Announcements
Today is Tuesday, March 15, 2016 |
The Manassas area FA meeting follows the inclement weather of Prince William County Schools. If schools are closed there will be no meeting as the Church will be locked. |
Who is Families Anonymous Designed to Help? FA is a national organization focused on the fellowship of adults whose lives have been affected by a loved one’s drinking or drugging. Talking with other people experiencing the same issues will help you find ways to cope. You may need to make some big changes in YOUR life as YOUR life is the life you can change. Experience has proven that helping ourselves can be the most important thing we do to help those we care about. Typically, newcomers are looking for new ways to change someone else. At FA meetings we begin to see the importance of looking at our own role in the drama. FA is designed to get the spotlight off the abuser and put it on ourselves. As such, this meeting is not appropriate for the abuser, or anyone under the age of 18 . |
Fear to Faith Whenever I imagine that my children need the help that only I can give to save them from an unfortunate situation, I have to stop. I stop everything I am planning, any action I’m about to propose, stop thinking of alternatives that might work, and stop trying to fix everything. I have to break away from the whirlpool that’s waiting to suck me down – the whirlpools of irrationality that immerses me so completely in another’s problems that I no longer exist for myself. I remind myself of past occasions when I permitted my children to work out their own solutions and how well they did without my interference. Sometimes it is only fear that spurs me to action: fear that without my help they will be incapable of solving their problems, fear that they will make things even worse, fear that they may ruin their lives, fear….that they no longer need me! When I allow fear and insecurity to dominate my thinking, I become an obstacle to my own growth and the growth of my children. My Higher Power really does guide others as well as me. |
Thought of the Week The Three C’s When Thinking Of Our Loved Ones & Related Feelings of Guilt, Shame, and Pain I did not CAUSE it… I cannot CONTROL it… I cannot CURE it…. |
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If your family member has a drug, alcohol, or behavioral problem, can you see what it’s doing to you? Are you at your wits end? Do you need help in coping? Is someone you love destroying family harmony? Free and effective help exists. Families Anonymous offers free help and free weekly meetings close to your home!
There are many 12-Step and other programs such as AA, Al Anon, Ala Teen, NA., Tough Love, etc. Families Anonymous (FA) is based on the 12-step philosophy. While many that attend do so as a result of their child’s use of mind altering drugs or alcohol, FA is for the adult family member concerned about ANY family member with these issues. Clearly, the issues can be very different when the family member we are concerned about is a child, particularly a minor child. Many of us see the same issues; the same tell tale concerns. We have been there and have learned to live one-day-at-a-time. We have learned that we can get out of the cycle of guilt and fear and begin to live a better
Who is Families Anonymous for? Not everyone who comes into this program is concerned about the use of drugs. However, in today’s world, all of us need to confront this issue. Also, those with an emotional problem often turn to drugs in search of a solution to their problems. Anyone concerned about a loved one’s use of mind-altering substances or related behavioral problems are encouraged to attend. You will feel welcome at your very first meeting. FA is best suited for adult family members as opposed to teens or ‘tweens. FA Teens is an appropriate option for that age group. FA is also not for the person with the addiction issue. There are numerous other 12-step meetings that are better suited to assist those with addition issues.
We have learned that drug abuse, drug dependence, or addiction is a matter of illness, not a moral issue. For the purpose of this program, the label is not important. Dependence on drugs can be psychological or physical or both. The compulsive use of drugs or alcohol does not indicate a lack of affection for the family. Even when he knows what will happen when he takes the first pill, drink, or fix, the drug dependent person may do so. This is the “insanity” we speak of in regard to this illness. There is nothing that we as individuals can do to prevent another person’s abuse of drugs, but we have learned there is much we can do to avoid standing in the way of his recovery. We have found that the most constructive approach is to deal with our own reactions and to learn new ways of coping with our problems. When we accept drug dependence as an illness and understand there is something we can do to help both the situation, and ourselves, we become ready to learn a better way to live. At our FA meetings we share our experience, strength, and hope with each other and with new members. Many members have found peace and serenity, despite unsolved problems, by working the Twelve Steps. The change in us often helps our loved ones find recovery. Why FA? – Testimonials
Slogans such as those that are listed below can become the single simple statement that gets you through a difficult time. These and the Serenity Prayer are frequently cited as lifelines to many in our groups.
FAMILIES ANONYMOUS TWELVE STEPS We have found that our success in this program is determined by how well we accept and apply the following suggested steps:
Families Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship requiring no dues or fees. FA is self-supporting through voluntary contributions and the sale of FA’s published literature. Families Anonymous is not affiliated with any religion or institution. |