Meetings

Hi there,

I was wondering if any of you who have gone to the NA meetings can tell me what they are like?  That is going to be my next step.  I am just a little nervous - not sure what to expect.  Please let me know!

Thanks,

Shelby

[liscamdave]

If you have access to them, then go my dear. They are so very helpful, much like this forum..Except you will be on a face to face forum...You will like it and most certainly benefit from it. I hope it works...

Be careful, there are some a**holes that lerk there to sell drugs...

Stay strong...

xoxoxoxox. Lisa

[shelby74]

Hi Lisa! :)

Wow, I can't believe people would sink that low!  Wait - yes I can.  That is too bad but not to worry - I have never had a dealer and I am not going to start now.

Hug!

Shelby

[tomanypills]

i"ve been to many,many meetings over the years and have never been approached by someone selling drugs but its a crazy world so i"m sure its happened. Many meetings are held at churches and hospitals so you may want to try and find a meeting at one of these locations

[lonote]

The last n.an meeting I went to was On a Fri.night at a church. I stayed for all of it.Surprisingly as I don't like large meetings. Also there were a bunch of teenagers form treatment getting their cards signed. Court ordered i guess. Its always nice to see young blood meetings. God help them, and praise them
for not waiting till they were fifty like myself to learn that drugs can kill you.       Anyhow it lead to finding a womans group on that sat morning which was really what I needed. Meetings are good. We all need the support, and at these meetings there is generally some oldtimers, that make you feel welcome and know alot.

[techmer]

I too have been to many AA,NA,OA,EA,CA, ANAD.............i tried for yrs just trying to like these meetings. Went on and off  from 19 til i met my hubs at 25 (1988). My 1st exp. w/ the A's was in a little hick town in Ga. It was an AA Mtg, i swear!! it a smoke (I smoke..butt, whew!!)) filled room, with a bunch of dirty(not playin in the dirt kinda dirty.....)old men and a few older women!!


Went into rehab in 1999, and few more X's til 2002, went to Mtg's and all the other groups. I was absolutely starting to hate Mtg's, started making me sick when it was time to go to one!!   I've been harrassed, fallowed and humliated in my A's exp's.

Had many sponsers, fired a few, and got fired by them a few times!!
a sponsor is a person that will help you through the 12 steps and other things......I always chose the ones that were like.........(not knowingly!!)  
   " i'm your sponsor not your bff "   Hard A**  is what I and a few others called them!  he, he.         I have also been a sponsor, guess i was too soft??

Don't get me wrong,  many, many ppl......when they walk through those doors, find a place to belong and ppl they connect with. It is there home away from home.   ppl really do recover in those rooms and stay,   clean and sober doing it one day at a time!.

It is kinda like this but without all the cross talk, that means no talking when another is speaking, you try and give suggestions.......not orders, or telling ppl to do this or that and how to do it.    Just your own experiance, strength
and hope Keep it in the "i or me" when sharing, not "you or them".

Your sponsor shouldn't tell you, she or he can only suggest stuff, #1 and most important working the 12 steps, make a meeting daily for the 1st 90 days (90&90). Read the BB., service work etc.etc..
I am so sorry this just keeps getting longer, keep thinkin of sumpin else to say... so on......................

The main thing is to live your life follwing the 12 steps,  (Which are straight from the Bible).......to the best of our ability.   Progress not Perfection.

These steps are not just for drug and alcohol recovery,  but for all lifes hurts, hangups and habbits.

Sorry so long.  God bless....and take care.   A

[tztlady]

Hey there girlie,
I went for many years and never had anyone approach selling dope.  Other things just as awful have happened at certain mtgs in my area but also many miracles have happened as well.

May I recommend trying out a women's meeting?  They are usually smaller than mixed.   It depends on your personality but you seem like you'd get along just fine in either type, mixed or same sex mtg.

Let us know how it goes.  

You will go in  and find a seat.  They will read some things at the beginning of the meeting.  Sometimes they will pick a topic to discuss, sometimes they willnot.   Look online at the meeting schedule and it will tell you what type of meeting it is.   Some are book study meetings which I highly recommend especially if they are on the first three steps (foundation of the program).  Then they will take turns sharing on the topic.  You can choose to talk or not but I would suggest you let them know you are new so that they can reach out to you.
Feel free to ask any questions about the meetings and I will be happy to share what I know.

[lonote]

You can always introduce yourself and just pass cause you'd like to listen.AAAhhh yess, smoke filled rooms and coffee. lots of coffee. And of course lots of tough love!

[lonote]

You're very welcome Shelby...

[shelby74]

I quit smoking a year or so ago.  Well maybe I can enjoy the second hand smoke while I am there! lol

Thanks again.

[shelby74]

Thank you both for all the information.  I know I would prefer a smaller meeting at first and hopefully one I do not have to tell my story straight away.  I would much rather listen the first time.  Thanks again!

Shelby

[tomanypills]

through all the humiliation,harrasment and hating the meetings how did you ever work the 12 steps much less be a sponser who is " someone who has taken and applied the 12 steps to there lives and can guide you in applying them to yours" ? no other stuff