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AA/NA/CA thread (members not critics)

oliphill

oliphill

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Apr 9, 2003
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Location
Bury St. Edmunds, UK
Thought it may be an idea to make a thread to discuss anything AA/NA/CA/MA/etc related, without it turning into a debate about if it works, if other methods are better, etc.

So who goes to meetings, how clean are you, which fellowship, etc etc ??
.
I go to NA and sometimes CA. 37 days clean.

cheers, Oli <3
 
I am a recovering addict.

I refuse to give my will and my life and turn it over to the care of God.

I believe that my "will" can be successful, even though there is addiction in my past.

(Please refrain from making rude comments in TDS.- Ocean)

Anonymous groups just aint for me. =(
 
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I meant for this thread to be positive, but oh well.

Sounds like the meetings in your area are shit. I don't particularly like AA either. But the NA and CA around here are full of really sound people, lots of young people, really fun to go to. And the MA I go to sometimes is cool too, lots of young people in that.

If it's not for you then don't go.

It's working for me so I'll keep doing it. Nothing has ever worked for me before. Even if I could have done it another way, who the fuck cares. I don't care if recover or smart have a better success rate or whatever, I am clean now for the longest time in 11 years so I'll stick at it myself.
 
<snip snip>

If you can not be kind and follow the guidelines of TDS, or the idea of this thread set out by the OP (that this be a positive thread on NA/AA) please do not post in this thread. -Ocean
 
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this guy was trying to start a thread for people who *DO* find these programs helpful

i understand if they arn't your bag of tea, but why knock it if it helps someone else?

i want people to get sober by any means they are able too

even if you are anti-AA, can't you keep the shit talk to the other thread on the front page about aa?

have some courtesy people
 
villian said:
this guy was trying to start a thread for people who *DO* find these programs helpful

i understand if they arn't your bag of tea, but why knock it if it helps someone else?

i want people to get sober by any means they are able too

even if you are anti-AA, can't you keep the shit talk to the other thread on the front page about aa?

have some courtesy people
Click to expand...

Exactly. You guys can go make an anti-AA/NA/CA thread if you so desire, but it would be more adult to respect the wishes of the thread starter as long as he/she is creating a productive thread.
 
I'll agree that back when I used to do the program, I liked the CA meetings more than the others. Younger crowd that didn't take themselves as seriously as some of the oldtimers at most of the AA meetings.

CA also had the strongest coffee which was nice ;)
 
It's a shame to see people knocking the program when the OP meant for this to be about positive experiences of AA/NA/CA.

I am a recovering alcoholic. To make a long story short, I tried everything to stop; counseling, medication, willpower etc. AA has been the ONLY thing that works for me.

I have made the decision to give my will and life over to the care of G-d. People can say "G-d of their understanding" but I think that is B.S. Bill and Bob meant it to be G-d, and not a friggin door knob or light bulb. To me, the only way the program will work is your willingness to believe in G-d.

I've relapsed a few times, but with the help of AA and G-d, I always manage to get back on track. I am a true alcoholic, not a heavy drinker. HUUUUGE difference. A heavy drinker can stop for reasons of love, health etc, an alcoholic can not. I, myself, do not know any true alcoholic that has just stopped on their own. I also could not stop on my own, but with the help of the 12 steps, G-d and other people in the rooms, I am now happily sober.

A lot of people don't give AA a chance. They think it's 'boring' or a 'crock' before even walking into the rooms. These are usually people that don't want to stop using and are not even willing to believe in a power greater than ourselves. They are also people that are usually court ordered or go because the rehab brings them there.

In conclusion, AA saved my life. Because of health reasons, I was given a year to live if I kept drinking, and that still didn't even get me to stop. It took me walking into those rooms and sticking with it that got me to stop. Thank G-d for AA.
 
So if say a Muslim or a Hindu wants to join your program to get clean they have to stop believing in their god(s) and start believing in yours? How is that fair or make the least bit of sense?

A higher power does not have to be your god. The point is believing in something bigger than yourself, realizing that the world doesn't revolve around you and your wants/needs and thereby garnering a healthier perspective on your life and that of others.

Whether or not you choose to believe in a christian god or the many gods of hindu or the fleeting clouds in the sky above is so far from the point. It's sad that you think that way and it really only serves to make you look terribly narrow-minded.
 
No where did I say "you have to believe in MY G-d" G-d is G-d is G-d. I am not christian or catholic and even though the program was written (some of it) based on the new testament, that doesn't matter. Hindu's and Muslims still believe in A G-d.
 
i am forced to be a member of aa/na. i think that it is criticaL to the sucess of aa/na that the state does not non-violently force someone to attend aa/na to force the states will upon an individual that he is weak as well as a weak drunk when he could really care less about alcohol. just my $.02
 
K12 said:
i am forced to be a member of aa/na. i think that it is criticaL to the sucess of aa/na that the state does not non-violently force someone to attend aa/na to force the states will upon an individual that he is weak as well as a weak drunk when he could really care less about alcohol. just my $.02
Click to expand...

Agreed. It wont work if you don't wanna do it.
 
Constitutionally Incapable of Being Honest With Myself?

Hey BL buddies, my issue with AA/NA is trust. I am uncomfortable trusting my innermost secrets and failings (step 4) with someone who shares my personality (addict/alcie). I live in a somewhat rural area, so the groups I go to are somewhat small and their is always the chance of running into someone at work, etc..after sharing horror stories in the group. On the other hand, I believe the 12 step groups can be a helpful structure in quitting and addiction and sorting out one's thinking.
 
It would be impossible for me to knock on NA because how can you talk negatively about people coming together for a good cause?
If you're forced to go to NA, like I was for 4 years, don't get mad at NA. Get mad at yourself and your government. NA has nothing to do with it.

Although I haven't been to a meeting in like 5 years, I always remember vividly walking out of those doors and feeling better about my life. And thats all that really mattered to me.
 
i am forced to be a member. the government institutes this program aa/na and because of a couple dui's, now wants it instilled in me that i am weak, and then a weak drunk, and i must confess my problems to other weak minded people to get strength from opening up to weak minded people. i have never felt good leaving an aa/na meeting.

roughly half of the people in aa/na are court-ordered and imo aa/na is worthless because of this. my $.02
 
Being a proud, happy member of AA, I dislike the fact that people are court ordered to go. It ruins it for people that WANT to be there by choice and tends to 'water down' the program.

Same when they bring people to meetings from rehabs and they sit there with a look on their face that they obviously don't want to be there. I think AA/NA should strictly be for people that choose to go at their own free will, not by force. The program will never work if you don't want it to. Same with getting clean. You can't be helped if you don't want to help yourself.
 
PaulyPointz said:
Hey BL buddies, my issue with AA/NA is trust. I am uncomfortable trusting my innermost secrets and failings (step 4) with someone who shares my personality (addict/alcie). I live in a somewhat rural area, so the groups I go to are somewhat small and their is always the chance of running into someone at work, etc..after sharing horror stories in the group. On the other hand, I believe the 12 step groups can be a helpful structure in quitting and addiction and sorting out one's thinking.
Click to expand...

You can choose anyone to do your step 5 with. It just has to be 'another human being.' Step 4 just entails writing your resentments down...not sharing them.
 
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