I usually have no problems on basic computer stuff but thought I should report that I belive there is something wrong with the link to the meeting. I have been fooling around over an hour and got only gibberish even after downloading against my computer's advice out of shear desperation to come to a meeting. If any1 knows what I am doing wrong or if I landed on an unsafe link please help otherwise I am sorry to bother u all and will check back a couple more times and then stop intruding on your site. Sincere apologies to you. I thought this was open to any addict. Best to everyone.
I'm new to this site too so don't have an answer since I tried yesterday and couldn't connect properly either. Though I did not try as long as you did!
While I believe participating in online meetings will be beneficial, they cannot replace the dire importance of regular in person in the flesh addict to addict sharing meetings, especially new like you are. Special things can happen in those rooms, life changing things, nothing short of Miracles do happen! I'm living proof, a hope to die dope fiend, Clean with the help of NA and the power of a loving God of my understanding for 30 years.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
Thanks Mike. You are the only person who has responded to me what so ever and I do appreciate it. I live in Wiscosin and it is very cold. I was hoping to start out on my computer because we don't have much for meetings around here last I checked. You are a wonderful inspiration. Congratulations on that wonderful strength and sucess in staying clean. Do you live in WIsconsin or know anything about our meetings? I haven't checked to find out where and when yet but over the years I have and they are few and far between. I don't like the regular AA meetings as well and here I sit typing and in the situaton as always knowing I need help and trying to figure out if there will ever be a time I will have the strength to try to help myself let alone be bennefit to others like me as you have done.
Hmmm, tried a reply with attachment of Wisconson NA contact info from NAWS in pdf but didn't seem to work.
No, I'm on the west coast in Vancouver, WA. I'll try to cut & paste the pdf info. Hope this helps. If you can't make sense of it (lost it's formatting) try here: http://www.na.org/?ID=phoneline NA.org Phoneline Search Reportwww.NA.orgPage 1/1# Description Phone Number and Website Country Name State Name Area Code1. Wisconsin Statewide Helpline Phone: 800.240-0276Website:
http://www.wisconsinna.org/
USA Wisconsin ---2. Wisconsin Region Website:
http://www.wisconsinna.org/ USA Wisconsin ---3. Mid-West Zonal Forum Website:
http://www.mzfna.org/ USA Wisconsin ---4. Southeast Family Area (Kenosha, Racine) Phone: 888.611-1817 USA Wisconsin 2625. Milwaukee Area (Wisconsin Region) Phone: 866.913-3837Website:
http://namilwaukee.org/
USA Wisconsin 262
6. Milwaukee Area (Milwaukee, Cudahy, Hales
Corners, Menomonee Falls, New Berlin, Oak
Creek, Waukesha)
Phone: 866.913-3837
Website:
http://namilwaukee.org/
USA Wisconsin 414
7. Scenic Bluffs Area (Baraboo, Beaver Dam,
Portage, Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells)
Phone: 866.590-2648 USA Wisconsin 608
8. Big Rivers Area (La Crosse, Prairie du Chien,
Sparta, Tomah)
Phone: 866.579-7534
Website:
http://www.bigriversna.org/
USA Wisconsin 608
9. Basic Area (Burlington, Delevan, East Troy,
Elkhorn, Lake Geneva)
Phone: 877.434-4346 USA Wisconsin 608
10. Badgerland Area (Madison, Janesville, Milton,
Fort Atkinson, Stoughton, Whitewater)
Phone: 888.431-7526
Website:
http://www.badgerlandna.org/
USA Wisconsin 608
11. Woods & Waters Area (Rhinelander, Minocqua,
Ashland, Hayward)
Phone: 866.310-9077
Website:
http://www.woodsnwatersna.org/
USA Wisconsin 715
12. Northern Lights Area (Rice Lake, Spooner, Shell
Lake, Siren, Chippewa Falls, NW Wisconsin)
Phone: 866.668-3580
Website:
http://northernlightsna.org/
USA Wisconsin 715
13. North Central Wisconsin Area (Stevens Point,
Mosinee, Wausau, Antigo, Wisconsin Rapids)
Phone: 866.590-2651 USA Wisconsin 715
14. Inland Lakes Unity Area Phone: 866.635-2254
Website:
http://www.iluana.org/index.html
USA Wisconsin 715
15. Chippewa Valley Area (Eau Claire, Menomonee,
Cadott)
Phone: 888.543-0924
Website:
http://chippewavalleyna.org
USA Wisconsin 715
16. Wisconsin Regional Service Office Phone: 920.232-9615 USA Wisconsin 920
17. Statewide Info Line Phone: 800.240-0276 USA Wisconsin 920
18. NE Wisconsin Area (Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay,
Marinette)
Phone: 866.285-7830
Website:
http://www.newna.org/
USA Wisconsin 920
19. Kettle Moraine Area (Sheboygan, Manitowoc,
West Bend, Jackson, Thiensville)
Phone: 888.611-1813
Website:
http://kma.webhop.org/
USA Wisconsin 920
20. Appleton, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Wautoma,
Waupaca, Wisconsin Rapids
Phone: 866.635-2254
Website:
http://www.iluana.org/index.html
USA Wisconsin 920Page 1/1
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
Do yourself a favor and do WHAT EVER IT TAKES to get to a live NA Meeting as soon as you can. What Ever It Takes!
And if you feel like using, pick up the phone and call one of the Wisconsin helpline numbers NOW! Don't worry about the time of day or night. Even if you're already loaded, pick up the phone! The only requirement for membership is the DESIRE to stop using.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
That's great Mike. Thank's for all the info. I really appreciate it. I will definetly call them and see what the schedules are now. There did used to be a meeting in Milton where I live and my son was in school here last year and I was always working and didn't want to embarasse my son who is now in college. I know that is the wrong attitude but I always used to justify a pain pill as not bad enough to have fellow parents think i was on hard drugs. Come to find out pills are heroin and they are no less serious than anythingelse. Anyway the phone numbers you sent have all the areas near me so thanks again! Who knows maybe this will end up being better just as you said by having to physically go to a meeting. If I find out anything about an online meeting I will be sure and let you know. Take care and keep up the great work! I admire your self control. Thanks Mike
Haha! Made me smile. I'm more like self will run riot with moments of lucidity, peace and serenity by the Grace of God when I'm humble and willing to listen!
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
That's the weird thing I never think of myself as loaded. I think of myself as normal and completely functional for many many years after I have taken my meds. I just know it is wrong and way to expensive not to metion what it is doing to my liver. As sick as it is and as shallow then the fear of geting fat if I am clean and all the other excuses. It is scarey. That is why if I could just get them out of my body I and over the pain and horrible discomfort of complete detox I could wish I never started and leave this part of me behind. My dad just dyed and ny baby is doing great in college and it is time for the next chapter. I know I am all over the board but it is because I am facing all my own excuses before I can think of them. Also why it am debating on spending everything on that detox program but if I could do it on my own of course that would be better. I just can't imagine if I took out a loan for the kinda $they want that I would go back to pills. On the other hand if I did and wasted that much and went back I would know I was hopeless but I think I can do it if only my body was completely free of the shit. I would't want to wake the people who are volunteering up just to find out a meeting schedule for 1 person.
Why do you think we become addicts? The rapid detox people say it is a symptom of somethingelese like a chemical imbalance that the will be able to balance. They say we stop making dopamine and other pleasure making chemicals and that is why when people stop they often feel like they are in a black hole. They say there are very often causes that most drs. never even look at. These people do brain scans tell me cures can then be as simple as estrogen. (cures for the moods and empty feelings so many get after they stop the drug use.)
Thanks for talking to me. I am sorry I go on so but you were my meeting for tonight and you are an inspiration. Please know you also gave me hope on this program and made me feel far less alone. I will use the information you gave me and I will be attending a meeting. Goodnight and happy holidays. Take care Mike.
i jus wanted 2 say mike an miss lee u guys bought tears 2 my eyes this mornin its amazing how 1 min i feel discouraged then the next i hav faith jus listenin 2 u guys. mike i no u saved a lot of live jus with the info u posted and as wel as the motivation u gave me and miss lee 2 hear u both and wat u spoke about gave me wat i need jus 4 the day. MISS LEE HOLD ON I HEAR UR FUSTRATION BUT THATS OK U R REACHING OUT AND ASKING FOR HELP I PRAY ALL CONTINUES 2 GO WEL WITH U. MIKE (my friend) was all you had to say when i read do step work or die i jus cryed cus i no if i dont thats wat wil happen. be blessed THANKS FOR SHARING
Miss Lee: Glad you found this site and some support from Mike. I agree with what Mike said earlier about online meetings are no substitute for person-to-person NA meetings. I hope you manage to make it to a flesh and blood meeting soon.
Hi, Meetings never really took off on this site. Not sure why, but the people who come here mostly like it for the forums. there is an online group meeting....It's called earth group NA
I have tried online meetings and don't care for them, I think it's important for addicts, who have a tendency to isolate, to get out and go to actual face to face meetings.
But of course that's my preference, others may feel differently.
Hope you find what your looking for and please do come back and let us know how your doing.
Im sorry we dont have the participation from enough people to keep a regular schedule of meetings online here going, I have tried and found it wanting LOL.
But the room is available for people who come here and might want to chat thing is you have to have JAVA script software loaded on your computer so make sure you have that and here the link to JAVA site to load that up.
Much has been written about the Nature of the addict. Early in my Recovery I used to wonder why me? Came to believe it doesn't matter. I am an addict today and always. Today I'm a Recovering addict. Many of us tried easier, softer ways. For a time drugs seemed the answer to life's challenges. Then they turned on me and became all that was important. I truly used to live and lived to use. I tried quitting many times many ways before finding NA. Religion, shrinks, jail, out-patient counceling even a 6 month in-patient treatment center and nothing worked.
Some other ways may work for some, but for me the NA Way is the only way I've found lasting Recovery. For me there was and is no easier softer way. Getting drugs out of my system was only the beginning. Early on emotional mood swings were the norm with despression, fear, feelings of impending doom and despair and worthlessness often filling my soul. Suicide wasn't an option in my belief system. Going back out was no longer an option, I knew I'd survive loaded in constant misery. Often I wanted to use, but had learned from others in NA to call someone and keep going to meetings instead. And it worked. The promise was true, I didn't have to use if I didn't want to! THAT was a Miracle! I got involved in service early on because I was told it's hard to fall off the edge if you stay in the middle, stick with the winners! The middle was NA Service. Who were those winners, how did I find them? I could see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices. The meetings kept me Clean and Service Work opened the door to finding feelings of worth instead of worthlessness. I didn't believe I had a right to recovery, I was scum, I felt lower than an omeba (sp?). Gradually it changed. I discovered the paradox of selfless giving reaping rewards beyond my feeble imagination.
Recovery is a Journey, not a destination. NA showed and continues to show me the way to a better way of life. And Life is just like a beautiful bed of roses.....some of those roses have hellacious thorns!
One Day At a Time it Works, Keep Coming Back, NA Works IF you Work It.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
Wow! Well said to say the least. Rarely am I speechless...Thanks. Going to mull over those words and put up some holiday spirit for my son. Peace and blessings to all.
Thank you Golden Girl. Wishing you all the best. Peace and love with sober blessings. We will all make if we follow the NA steps u and Mike remind me of. Check out his last inspirational message. Mike is 1 awesome speaker or I guess in the case writter. Fantastic!!!!
Avid hi. I wanted to thank you very much for the info about the online meetings. I did go there several times and I really appreciate it. It was better than no meeting at all but I agree with all of you that the face to face is the best way however that's not always possible for me. This information was very important to me and really kept me on track as I say more than trying to talk to non NA members who while some want to help really don't grasp the obsession. all the best to you! Thanks again.
...I agree with all of you that the face to face is the best way however that's not always possible for me...
Be willing to put as much effort into making NA meetings as you were into getting drugs.... That's what it takes. When I first got Clean lived over 20 miles from the nearest meeting and had no transportation, not even a bike. I made 90 meetings in 90 days, sometimes could bum a ride but as often as not walked both ways. And it rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. So what. Cold and wet didn't matter. I wanted what NA had to offer and was willing to make the effort to get it, I made no excuses to myself. I knew I didn't want to keep using so I listened and did what was suggested to me by already Clean addicts in NA. And I am Clean today because of it.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
I am listening and thank God you are talking cause you make more sense than anyone has in quit some time and again you are most definetly correct...my world would stop holiday work whatever..never go 1 day 4 more years than I care to remember until I got that evil drug. I was reading some of thre other posts and am now reading the NA book here online. Seems I must remind myself of just how selffish I have become. Narsosistic really which I suppose is why I search for that reassurance that it is possible 4 me to do what ya all have done. God help me. Which I have just again prayed that he do. I will be at a meeting tommorrow the day before Christmas eve just as you have suggested and God willing some day will look back and tell this story as an example to someone else but there I go always getn ahead of myself......more listening less talking. It is a skill.
Computer acting up cause sent this once but don't see so here we go again. Found midnight meetings about an hour away almost every nite of the week so looking forward to trying them. Thanks again 4 the meeting info and advice.