This is the first time I have joined anything like this. I am not sure how it works but I am trying to stay clean and will do just about anything at this point. I would appreciate if perhaps someone could tell me where to start or what works or worked for them when they were just starting out. I have a dual problem. I am an alcoholic (haven't drank in 9 months) and a drug addict. I still abuse drugs on and off but am desperately trying to put them down once and for all. Thanks for any suggestions.
When I first came in I was really,really angry that I had to give up the only thing that ever worked for me in coping with life, and that was drugs and alcohol. As time went by, with abstinance and trying to go to meetings, I found that the real reason I was doing drugs an alcohol was to cover up the pain i felt from past relationships, screwups, and many other things.
Over time, I still struggle with life on life's terms, but the obsession and compulsion to use have been lifted. Now I actually feel feelings that I spent my whole life hiding from, and sometimes that is really hard, but the twelve step program helps alot.
Start with the first step, that you are powerless over drugs and that using makes your life unmanagable.
And keep coming back!
Peace out brett
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Faith: the substance of things hoped for, the belief in things unseen
And the second step would be to open your mind and reach out to a Power Greater Than Drugs and Alcohol that can set you free ~ NA Meetings.
Where are you from? Find out if there are face-to-face NA meetings around in your town and check them out.
That's how I started, and, even though I didn't like the idea at all, I still went and tried it out... And believe me, it saved my life...
Here's the link to locate meetings in your town...
http://portaltools.na.org/portaltools/MeetingLoc/
And this group and sharing here with others has been a very vital part of my daily recovery for a year now. So, keep coming back and sharing with us. We need you.
Warm Regards and Fellowship Love,
Tahir.
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
Go to a meeting today. You'll discover a great deal about yourself. It might be hard in the begining but hang in there, it does get better no doubt about it. We were all there. It's tough, being sober is not easy, but at least i'm free in every sense and safe too. My worries and fears are much less. The program was a miracle to me, nothing else ever worked. Write down anything you can possibly think of and post it. I'm very happy you're here. See you round , Love, Magellan
This is the first time I have joined anything like this. I am not sure how it works but I am trying to stay clean and will do just about anything at this point. I would appreciate if perhaps someone could tell me where to start or what works or worked for them when they were just starting out. I have a dual problem. I am an alcoholic (haven't drank in 9 months) and a drug addict. I still abuse drugs on and off but am desperately trying to put them down once and for all. Thanks for any suggestions.
Hi, I am new here too, I have been an opiate addict for 15 years, with 3 years clean, and then a relapse and now about 14 months clean, I have been on suboxone, and it is working pretty good, but I have been reallly stressed lately and depressed so I have been looking for some people to talk, I though a message board might be a good place to talk to some people, other than the na meetings I go to whenever possible, and maybe I can even help someone.
Yes this is a good place , you can dump here LOL and even get a little feedback.
There are helpful folks here I came here after relapsing also and have stayed and its a big part of my recovery now just posting and reading what others are going thru and what they've gotten from this program, its a life program and we're all in this life together .
Thanks to all that have responded and making me feel welcome. I still don't know how any of this works but at this point I will try anything. I haven't been to a meeting yet. I don't know if I am ready for that. I am still trying to get used to the idea that I am an addict. However, reading other postings makes me realize I am not alone. I apprecaite all the support.
Thanks, I tried going on-line to the meeting last night but couldn't get it to work on my computer. I will try again. For the first time in about 25 years I don't feel so alone. I can't believe how many people have reached out to me and don't even know me. I appreciate any and all advice that anyone is willing to share with me. I can't do this alone anymore.
I don't know if anyone has had a similar problem but I am finding it hard to hang out with the same people I used to. Most of them drink heavily. I don't want to say they are alcoholics because I think only they can decide. I am pretty much the only one in our group that is an alcoholic and a drug addict. However, I do seem to attrack other drug atticks. Is it normal or wise to spend less time with these people? They aren't encouraging me to drink or anything but at this point I find it really hard to resist picking up a drink and joining along. I have been drinking and drugging since at least the age of 11. I am 42 years old now and would like to know what it feels like to live without substances. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks, I tried going on-line to the meeting last night but couldn't get it to work on my computer. I will try again. For the first time in about 25 years I don't feel so alone. I can't believe how many people have reached out to me and don't even know me. I appreciate any and all advice that anyone is willing to share with me. I can't do this alone anymore.
I don't know if anyone has had a similar problem but I am finding it hard to hang out with the same people I used to. Most of them drink heavily. I don't want to say they are alcoholics because I think only they can decide. I am pretty much the only one in our group that is an alcoholic and a drug addict. However, I do seem to attrack other drug atticks. Is it normal or wise to spend less time with these people? They aren't encouraging me to drink or anything but at this point I find it really hard to resist picking up a drink and joining along. I have been drinking and drugging since at least the age of 11. I am 42 years old now and would like to know what it feels like to live without substances. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
you know when I was into my addiction I had tons of friends, or people I thought were friends. As soon as I got clean those were the first people to try to F it up (misery loves company) and then when I was clean, those people were gone. first thing you have to do is get rid of those people, places, and things! well actually the first step is realizing you are an addict and you are powerless over your addiction, then surrender your will to your higher power... you can find all that in the 12 steps. I am not a big NA book banger and don't normally quote things from the book but I manage to stay clean, day by day, try to help others and even though I did loose all my friends at the time, I ended up having a good life, plenty to be thankful for, and a couple people I can trust and that love me but all that takes time. I've been to rehab 4 or 5 times, and fell many times before I found what works for me. as for the computer issue you are having, you might need to download JRE (java runtime enviorment) just go to the java website and find it there, you should be good then.
Hugs and Welcome to MIP Sweet Pea!! NA is Never Alone! Never Again!!
I can share what worked for me...and that was lots and lots of meetings!! That was where I heard the message of recovery and started to believe that there was hope even for me.... Everything I've learned so far has been from people sharing in meetings and online too....and by reading the Basic Text and studying it....getting a sponsor and working the steps. Got clean at 46, a miracle for me! And it was the fellowship of NA that made it all possible...Hope to see you at a meeting soon!!
Once again, WElcome Home!!!
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Just For Today....I will have faith in someone in NA who believes in me and wants to help me in my recovery.
Hello Sweet Pea, Experience tells us that it is not good to hang out with people that use or used to use with you even if they don't encourage you to use. You have to get rid of the people, places, and things that associate with your active addiction life. It's hard, but they gotta go. That comes first with the admission that you're and addict. You gotta go to meetings. It's the only way to replace these friends with others that will help you and expect nothing back. You'll change the people places and things to ones that make you happy, make you laugh, and give you satifaction without the drugs. Even if it feels really strange and heavy, just do it anyway and the miracle will happen. It will get better every passing day. It doesn't happen overnight..Remember that our addiction took years so this will take a while but sooner than you think. Good Luck! Love, Magellan
Like I said I am new this and don't really understand meetings. Can anyone walk into one? Are there different types? Do you have to know someone in recovery in order to go? I have never been to a meeting.
A NA recovery meeting is open to anyone who feels they might have a drug problem. Addicts meet at meetings regularly to help each other stay clean and recover, by sharing their experience, strength and hope. For me, I walked into my first NA meeting not knowing anyone there. I didn't have to. I knew they were all addicts inside the meeting room, and somehow have found a way to put an end to their suffering and learnt a new way to live without drugs (including alcohol)... You can walk into a meeting or leave one as you please... the only requirement is a desire to stop using drugs... All addicts, whether clean or using are welcome at these meetings, and as such, all are equal... no authority is exercised as such... It's upto each one of us to choose to make use of these meetings for our own personal benefit...
Please give yourself a break and try them out... at least a few of them over a period to see if that's what you want... I did that... also, as cmdry72 suggested, I guess you need to download Java on your comp to be able to log in to these meetings... it's a free download available on the internet, just give a search and you can get it on your comp in no time...
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
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