I'm sorry you're having such a difficult week, but I really think you're showing such strength, love and grace through it.
Quote: I really don't know that Al-Anon will help, maybe it will, but at this point I don't want to go somewhere and then have people telling me what it is I should do..which is what I feel will happen if I go to Al-Anon.
I also grew up with an alcoholic dad (which I may have said already). And I believe that the alcohol does make a sitch worse, much like drugs or depression or a mental health issue might also do.
My experience of Al-Anon as a concept, if you're interested, is positive and very much about what you've already been doing--detachment from H's drama. Group meeting dynamics depend on who's in the meeting.
Cathy, you're a very strong woman and even if you do encounter those who would tell you what to do (and we all run into those people), remember that YOU are the one who makes the choices for YOUR LIFE (and S4 of course).
It's vitally important to our own long-term happiness that we each ultimately make the choices that are about who WE are and are true to OUR conscience and values. It's easy for other people to tell you their opinions-- and sometimes those opinions may have lots of valuable kernals of information that will help you decide what's next or sort out your feelings and course of action. Even the ones that are hard to listen to. Especially if they've been there.
But in the end, it is up to YOU and YOU need to feel good about yourself and how you decide to live your life. Sometimes all it takes is a polite reminder of that those who think they know what is best for you.
There isn't anyone who can decide that for you-- not even the folks at Al-Anon. All they can do is give you some tools that might be of help. Sort of like the BB.
