12 step fellowship for family and friends of individuals with drug, alcohol or related behavioral issues. Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems.
Your identity is protected in their meetings. They know each other by first names only. Anonymity of their members is paramount to the success of their program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of their name.
To enable their meetings to be truly constructive, it is necessary to recognize and repress four destructive forces that can cause dissension and eventually destroy the group.
The first destructive force is the discussion of any religion. Their program is open to all, regardless of our various beliefs, or lack of belief. Each member’s understanding of a Higher Power is strictly a personal, private choice.
The second destructive force is gossip. They are there to share their feelings, attitudes, and reactions to their situation—to help in applying the principles of Families Anonymous to their own lives. Careless discussion of other people’s personal difficulties is contrary to the principles of their program. What they say there—stays there!
The third destructive force is dominance. FA is based on suggestion, interchange of experience, and rotation of leaders. No member should direct, assume authority, or give advice. Their leaders are chosen, not to govern, but to serve.
The fourth destructive force is dwelling on the past. Harboring painful thoughts and speaking endlessly about hurtful times with their loved ones blocks their recovery. Besides being detrimental to their personal progress, continuous behavior of this type within the meeting, week after week, is destructive to the group’s progress and unity. Such behavior can lead back to the Third Destructive Force, which is dominance. Instead, they let go of the past by listening to other members, reading FA literature, and learning new ways to change their actions and attitudes, thereby improving their lives.