Al-Anon Family Groups
District 16 Tri-Valley
Dublin - Pleasanton - Livermore
Help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics
Speaker Meeting, July 12
Mid-Summer White Elephant Gift Exchange and Potluck, July 26
See Events Page for details
District 16 Tri-Valley
Dublin - Pleasanton - Livermore
Help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics
Speaker Meeting, July 12
Mid-Summer White Elephant Gift Exchange and Potluck, July 26
See Events Page for details
What is Al-Anon?
The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness, and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.
Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon is self-supporting through its own voluntary contributions.
Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic.
Monthly Speaker Meeting for D16.
Join us in-person on the 2nd Saturday at 7:00pm. See the flyer under Events.
Listen to different speakers every month.
COVID-19: Some Al-Anon meetings in the Tri-Valley are taking place online using Zoom at this time. All are welcome to join in the online meetings. Most Al-Anon meetings are meeting in-person and/or using a hybrid meeting format. Refer to the Meetings List for details.
I Must Heal First
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc, Virginia Beach, CA
I am powerless over alcoholism. For many years I treated Step One as a lesson. I could not do anything about my loved one's drinking. I was powerless over the alcoholic's lying, stealing, anger, and absenteeism from our marriage. It helped me in a strange way to feel I was not responsible. However, it was not until I applied this Step to myself that I learned its real meaning.
I can't control anything or anyone but myself. I, myself, am powerless over alcoholism. I found serenity when I surrendered to this fact and examined myself. I cannot control the effect alcoholism has on me; I can only change how I respond to the disease. I was impacted greatly by the disease. I developed triggers and resentment that took years to recognize and deal with. My trauma was overwhelming. I had thought only the alcoholic was powerless, when in fact we both were. The disease is a family disease and affects all who are around it, I did not drink, but I, too, lied and was angry and absent from the marriage.
It is hard to look inside myself and be truthful about my real feelings. It's so much easier to look at others, especially the alcoholic, and think I know what is best. I am powerless over alcoholism. I will today look inside and find the truth about myself and what I want and need. My marriage cannot heal unless I heal first, and that has taken a lot of reflection, help, and Al-Anon.
By Julie L., Minnesota