I read an article today in the paper about a famous (Australian) addict and blaming his despicable behaviour to this addict tag.
It got me thinking about myself and NA.
Do I keep it too simple, or maybe I'm just not a 'true' addict. To most people on here alarm bells must be ringing.
But do people that keep on busting truly have the desire to stop using?
I haven't been to a meeting for a long time, or have a sponsor, I don't do step-work nor have I ever done a Step 4, or read literature, or spread the message.
I have been to the depths of depravity and insanity, been imprisoned and committed, suicidal...you name it.
I primarily used heroin for 15 years.....one day I stopped.
A drink or drug has never passed my lips, veins or lungs ever again.
A wonderful thing happened..I began to live and value my life and got more than I could ever ask for despite severe adversity.
All I do is take NA on it's simplest terms, to never use again one day at a time.
NA may get you started but that is it, at the end of the day it is truly up to me as an individual to be honest with myself.
I'm glad I do not need a new crutch of continual NA meetings and propaganda to achieve this.
I guess I know what response is coming!!
Get to a meeting, you're in serious denial and you'll bust.
There are a variety of ways of getting clean and staying clean. NA is not the only way. However, many of us have found in NA that going to meetings, working the steps, working with a sponsor, doing service work, hanging out with other clean addicts, and prayer/meditation help us to stay clean. Many of us in NA have found that when we stop doing these basic things, we eventually use drugs again. The path you are following may work for you--but it may not. No one will force you to go to meetings. The choice is yours.
Hey Mr spoos! welcome to MIP...A MAJOR part of NA for me is reaching out to those who are still sick and suffering and passing on our primary purpose "one addict helping another'! As it is stated below,there are many different ways to recovery and bottom line is first"not using'! There is no judgement here! I also stayed 'clean for over 20 years without direct programming but found life more rewarding "in the rooms" doing service and sharing my life and "recovery" with people like me..Thanks for your input,hope to hear more from you....Just for Today 'don't use.......peace man ..
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
NA is surely not the only way to keep off drugs. It is the only way for me, but obviously not for you. I don't believe that you are doomed to relapse because you don't follow the NA program. Curious though that after many years of being clean you decided to come to an NA forum and share your experience. I can't help but wonder that maybe there is a little more to your story. peace.
I'm glad you shared that. No one can tell you if you're a real addict or not. Those who know you have a real good idea but you're right; at the end of the day it's on us to decide.
NA, even to those of us who do utilyze the crutch, I think it's more like a prosthetic limb, is merely a suggestion. It's suggested we go to meetings, sponsorship is implied, we're not told that NA has any mandatory requirenments except don't use and alcohol is a drug.
I didn't catch how long this has been working for you though.
It doesn't matter to us if you come everyday or once a year, what you say is as important as what any one of us.
Thanks for sharing and keep coming back!
-- Edited by JoeB on Wednesday 25th of August 2010 11:04:20 AM
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