Yearning for Something New

Yearning for Something New

Although we didn't have a client/therapist relationship, a professional helped me identify the cause of my distress. We'd known each other as preteens in another part of the country. Fifteen years later, we met by chance in a large centre where we both had moved. My life was spinning out of control at the time. We lost contact for eight more years before another chance meeting on an airplane. At that time, we discovered we lived close to each other in yet another community.

We soon became friends. I confided my yearning for something new by telling my friend that I felt I'd been a caretaker for my family and friends all my life. I even felt ineffective at work in my career as a caretaker. I was searching for a training course to learn how to teach people to help themselves. My friend excitedly replied, "Have I got the course for you!"

I knew my friend was a therapist, but didn't realize she also taught professionals more effective ways to assist their clients. There were people in the training course who endorsed Twelve Step recovery programs. I discovered my distress stemmed from survival skills I developed while growing up in an alcoholic home. I learned those behaviors were now interfering with my well-being, but that I could take steps to replace them.

My Higher Power placed this messenger in my life disguised as a friend, teacher, and therapist. While I was gaining courage during five years of training, I was also accepting my friend's support for my decision to attend Al-Anon.

During my first Al-Anon meeting, the members told me about an Al-Anon adult children meeting. In reading the Al-Anon literature, I began identifying more as a person who lived with the problem of alcoholism rather than as a professional who worked with the problem.

During my early recovery, several Al-Anon groups eased my yearning by providing the home I needed for my weary soul. My new family and friends in Al-Anon continue to listen with their hearts. They love me while I'm learning to practice more loving behaviours in all my relationships.

By Chris, British Columbia
The Forum, February 2006