N/A?

Hey folks. You have all been my saving grace over my past 7 clean, opiate free days! A big thank you.
My question is, I know that I should do some type of aftercare. I have no insurance now, otherwise I would seek an addiction counselor. I've never been to any NA meetings, but I have been thing about it. There's one that meets here once a week at a church.
Can someone tell me what to expect? I'm sure I can just walk in, but what goes on there?
Thanks for any help guys!

[krissy30]

You will meet people that are experiencing exactly what you are going through.  People will share their personal stories with everyone.  Sometimes they hand out coins for being clean...I like to hear everyones positives about where their life is today...Not the war stories...Every one with an addiction had at least one of those....But, they are all very warm and welcoming and I think it's great that you are thinking of going to one.  Go for it!!  IT can't make things any worse for you right???  Just one word of advice though....if you want to make friends make them with people who have a lot of sober time....It's easy for two people who don't have alot of clean time under their belts to relapse together!!  You will also have a chance to find your self a sponsor there!!  A sponsor will be able to help you just like these great people on medhelp do....they will give you their phone number and you will be able to call them whenever you have an urge to relapse hit you.....Good luck and go to that meeting!

[gizzy32]

Congrats on that week clean, yaaaaaaaaaa. N/A is free and although it's not for everyone, it's worth a try. You don't have to talk at the meeting if you don't want to, many people just say pass and just listen. They will welcome you with open arms and although it can be scary going the first time, you will see that they are just like you, fighting for the same thing, SOBRIETY. They will make you feel comfortable.

You will get a keychain or a coin your first meeting that says welcome and probably a lot of hugs:) Try it, it's worth a shot. One day at a time, your doing great!

[blahsville]

First way to go on 7 days, that is so awesome, it's a week even!  also, thanks for asking this, and thanks for your answers krissy and gizzy.

Day 10 today myself, and I know Ive got to make myself find a meeting and go.  I want to make this work and I feel like going to a meeting will make all the difference.

but I cant deny that Im a little scared about the idea of it.  Reading this made me feel better about it, now Ive just gotta do it...

[backtomyselfoneday]

Thanks for the input guys. It makes sense that these people are going thru, or have gone thru what I'm going thru.
Thanks for the advice about trying to stick with the people that have been sober longer. That makes tons of sense!
Thank you all, and I think the NA meetings are on Tuesdays in my area, so I will keep you posted!

[MarkG61]

I've been to several N/A meeting in the past. it does have a religious overtone but they call it a higher power what ever you want that to be. it can work if you put forward the effort to make the meetings. They have a format that all the meetings follow. There are readings from the N/A literature then sharing your stories. If you decide to go, They say you should go to 90 meetings on 90 days. It worked for me for a little while but things happen to make you relapse and I did. but now I'm clean 29 days. all on my own.