Alcoholism and the Eighth Step in Al-Anon - Prepare to Make Amends

The Alanon Eighth Step says that we “made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.” For many new Alanon members, the thought of making amends to other people, especially those in our family, can be extremely scary. Remember, this step only asks you to make a list. Don’t rush off to make amends until you have made your list, discussed it with your sponsor, and prayed about the names you have added to your list. Take your time.

In addition, remember that there are different ways to make amends. There is no reason to let this step panic you.

By the time we go to Al-Anon, many of us feel as though we have spent our lives sacrificing ourselves to help an alcoholic. When we make a list of people we have harmed in order to complete the 8th Step of Al-Anon, it is not unusual to feel resentful towards the alcoholic and other people in our lives. After everything we have done for them, now we are being asked to make a list of the people WE have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them. Who have we harmed, you may be asking? Why should I have to make amends to anyone? So what if I have gotten angry with the alcoholic, screamed at him, or said hurtful things? Didn't he or she deserve it? Haven’t I bailed the alcoholic out of problem after problem? Where would he be without me?

When we become ready to make amends to the alcoholic, and anyone else we have hurt, we have made an important step towards healing from the pain we have been feeling.

Sometimes members of Al-Anon call the 8^th and 9^th steps “keeping our side of the street clean.” This means that even if some of the people on our list owe amends to us, that does not mean we should postpone making amends to them. We are only interested in making ourselves feel better. We cannot control how they respond.

Below you'll learn about the types of people who should be on your list.

When doing your Alanon 8th Step, the first person you should make amends to is the alcoholic. What?! After all the grief that person has caused you, how can you be expected to make amends to him or her? By this stage in your program, you should be able to see that some of your past behavior only made things worse. Your anger, resentment, and punishing attitude did not make either of you happy. It also created a home life that was strained and uncomfortable for everyone around you. Put the alcoholic's name at the top of your list.

The next people you will need to add to your 8th Step list will be the friends and family members you may have harmed because of your reaction to the alcoholic. Your past reactions may have caused you to scream at or neglect your children. You may have told lies to friends and relatives in a misguided attempt to protect the alcoholic. You may have gone around with a chip on your shoulder, because you felt angry. Perhaps you made a scene at a social event or public place. You may even have complained to a dear friend for hours about how awful your alcoholic is. Now is your opportunity to wipe the slate clean, and make a fresh start of your relationships. Add all the friends and family members you can think of to your 8th Step list.

Once you have finished, below you will discover that there is still one more person that you need to put on the list.

Finally, no Al-Anon 8th Step list would be complete until you add yourself. You are going to need to forgive yourself for all the foolish and embarrassing things you did and said in the past. You will need to let go of them, and allow yourself to enjoy your life in the future. Don't keep punishing yourself for your past mistakes. Make sure your name is on your Al-Anon 8th Step. Once your 8th Step list is complete, you will feel prepared to start your 9th Step.