Hilltoppers-AFG

The Hilltoppers Al-Anon Family Group

Hilltoppers Newcomer Information

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For the Newcomer to Al-Anon

Al-Anon is for those of us who have family, friends, or relatives who have or have had a drinking problem. Alcoholism is technically defined as the inability to control drinking. While the ultimate personal decision about whether a person is an alcoholic or not must be left to that individual, many of us can see that there is abnormal and/or problematic drinking long before the other person will admit that there is a problem. Many adults question whether they have been affected by alcoholism. If someone close to you has, or has had a drinking problem, the following questions may help you in determining whether alcoholism affected your childhood or present life, and if Al-Anon is for you.

Below is a list of items that may help you determine if the Al-Anon program is for you.

• Do you constantly seek approval and affirmation?
• Do you fail to recognize your accomplishments?
• Do you fear criticism?
• Do you overextend yourself?
• Have you had problems with your own compulsive behavior?
• Do you have a need for perfection?
• Are you uneasy when your life is going smoothly, continually anticipating problems?
• Do you feel more alive in the midst of a crisis?
• Do you still feel responsible for others, as you did for the problem drinker in your life?
• Do you care for others easily, but find it difficult to care for yourself?
• Do you isolate yourself from other people?
• Do you respond with fear to authority figures and angry people?
• Do you feel that individuals and society in general are taking advantage of you?
• Do you have trouble with intimate relationships?
• Do you confuse pity with love, as you did with the problem drinker?
• Do you attract and/or seek people who tend to be compulsive and/or abusive?
• Do you cling to relationships because you are afraid of being alone?
• Do you often mistrust your own feelings and the feelings expressed by others?
• Do you find it difficult to identify and express your emotions?
• Do you think parental drinking may have affected you?

Further Considerations for the Newcomer

If you think you would like to go to an Al-Anon meeting, check the schedule to the left, or go directly to the Hilltoppers Meeting Schedule. There is a Newcomer's Meeting that is specifically structured for newcomers. Please also consider that it's good to attend several meetings, preferably different meetings, before deciding if Al-Anon is for you or not. Please try to attend at least six meetings before making a firm decision. The Hilltoppers Newcomer Meeting typically focuses on one of the following six topics, which are specifically structured for the newcomer to Al-Anon:

1. Al-Anon: How it Works
2. The Al-Anon Slogans
3. Step 1: Surrender
4. Step 2: Growing Spiritually
5. Step 3: Letting Go Spiritually
6. Sponsorship

Chairing the Newcomer Meeting

The Hilltoppers Newcomer Meeting is always looking for fresh input to the meeting. If you are interested in chairing the Newcomer Meeting, there is a sign-up calendar available at any regular Hilltoppers meeting. The requirements for chairing the Newcomer Meeting are: two years in Alanon and having worked the 12 Steps with a sponsor.

Ask the chairperson at any regular Hilltoppers meeting for more info.

Every Al-Anon group has but one purpose: "...to help families of alcoholics..." (Tradition Five). Consider the Al-Anon Declaration: "Whenever anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, let the hand of Al-Anon be there - and let it begin with me"

 

Alcoholism is a family disease. Those of us who live with, or have have lived with, this disease as children or adults sometimes have problems which the Al-Anon program can help us to resolve. If you have answered yes to some of all of the above questions, Al-Anon may be of help to you. You can contact Al-Anon by checking your local telephone directory, or from the Resources page. Phone numbers and Contact Information for the Austin Area are listed on the Contact Page of this website.