Narcotics Anonymous Message Board

Dave R · Dave R

"We... get a good look at what these defects are doing to our lives. We begin to long for freedom from these defects." Basic Text, p. 34 = Becoming entirely ready to have our defects of character removed can be a long process, often taking place over the course of a lifetime. Our state of r...

Dave R · Dave R

A lot of our chief concerns and major difficulties come from our inexperience with living without drugs. Often when we ask an oldtimer what to do, we are amazed at the simplicity of the answer. Basic Text, p. 43 = Finding balance in recovery is quite a bit like sitting down with a set of scales and a pil...

Dave R · Dave R

"We sit down with a notebook, ask for guidance, pick up our pen, and start writing." Basic Text, p. 30 = When we're confused or in pain, our sponsor sometimes tells us to "write about it." Though we may groan as we drag out the notebook, we know that it will help. By laying it all...

Dave R · Dave R

"We have learned that it is okay to not know all the answers, for then we are teachable and can learn to live our new life successfully." Basic Text, p. 96 = In a way, addiction is a great teacher. And if addiction teaches us nothing else, it will teach us humility. We hear it said that it too...

Dave R · Dave R

"With the world in such a turmoil, I feel I have been blessed to be where I am." Basic Text, p. 145 = Some days it doesn't pay to turn on the news, we hear so many stories about violence and mayhem. When we used, many of us grew accustomed to violence. Through the fog of our addiction, we rarel...

Dave R · Dave R

"In time, we can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of recovery." Basic Text, p. 56 = Imagine what would happen if a newcomer walked into one of our meetings and was met by a group of grim-faced people gripping the arms of their chairs with white knuckles. That newcomer would probably bolt, p...

Dave R · Dave R

"...I was ready to go to any lengths to stay clean." Basic Text, p. 132 = "Any lengths?" newcomers ask. "What do you mean, any lengths?' Looking back at our active addiction and the lengths we were willing to go to in order to stay high can help to explain. Were we willi...

mrslobato · mrslobato

I am in a two year supportive transitional residential program. Due to the isolated location there is a very limited number of meetings available, and the women who sponsor are not available for new sponsees. I am two months clean and sober and would like to begin working the steps. I have access to the...

Dave R · Dave R

"Each group has but one primary purpose--to carry the message to the addict who still suffers." Tradition Five = Our home group means a lot to us. After all, where would we be without our favorite NA meeting? Our group sometimes sponsors picnics or other activities. Often, home grou...

Dave R · Dave R

My gratitude speaks when I care and when I share with others the NA way. Gratitude Prayer = The longer we stay clean, the more we experience feelings of gratitude for our recovery. These feelings of gratitude arent limited to particular gifts like new friends or the ability to be employed. More f...

Dave R · Dave R

"There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles." Basic Text, p. 18 = When we first came to NA, many of us had great difficulty accepting the spiritual principles underlying...

Dave R · Dave R

Being involved in service makes me feel worthwhile. = When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something just short of a miracle occu...

Dave R · Dave R

Ongoing recovery is dependent on our relationship with a loving God who cares for us and will do for us what we find impossible to do for ourselves. Basic Text, p. 99 = How often have we heard it said in meetings that "God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves"? At times we may get stuck i...

Dave R · Dave R

Living just for today relieves the burden of the past and the fear of the future. We learned to take whatever actions are necessary and to leave the results in the hands of our Higher Power. Basic Text, p. 94 = In our active addiction, fear of the future and what might happen was a reality for many of us....

Dave R · Dave R

We can also use the steps to improve our attitudes. Our best thinking got us into trouble. We recognize the need for change. Basic Text, p. 55 = When new in recovery, most of us had at least one person we just couldn't stand. We thought that person was the rudest, most obnoxious person in the program...

Dave R · Dave R

We want to look our past in the face, see it for what it really was, and release it so we can live today. Basic Text, p. 29 = Many of us had trouble identifying our resentments when we were new in recovery. There we sat with our Fourth Step in front of us, thinking and thinking, finally deciding that we ju...

Dave R · Dave R

The most effective means of achieving self-acceptance is through applying the Twelve Steps of recovery. IP No. 19, Self-Acceptance = Most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous without much self-acceptance. We looked at the havoc we had wreaked in our active addiction, and we loathed ourselves. ...

Dave R · Dave R

Recovery is a reality for us today. Basic Text, p. 101 = Pain and misery were realities in our using lives. We were unwilling either to accept our living situation or to change what was unacceptable in our lives. We attempted to escape life's pain by taking drugs, but using only compounded our trou...

Dave R · Dave R

Through abstinence and through working the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, our lives have become useful. Basic Text, p. 8 = Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, our lives were centered around using. For the most part, we had very little energy left over for jobs, relationships, or other a...

Dave R · Dave R

Addiction is a family disease, but we could only change ourselves. = Many of us come from severely damaged families. At times, the insanity that reigns among our relatives feels overwhelming. Sometimes we feel like packing our bags and moving far, far away. We pray that our family members will...

Dave R · Dave R

This is our road to spiritual growth. Basic Text, p. 37 = When we arrived at our first NA meeting, it looked like the end of the road to many of us. We weren't going to be able to use anymore. We were spiritually bankrupt. Most of us were totally isolated and didnt think we had much to live for. Little d...

Dave R · Dave R

Many of us understand God to be simply whatever force keeps us clean. Basic Text, p. 25 = Some of us enter recovery with a working understanding of a Higher Power. For a lot of us, however, God is a troublesome word. We may doubt the existence of any sort of Power greater than ourselves. Or we may re...

Shullies1212 · Shullies1212

My name is stephanie an I am trying to find help with funding for myself to get into a 30 day inpatient treatment facility, I have started a gofundme account and if anyone on here would be willing to help in any way it would be greatly appreciated, if you want to check it out the link is gofundme.com/livecl...

Dave R · Dave R

We have found that we had no choice except to completely change our old ways of thinking or go back to using. Basic Text, p. 22 = Many of us find that our old ways of thinking were dominated by fear. We were afraid that we wouldn't be able to get our drugs or that there wouldn't be enough. We feared discov...

mandytryingtostayclean · mandytryingtostayclean

I'm new to the boards so hopefully, I'm not making any mistakes in starting a new topic. I've struggled with addiction to cocaine and alcohol as well as meth for years. I finally got clean from everything about two years ago. I didn't do the traditional 12 steps or a rehab which might be why I continue to r...

Dave R · Dave R

So many times, addicts have sought the rewards of hard work without the labor. Basic Text, p. 34 = When we first came to NA, some of us wanted everything, and right away. We wanted the serenity, the cars, the happy relationships, the friends, the closeness with our sponsor--all the things other peo...

Dave R · Dave R

We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Step Seven = Once we are entirely ready to have our character defects removed, many of us are entirely ready! Ironically, that's when the trouble really starts. The more we struggle to rid ourselves of a particular defect, the stronger that shor...

Dave R · Dave R

I initially felt that it would be impossible to attend more than one or two meetings a week. It just wouldn't fit in with my busy schedule. I later learned that my priorities were [180] degrees reversed. It was the everything else that would have to fit into my meeting schedule. = Some of us attended...

Dave R · Dave R

Today, we seek solutions, not problems. We try what we have learned on an experimental basis. Basic Text, p. 58 = The first time we heard that we should act "as if", many of us exclaimed, "But that's not honest! I thought we were always supposed to be honest about our feelings in Nar...

Dave R · Dave R

We have come to enjoy living clean and want more of the good things that the NA Fellowship holds for us. Basic Text, p. 27 = Can you remember a time when you looked at the addicts recovering in NA and wondered, If they arent using drugs, what on earth do they have to laugh about? Did you believe that the fu...

Topic		Started By	Replies	Views	Last Post
	JFT May 10 Becoming entirely ready (Preview) "We... get a good look at what these defects are doing to our lives. We begin to long for freedom from these defects." Basic Text, p. 34 = Becoming entirely ready to have our defects of character removed can be a long process, often taking place over the course of a lifetime. Our state of r...	Dave R	1	286	May 13, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 11 Balancing the scales (Preview) A lot of our chief concerns and major difficulties come from our inexperience with living without drugs. Often when we ask an oldtimer what to do, we are amazed at the simplicity of the answer. Basic Text, p. 43 = Finding balance in recovery is quite a bit like sitting down with a set of scales and a pil...	Dave R	1	324	May 13, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 9 Write about it! (Preview) "We sit down with a notebook, ask for guidance, pick up our pen, and start writing." Basic Text, p. 30 = When we're confused or in pain, our sponsor sometimes tells us to "write about it." Though we may groan as we drag out the notebook, we know that it will help. By laying it all...	Dave R	1	300	May 9, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 8 Teachable (Preview) "We have learned that it is okay to not know all the answers, for then we are teachable and can learn to live our new life successfully." Basic Text, p. 96 = In a way, addiction is a great teacher. And if addiction teaches us nothing else, it will teach us humility. We hear it said that it too...	Dave R	1	543	May 8, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 7 Turning turmoil into peace (Preview) "With the world in such a turmoil, I feel I have been blessed to be where I am." Basic Text, p. 145 = Some days it doesn't pay to turn on the news, we hear so many stories about violence and mayhem. When we used, many of us grew accustomed to violence. Through the fog of our addiction, we rarel...	Dave R	1	417	May 8, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 6 Are we having fun yet? (Preview) "In time, we can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of recovery." Basic Text, p. 56 = Imagine what would happen if a newcomer walked into one of our meetings and was met by a group of grim-faced people gripping the arms of their chairs with white knuckles. That newcomer would probably bolt, p...	Dave R	1	324	May 6, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 5 Any lengths (Preview) "...I was ready to go to any lengths to stay clean." Basic Text, p. 132 = "Any lengths?" newcomers ask. "What do you mean, any lengths?' Looking back at our active addiction and the lengths we were willing to go to in order to stay high can help to explain. Were we willi...	Dave R	1	304	May 5, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	Seeking Online Sponsor (Preview) I am in a two year supportive transitional residential program. Due to the isolated location there is a very limited number of meetings available, and the women who sponsor are not available for new sponsees. I am two months clean and sober and would like to begin working the steps. I have access to the...	mrslobato	0	275	May 5, 2015 by mrslobato
	JFT May 4 What about the newcomer? (Preview) "Each group has but one primary purpose--to carry the message to the addict who still suffers." Tradition Five = Our home group means a lot to us. After all, where would we be without our favorite NA meeting? Our group sometimes sponsors picnics or other activities. Often, home grou...	Dave R	2	369	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 3 Sharing our gratitude (Preview) My gratitude speaks when I care and when I share with others the NA way. Gratitude Prayer = The longer we stay clean, the more we experience feelings of gratitude for our recovery. These feelings of gratitude arent limited to particular gifts like new friends or the ability to be employed. More f...	Dave R	1	360	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May Just maybe... (Preview) "There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles." Basic Text, p. 18 = When we first came to NA, many of us had great difficulty accepting the spiritual principles underlying...	Dave R	1	482	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT May 1 Self-worth anf service (Preview) Being involved in service makes me feel worthwhile. = When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something just short of a miracle occu...	Dave R	1	346	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 30 God does for us (Preview) Ongoing recovery is dependent on our relationship with a loving God who cares for us and will do for us what we find impossible to do for ourselves. Basic Text, p. 99 = How often have we heard it said in meetings that "God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves"? At times we may get stuck i...	Dave R	1	339	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 29 "What if..," (Preview) Living just for today relieves the burden of the past and the fear of the future. We learned to take whatever actions are necessary and to leave the results in the hands of our Higher Power. Basic Text, p. 94 = In our active addiction, fear of the future and what might happen was a reality for many of us....	Dave R	1	496	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 28 Who really gets better? (Preview) We can also use the steps to improve our attitudes. Our best thinking got us into trouble. We recognize the need for change. Basic Text, p. 55 = When new in recovery, most of us had at least one person we just couldn't stand. We thought that person was the rudest, most obnoxious person in the program...	Dave R	1	401	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 27 Recognizing and releasing resentments (Preview) We want to look our past in the face, see it for what it really was, and release it so we can live today. Basic Text, p. 29 = Many of us had trouble identifying our resentments when we were new in recovery. There we sat with our Fourth Step in front of us, thinking and thinking, finally deciding that we ju...	Dave R	1	333	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 26 Self-acceptance (Preview) The most effective means of achieving self-acceptance is through applying the Twelve Steps of recovery. IP No. 19, Self-Acceptance = Most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous without much self-acceptance. We looked at the havoc we had wreaked in our active addiction, and we loathed ourselves. ...	Dave R	1	299	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 25 Embracing reality (Preview) Recovery is a reality for us today. Basic Text, p. 101 = Pain and misery were realities in our using lives. We were unwilling either to accept our living situation or to change what was unacceptable in our lives. We attempted to escape life's pain by taking drugs, but using only compounded our trou...	Dave R	1	330	May 4, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 24 Twelve Steps of life (Preview) Through abstinence and through working the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, our lives have become useful. Basic Text, p. 8 = Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, our lives were centered around using. For the most part, we had very little energy left over for jobs, relationships, or other a...	Dave R	1	279	Apr 24, 2015 by Mike M
	JFT April 20 Detachment (Preview) Addiction is a family disease, but we could only change ourselves. = Many of us come from severely damaged families. At times, the insanity that reigns among our relatives feels overwhelming. Sometimes we feel like packing our bags and moving far, far away. We pray that our family members will...	Dave R	1	332	Apr 23, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 22 Traveling the open road (Preview) This is our road to spiritual growth. Basic Text, p. 37 = When we arrived at our first NA meeting, it looked like the end of the road to many of us. We weren't going to be able to use anymore. We were spiritually bankrupt. Most of us were totally isolated and didnt think we had much to live for. Little d...	Dave R	2	491	Apr 23, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 23 A God of our understanding (Preview) Many of us understand God to be simply whatever force keeps us clean. Basic Text, p. 25 = Some of us enter recovery with a working understanding of a Higher Power. For a lot of us, however, God is a troublesome word. We may doubt the existence of any sort of Power greater than ourselves. Or we may re...	Dave R	1	320	Apr 23, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	help getting clean (Preview) My name is stephanie an I am trying to find help with funding for myself to get into a 30 day inpatient treatment facility, I have started a gofundme account and if anyone on here would be willing to help in any way it would be greatly appreciated, if you want to check it out the link is gofundme.com/livecl...	Shullies1212	3	415	Apr 21, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 21 Fear (Preview) We have found that we had no choice except to completely change our old ways of thinking or go back to using. Basic Text, p. 22 = Many of us find that our old ways of thinking were dominated by fear. We were afraid that we wouldn't be able to get our drugs or that there wouldn't be enough. We feared discov...	Dave R	1	300	Apr 21, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	Relapsed (Preview) I'm new to the boards so hopefully, I'm not making any mistakes in starting a new topic. I've struggled with addiction to cocaine and alcohol as well as meth for years. I finally got clean from everything about two years ago. I didn't do the traditional 12 steps or a rehab which might be why I continue to r...	mandytryingtostayclean	4	396	Apr 21, 2015 by mikah
	JFT April 19 Footwork (Preview) So many times, addicts have sought the rewards of hard work without the labor. Basic Text, p. 34 = When we first came to NA, some of us wanted everything, and right away. We wanted the serenity, the cars, the happy relationships, the friends, the closeness with our sponsor--all the things other peo...	Dave R	1	311	Apr 20, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 18 "I understand" (Preview) We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Step Seven = Once we are entirely ready to have our character defects removed, many of us are entirely ready! Ironically, that's when the trouble really starts. The more we struggle to rid ourselves of a particular defect, the stronger that shor...	Dave R	1	318	Apr 18, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 17 Priority: meetings (Preview) I initially felt that it would be impossible to attend more than one or two meetings a week. It just wouldn't fit in with my busy schedule. I later learned that my priorities were [180] degrees reversed. It was the everything else that would have to fit into my meeting schedule. = Some of us attended...	Dave R	1	321	Apr 17, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 16 "Acting as if" (Preview) Today, we seek solutions, not problems. We try what we have learned on an experimental basis. Basic Text, p. 58 = The first time we heard that we should act "as if", many of us exclaimed, "But that's not honest! I thought we were always supposed to be honest about our feelings in Nar...	Dave R	1	420	Apr 16, 2015 by cdbuckberry
	JFT April 15 Keep coming back (Preview) We have come to enjoy living clean and want more of the good things that the NA Fellowship holds for us. Basic Text, p. 27 = Can you remember a time when you looked at the addicts recovering in NA and wondered, If they arent using drugs, what on earth do they have to laugh about? Did you believe that the fu...	Dave R	1	397	Apr 15, 2015 by cdbuckberry
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