This one brave step changed everything for me, Reader.

Thinking about going to an Al-Anon or ACA support group meeting but feeling unsure, nervous, or wondering if it’ll even help?

I completely get it.
For years, I kept my mom’s alcoholism a secret and convinced myself I was fine.
But I wasn’t. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and quietly unraveling.

Then I walked into my first Al-Anon meeting. Terrified.

Here’s what happened next and why I believe attending that meeting was the single most important step I took in my healing.

👇 Let’s break it down:

What are Al-Anon and ACA support group meetings?

If you grew up with an alcoholic parent, you’re not alone and you’re not broken.
But healing does require support.

Here’s a quick overview of two groups that can help:

• Al-Anon is for people affected by someone else’s drinking. Alateen is part of Al-Anon and it's for teens.
• ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families) is specifically for adults who grew up in alcoholic or chaotic homes.

Codependents Anonymous and SMART Recovery Family & Friends are also helpful if codependency or loving someone in addiction is part of your story.

✅ You don’t need to register in advance. Just show up.
✅ You can attend in person, virtually, or even by phone.
✅ Meetings are free and confidential.
✅ You can listen only. There's no pressure to speak.

How to find a meeting:

→ Visit al-anon.org and click “Find a Meeting”
→ Visit adultchildren.org and click “Find a Meeting”

💡Action Step:

Bookmark 2–3 meetings and try them over the next few weeks. Each one has a different vibe. It’s okay to visit a few before one feels right.

What my first meeting was really like

That’s what an old man said to me after I shakily introduced myself at my first Al-Anon meeting. He was right! And I believed him.
I cried because I felt hope for the first time in a long time.

For 26 years, I tried to fix my mom and hide her addiction.
I walked into that church basement unsure why I needed help when I wasn’t the one drinking.

But in that room, I saw faces full of understanding. I heard stories that echoed my own. One by one, they shared the stories of hurt, fear, frustration, shame, and desperation that I knew so well. I listened and absorbed their words like a sponge.

And for the first time, I knew: I was ill, I was not alone and I was going to get better.

That moment sparked everything. My life began to shift. It didn't happen overnight but that meeting was the catalyst for change.

What to expect at your first in-person meeting

✔️ You’ll sit in a circle

✔️ First names only

✔️ A reading, a few people share

✔️ You don’t have to talk

✔️ Everything is confidential

✔️ You might cry. That’s okay.

✔️ You’ll feel less alone

🧡 Most importantly: You’re allowed to take up space. You’re allowed to get support.

Your next step

If you’re thinking about attending a meeting, this is your sign.
It could be the start of something life-changing.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.
I'm rooting for you, always.

—Jody 💛

Resources and Recommendations

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