Hi Everyone

I thought about trying out al anon as a way to heal. My father is and was an alcholic bipolar so he is my qualifier for that 12 step program. I tried a few meetings but at the last one I got disillusioned that I would fit into that group.

One of the old timers started disparaging one of her relatives who she said was mentally ill. Then she added that 'of course, mentally ill people don't relate to others the same way the rest of us do'.

The words still echo in my mind... the rest of us. Us vs. them.

I wondered how many others sitting at the table also had a mental illness. I realized it was not the place for me. They discourage what they call 'crosstalk' so there is no way to bring something like that up. Besides who would come out of the closet with their mental illness in such an environment.

Has anyone with bipolar had a good experience with al anon?