na meetings

[oxygirl487]

hey guys how yall doing tonite?...i am thinking about going to a na meeting....can anyone tell me what exactly happens there?.....i just feel like i need some extar encouragement u know.....i looked online and found one close by......back when i used i used to have a friend that got caught with pills and went to jail...she was put on probation and mandatory meetings of some sort..well anyway she met alot of people there who were also mandatory  and they were dealing drugs in the parking lot after the meetings and explaining how to lie and pass drug tests etc......do na meetings include the mandatory court cases? (i just dont need to be around that right now ) or was she into something completely different i cant remeber of course lol......i hope no one takes offense to this......right now i just want to be around supportive people not dealers lol......thanks guys...love ya all.......

[oxygirl487]

another ? also ...r they free?....i didnt see anything on the website i found about pricing or anything and rightr now money ,as we all know ,is tight  lol  

[helloiamsam]

I think this is just as good as a NA meeting. You get support and advice and you don't have to worry about drug dealers. But maybe you are just wanting to get out so maybe find a nice coffee house or something. Just an idea. I am new to this, as of about 20 mins. ago. so hello.

[StillTrying101]

Hi, I was sober for 5 years and I coudn't have done it without meetings.
I prefer AA, but thats just me. (Im a recovering herion addict by the way) so it doesn't really matter anymore if it's drinking or drugs that is your problem anymore. Well most people will say alchol is a drug.
I find that you can find people with more long term soberity in AA.
I actually meet my husband in AA (not really recomended, but it oes happen)
Just like anything else in life, there are good meeings and bad meetings. I think you know right away if people are for real. Raise your hand and say you are new and you need help. Get phone numbers and use them.
Meetings are free. They do pass around a basket at meetings, I usually throw in a buck if I have it.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Hope it helps

[StillTrying101]

Another tip, especially if it's your first time. I find that meetings on esp Friday nights tend to be more of a social gathering. Everyone needs the social part in AA, but it can be a little intimidating sometimes. Every meeting is diffrent. There are speaker meetings and open discussion. Try them until you find one you like.
The important part, in my opnion, is that people are talking about recovery and not just addiction. Do you know the difference?

[helloiamsam]

It's nice to hear that meetings can help. Everyone I know seems to laugh and make fun before they go to a meeting, like it's just a joke. I can see why AA would be a better bet though. And true that you can find the real ones verse the ones that are there for the wrong reasons. Sometimes I think you have to be strongminded enough to stay away from the fakes. Course, I have never been to any meetings just know of people who have and still do. But like I said glad to hear it can actually work, Im sure it can be even fun sometimes.

[addictedme]

In na you dont contribute to the 7th tradition (passing the basket) if your a newcomer or have less then 30 days clean. We call being ordered to meetings by the court "a nudge from the judge" lol,,Every meeting na or aa has a secratary, a chairperson and home group members. If there are people doing those things at meetins plz talk to one of these people. When your court ordered the sec. has to sign your paper but not if  your doing those things,,gl to ya though and remember that you can change meetings,,you have earned your chair and the right to express your opinions at business meetings.

[StillTrying101]

As i was reading addictedme post, I realized meetings are alittle diffrent depending on where you live. I had never heard that about newcomers not pitching in until they had 30 days clean!
The basics are always the same though. And yes, if you want to be sober you will find he people that want the same thing. If you want to get high, you wll find the people that are getting high.
There is a book out there, I bought it for my husband this summer (he had relapsed (as have I) and gotten away from meetings so I bought it for him to remeber to get back to basics) but I think it's called The newcomers guide to AA. It's not official aa literature,  but it explains it all to you.
AA really bacame a home away from home for me at one point. It was where all my friends were etc. etc. there is alot more to it than just listening to someone tell there drunk-a-log!
It will give you that real personal apect a site like this can't in some sense.

[oxygirl487]

thanks for all the responses....this forum is a very good support system i just feel like i need something else to do...maybe get my mind off things u know.....i am disabled and not able to work so i get bored alot lol....u guys had alot of suggestions about AA...can i go to those even though im not an alcoholic or never have been?  i must seem so dumb  lol....

[hopsing94]

Hey girl where have you been?