Could anybody share their experiences of going to NA meetings and if it worked/didn't work? I'm trying to get sober and return to the good old normal life, and I've decided that I can't just do it by saying "i'm not going to do drugs anymore" so I'm really looking into the option of attending NA meetings to help. I would kind of assume it's just like the serious decision meth/alcohol threads but that's the only real gist I have of it. exp any1?
Some people get a lot out of it, some people don't. I was clean going to meetings for quite a while, although that is no longer the case. I personally do not agree with what they teach - but if it is a support system that you are looking for then meetings give you instant access to a huge group of people that have similar goals, which is not easy to find. Good luck whatever you do
its a good idea. and it wont hurt, you might get something out of it. I know ive been to them before and i did that whole thing, and I think the thing is, youve got to want it and be ready for it and take it serious. but it can be a very spiritual thing for some. try it out and good luck.
it's not for everbody. I never really got much from it, my experience was pretty negative actually. A bunch of know-nothing do-gooders preaching to me about god this, god that. Saying "you are powerless and you have to give yourself up to god." They try and throw in "higher power" and "spirituality" to make it appeal to everyone.
I am in no way discrediting AA, NA, GA, all that stuff......because it does work for some people, just never worked for me.
Go for it. It works for many people. I dislike it very much since the hundreds I have been to were court ordered. But the same thing doesn't work for everyone. Read that book "A Million Little Pieces" the dude made some of the stuff up but its a good read for the non 12 stepper. There are also groups more specific to drug of choice and there are books and programs with the 12 steps changed based on beliefs. My favorite one is "The 12-step Buddhist". But just go and try. Don't walk through those doors with your mind made up because it won't work. Just go and talk to people.
I was introduced to NA in '93 and it, too, has been the only thing that has worked for me. Please note that I don't have 17 years clean from drugs (I have 11 days clean today). The reason I have 11 days is because I CHOSE to get high again from cockiness (thinking I was cured) and the fact that I just wanted a taste again. That first taste is dangerous because it can last for months, years or forever.
Check this out... I'm a drug addict. I'm more familiar with using than I am with living without drugs. The lifestyle we are involved in when geting high comes with many things. We acquire certain ideas, attitudes and behaviors that need to be changed (but it takes time to change these things). Think of it this way, when I'm in my active addiction I'm like a dirty rat with some cheese. You take away the cheese and I'm still left with being a dirty rat. NA helps me not be so dirty
Some things you should know:
Religion
NA is NOT a religious program but there are many people that are die hards concerning their religions and some feel that their way works for them so they feel their religion most certainly will work for you so they may be a bit pushy. I have friends in the program who are Christian, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Jewish, Pagan, agnostic and atheist.
We do talk about god but it isn't any particular deity. Some folks refer to God as Good Orderly Direction
The program is about changing our ideas, attitudes and behaviors through 'spiritual principles'. Many people associate the word 'spiritual' with religion. 'Spiritual Principles' is really just a word for traits of good character such as Patience, Tolerance, Acceptance, Humility, Honesty, Open Mindedness, Faith, Commitment, Willingness, Service, Gratitude and Forgiveness.
The People
Everyone is at a different stage of growth and recovery is a process and no one is perfect or cured in the rooms. There's a saying 'Some are sicker than others'. Try not to judge and look at the similarities as opposed to the differences
You are the only person who has to live with you for the rest of your life and The Program is for those who WANT it, not for those who NEED it.
Give it a chance, man and see for yourself.
Keep in mind that there is a big part of us that is terrified of not using so we look for reasons to disqualify ourselves from getting the help we need.
I wanted to keep this short because the experience is different for everyone.
What Is the Narcotics Anonymous Program?
NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. We suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work.
There are no strings attached to NA. We are not affiliated with any other organizations. We have no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. We are not connected with any political, religious, or law enforcement groups, and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join us regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion, or lack of religion.
We are not interested in what or how much you used or who your connections were, what you have done in the past, how much or how little you have, but only in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help. The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting, because we can only keep what we have by giving it away. We have learned from our group experience that those who keep coming to our meetings regularly stay clean.
-source: NA.org
Good luck with whatever decision you make. Change is difficult and sometimes we fight it no matter how good it is for us.
good stuff OD. i will have 90 days on the 5th.
about the god thing. i just heard a dude share that he doesnt believe in god and he has 7 yrs clean. he is open minded towards spiritual principles. and uses the group, his sponsor, and other things to guide in him making decsions.
one other thing i would add is its a just for today program. that means u dont have to say ur going to be clean for the rest of your life, just try to work on not using drugs one day at a time.
im working on the first step now and i realize that surrendering means i never have to use again. it means once i start using, i never know for sure when ill stop. but i dont have to worry about that if i never pick up.
thats how ive been working it. good luck, if it dont work there are other non 12 step programs i just dont know what they are, i think its called SMART or something haha
good stuff OD. i will have 90 days on the 5th.
about the god thing. i just heard a dude share that he doesnt believe in god and he has 7 yrs clean. he is open minded towards spiritual principles. and uses the group, his sponsor, and other things to guide in him making decsions.
one other thing i would add is its a just for today program. that means u dont have to say ur going to be clean for the rest of your life, just try to work on not using drugs one day at a time.
im working on the first step now and i realize that surrendering means i never have to use again. it means once i start using, i never know for sure when ill stop. but i dont have to worry about that if i never pick up.
thats how ive been working it. good luck, if it dont work there are other non 12 step programs i just dont know what they are, i think its called SMART or something haha
We have the exact same clean date! I get 90 days on the 5th too. Well done man, we've done well!
And on the god thing, the 12 step rehab I've just been through is run by an atheist! Again he's open minded to spiritual principles and he's actually written a presentation called "The Atheists guide to the 12 steps". I'm agnostic personally and am reading some spiritual literature at the moment. The basis for my spirituality is 'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you'
And with regards to SMART, i know a couple of people who do both. Apparently SMART meetings are just like group therapy sessions. I may check them out sometime.
For me, the most important thing about attending NA/AA is the power of shared experience. The prorgam really isn't that complicated; in the end, it's just a bunch of people who are trying to stay clean. The simpler you keep it, the beter you'll do.
The tricky part is NA vs. AA. One of the best meetings I attend is an AA meeting, BUT I have been to other AA meetings that are extremely dogmatic, saying that AA is for alcoholics only. I don't self-identify as an alcoholic, but I know that for me, alcohol can lead to drug use so I stay away from it. I just feel like a fraud when I say "hello, I am an alcoholic" because I feel pressured to do so at an meeting.
oli- congrats man! do they give out key tags over there too?
i would really like to attend a meeting in another contry. i think that would be awesome. i heard someone say that they went to one in dublin when they were on vacation. it was very different from the ones around here but still had the same core message of addicts helping eachother to not use one day at a time.
oli- congrats man! do they give out key tags over there too?
i would really like to attend a meeting in another contry. i think that would be awesome. i heard someone say that they went to one in dublin when they were on vacation. it was very different from the ones around here but still had the same core message of addicts helping eachother to not use one day at a time.
Yeah you get the keyrings here too. I go to CA too, but I'm looking to get an NA sponsor, you ever been to CA?
Yeah it's the exact same format around here. There are some big ones, some small ones, but all the same message. I'm in a small little town at the moment called Bury St. Edmunds, but there is still 1 - 3 NA meetings every day!
I would love to go to a meeting in another country too, if I can ever get over to the States I'll drop u a PM!
nope ive never been to a CA meeting. i was more into dope and downers ( not that didnt love speedballin ), so it never really crossed my mind. i think someone was telling me that NA started cuz heroin addicts couldnt identify with alcoholics. i would def be open to check it out though.
we should meet up, just gotta do it before january cuz then ill be off to prison for 2.5 years lol
I just hit my 90 days clean mark yesterday by using the fellowship.
My advice to you is that if you do use NA to get sober, don't hold any reservations.
You'll be told to follow suggestions: if you take these suggestions without asking questions, if you do what you're told, your life will get better.
I was told to get a sponsor, to call other addicts daily, to help others in anyway possible (making coffee, cleaning, giving rides to people), and to attend at least 90 meetings in 90 days.
I've done each of those things everyday and well, my life has been completely transformed.
I believe in a higher power, which i never thought would be possible as an agnostic.
The most important thing is getting yourself a sponsor. You can't do this alone, you simply cannot.
nope ive never been to a CA meeting. i was more into dope and downers ( not that didnt love speedballin ), so it never really crossed my mind. i think someone was telling me that NA started cuz heroin addicts couldnt identify with alcoholics. i would def be open to check it out though.
we should meet up, just gotta do it before january cuz then ill be off to prison for 2.5 years lol
It was dope and downers for me too, but CA is not drug specific. To be honest most of the people I see at CA meetings are heroin addicts anyway! There's something about it that's different, there seems to be more energy in the rooms and they use the AA book. I mostly do NA but like to do CA now and again.
This is a really good CA share, from Earl Hightower, have a listen:
And xa-speakers.org is a really good site for downloading great shares recorded at meetings and conferences etc.
Shit your going to prison in Jan? Do you know if they have meetings in the prison you're going to? Make the most of your time in there to stay clean and work on yourself. If you can get a book "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle, I just started reading it and it's truly amazing book. Don't worry too much about it, it's nothing like what it's made out to be on tv. Just dont let people think your a pussy otherwise youll get used as what its called in the uK "a joey". Youll be fine in there man, dont worry.
Did you pick up your 90 day chip? Got mine, feels great!
I just hit my 90 days clean mark yesterday by using the fellowship.
and i know prison i gotta make the most of my time in prison. ill be working on steps, school, a trade, exercising etc. i wont know where ill be going untill im already in the county jail. but it will probably be a youth facilty for ppl under 25, im only 21.
For me, the most important thing about attending NA/AA is the power of shared experience. The prorgam really isn't that complicated; in the end, it's just a bunch of people who are trying to stay clean. The simpler you keep it, the beter you'll do.
The tricky part is NA vs. AA. One of the best meetings I attend is an AA meeting, BUT I have been to other AA meetings that are extremely dogmatic, saying that AA is for alcoholics only. I don't self-identify as an alcoholic, but I know that for me, alcohol can lead to drug use so I stay away from it. I just feel like a fraud when I say "hello, I am an alcoholic" because I feel pressured to do so at an meeting.
Yea I can feel you on the AA vs NA. I have been to good AA meetings that I didn't mind, but I have been told to leave for stating I was an addict. And last time I checked alcoholism was an addiction, but whatever they can have it, I know that group has stopped me from walking through their doors ever again.
I also see people talking about CA which doesn't really matter if coke is your DOC or not. They have been some of my most enjoyable meetings. The ones in Daytona Beach run an hour and half and when its done you don't even notice where as some meetings I would find myself watching the clock for it to end. And coke is not my drug, I have done my share of it but I am an opiate addict.
