was so good to come to a fellowship that deals in today. With the help of [Alateen] slogans like ‘One Day at a Time’ and ‘Just For Today,’ I’m slowly but surely learning that today is a valuable gift. If I can put yesterday behind me and make the most of this day, I know I won’t be disappointed.”

“Alateen – a day at a time,” p. 52

Read about other Alateen members’ experiences at:

https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

Alateen is a Twelve Step program for teenagers affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Find out more about the program:

https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

“My father drank beer. I thought that was normal. I thought all dads drank beer when they were driving a car. I thought all refrigerators had two or three cases of beer inside. And didn’t all dads yell at moms? Didn’t all moms yell at their kids? Needless to say, I was really messed up when I walked into my first Alateen meeting.”

“Courage to be me—living with alcoholism,” p. 38

Has your life been affected by someone’s drinking? If you’re not sure, you can take a short quiz to find out at:

https://bit.ly/3cLlbAZ

“The first time I heard the word ‘alcoholic’ applied to my father was when I was in the sixth grade. Before that I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what it was. It was something of a relief to name the trouble, but I misunderstood the meaning of the word. I thought it meant Dad drank too much, Dad was mean to Mom, Dad did this, Dad did that, and nothing was wrong with the rest of us.”

“Alateen-Hope For Children of Alcoholics,” p. 55

Alcoholism is a disease that affects all members of the family, whether they drink or not. For the family members, it can lead to feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, fear, and blame. In Alateen, teenagers find out that they are not alone and that there are others their age dealing with similar issues. With time they also find different ways to handle their feelings and emotions and how to deal with the difficult situations they may face.

Answer a few questions to see if the Alateen program might be helpful for you:

https://bit.ly/3cLlbAZ

In one year, over 50,000 members have joined the Al-Anon Family Groups Mobile App (Mobile App), and approximately 2,700 have subscribed to Premium Content to enjoy exclusive Al-Anon member sharings and support the WSO’s effort to help the families and friends of alcoholics.

To mark the Mobile App one year anniversary, here are some timely technology tips for those who are new at practicing the Al-Anon program in digital spaces:

🔺 Keeping Tradition Twelve in mind, protect your anonymity by using an email address that does not contain your first and last names or birth year.

🔺 Consider approaching a member who has experience with technology to be your Service Sponsor. He or she may have helpful suggestions, such as how to keep your password safe or how to avoid spam online and in email.

🔺 When joining an electronic meeting, be sure to test your camera, volume, and ability to mute before connecting to avoid causing a distraction or interrupting a meeting.

🔺 Be kind to yourself and others! Think before you type, and, just as you would in an in-person meeting setting. Keep in mind the audience with whom you are communicating and tailor your message to be thoughtful and meaningful, in keeping with Al-Anon principles.

🔺 Finally, remember our slogan “Easy Does It,” and schedule some downtime away from technology to de-stress.

If you haven’t downloaded the Mobile App, find out more about it at:

https://bit.ly/3hFzecS

Al-Anon and Alateen’s Step One states, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.” Although the Step mentions alcohol, members have found much comfort in being given permission to let go of other things over which they have no control. Share with us how the idea of letting go could or has improved your life. Include in your comment.

You can also share your experience with Step One on our blog:

https://bit.ly/2T8XLA9

In Alateen teens learn:

🔺 Alcoholism is a disease.

🔺 They can detach themselves emotionally from the drinker’s problems and still love the person.

🔺They are not the cause of someone else’s drinking or behavior.

🔺They cannot change or control anyone but themselves.

🔺They have spiritual and intellectual resources to help them develop their own potentials, no matter what is going on at home.

🔺They can build satisfying and rewarding life experiences for themselves.

“Facts about Alateen”

Find out what an Alateen meeting is like at:

https://bit.ly/2GoqASj

Alateen is a Twelve Step program for teenagers affected by someone else’s alcoholism. Find out more about the program:

https://bit.ly/2GoqASj