meetings

[penny1974]

where you scared to go to a meeting? Do you have to talk at the meeting?  What made you decide to go?  I would love to hear about your experience. I understand that everyone says its good for after care.  Thank you  I hope everyone is doing good.

[gnarly_1]

HI Penny Im glade you posted this  for many of us our first meeting was with a lot of apprehension it is normal you just got to get out of your comfort zone and do it ...you will be welcome with a hug and you will see your not alone in this  my best N/A friend has 23yrs clean the progam took him from a raging dope find to a kind gentile man...it is amazing what this progam can do if your willing to embrace it.. today I go to 4 meeting a week I work the 12 steps and my life has been turned around for the better the only requirement  is the desire to get clean..you must understand even after you off the pills your still a addict this progam will let you be a addict in recovery and that is a great place to be  please give it a chance to change your life like it has for so many of us  good luck and God bless ....................................Gnarly.......................................

[ActingBrandNew]

I went to an AA meeting this week. First one in a REALLY long time. It was a book study. Ive been clean for years and I was still anxious about going in. Its a very normal feeling.

I like what  "Jinxie" said above. If you can, try and find a women's meeting. Especially if its your first time. There are many men who AND women who go just to hook up. Recovery can be a lot easier without all the distractions.

[penny1974]

Thank you so much for your experiences. It really helps to give me the strength to go to one. It may take me a little time to do it but I am exploring my options. I'm just finding I need to vent my experience and even though my husband knows I'm tapering and he loves me unconditionally. I don't think he really wants to hear about it and that kinda makes me feel alone in this. Even though I'm a 38 year old woman my family including my husband sometimes treats me as though I'm a fragile little girl. Which is why I'm so stubborn at times about things. And I don't really say much about how I'm doing because the word addiction to the people around me look at it as a really bad thing. (Having the wrong perception) I have a better understanding of it and know I'm addicted but I haven't the courage to try to justify or explain it to them. Any way sorry to ramble.  

[jugglin]

I sat in my car in the parking lot at my first AA meeting, shaking, nervous. I walked thru the door and was met by genuinely kind-hearted folks, all walks of life, all levels of struggle.  They introduced themselves to me and sat next to me guiding me thru that first meeting.  I was in a room of MH folks - I literally studied around the room as folks spoke and found my MH friends in that room.  I left with a list of phone numbers of people who truly are there to help me whenever I need a live person. I also left with the Big Book which is an awesome read, and a list of meetings in my area marked by the folks there as to which they found to be really good groups. I know it can seem scary, but it will change your life. Just walk in, sit, listen. You will not regret it!

[motye51]

Congratulations on considering n/a or a/a as your aftercare. I've been going to n/a since mid/end of Jan, 2014...it took me 2 weeks before I would even introduce myself, still don't talk too much, but I wanted to sit and listen to see if that's really where I needed to be. After the first mtg I knew, I was right where I needed to be. No, u don't have to talk, just listen. I think you will be pleasantly suprised at what u hear. Just try one, if u don't like it, find something else. Good luck!

[weaver71]

I was more afraid of dying and leaving my family alone than anything else by my first meeting. I didn't talk at all at first, could barely hold my head up, but I went to every one available in my county, NA, AA, group meetings, men's meetings, I made recovery a full time job. Some meetings I really disliked, others were amazing. I figured where I fit, who I connected with and trustsd, and I started to share more and more. There are all kinds of oeople in meetings here, genuine loving kinds, arrogant pushy kinds, but most of them had good intentions. The users, abusers, and stalkers are all removed from our meetings, but I'm sure there are battle apples in every bunch, they are humans, but there are plenty of folks to help protect each other. Anything unknown has an element of fear, but that is how we change our
Lives, doing new things. You'll love it, imagine a group of us from MH in a room, doubt you feel close to all of us, you may not even like some of us, but we all kind of accept each other, as long as we have a desire to be better, no matter how you are when you show up. My favorite meetings feel just like this place, but with real 3D hugs.

[againnot]

I remember my first meeting.  Even 15 minutes before I needed to leave the house to get there on time I was still undecided if I should go.  I was scared, for some reason, and I'm not shy.
Once I got there, and during the meeting....I realized it was the best thing I've done for myself in a long time.  The people were wonderful.

[Jinxie_W]

just a suggestion.  try and find an all women meeting.  I have known some men who go to AA meetings just to prey on vulnerable women.

[Merri123]

I am not a talker for sure. But listening to others stories is great for me. I especially like the AA speaker meetings on Saturday night around me. You find out you are no worse than others and that many have had a lifetime of drinking and drugs. And made it through it for a sober life. It is encouraging. You are not alone. Others are struggling too. Others relapse and have a hard time. If you stick with it, they become your friends. There are events to go too. Things to do. Pot lucks, holiday get togethers, stuff in the Summer. Depends on how involved the old timers with years are still involved.

Go. Listen and absorb. You'll get more comfortable with it. They are to help you too.