Hi my name is Jayme. I have been out of prison for about 2 years. I now live in Alaska with my son and extended family. We have AA meetings here 4 times a week. Not many women in the program here. I really need someone to bounce ideas off of and to talk to. I don't feel that I'm getting the support I need from my family, so I've got a lot of resentments buiding up, and I know that this can lead to relapse. I've relapsed twice since I've been out on alchol. The only reason that I didn't relapse on drugs is because there are no drugs in this little town. Thank God! This is my first time to one of these chat boards, so I'm sure I'm doing this right. Anyways I look forward to hearing from some people in the program.
Welcome Alaska! Nice to meet you. Are there any NA meeting places available for you where you are? Online is okay but nothing better than face to face. We have found that coming to believe and working of the steps ,with a sponsor is the solution to our dilemma! Even in AA ,if you can't find local NA you can get into the solution.Somewhat different as way steps are worked but still gets you involved.My first sponsor in 1984 was from that fellowship and was with me for first 3 years of my recovery until he passed...It is good you are able to see yourself coming and reaching out...you can Google NA.org and see where meetings are in your area.People here know how to put that info on board,im sure someone will help out with that.Keep coming back let us know how your doing okay!!!! peace
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Thank you for your response. No there are no NA meetings in my area. We do have AA meetings, which I am the treasurer of, I just don't feel comfortable there. Besides there are no women there. I feel like I'm losing myself here in this little town. Granted, the promises have already started to work in my life, but I'm still missing something. I'm not sure what it is??????? I just need someone to talk to, and to bounce ideas off of
Maybe this will help. Go to na.org... follow the links for 'find a meeting' there will be another link for 'area helplines' enter in your area code, or nearby area codes and call the helpline numbers that come up. I'm sure they will be able to put you in touch with women who will gladly talk to you. Keep reaching out. The help is out there, unfortunately that in your case you have work a little harder to find it.
I, too, am from a small town... but in southwest Minnesota. I've been clean for 3 years and have just recently (over the last year) been finding other women in recovery. Though it's difficult to imagine, I spent many evenings in the company of sick men.
If nothing else, this taught me that I can't just give up. I promised myself I would be there for the next woman that walked through that door. There have been a few that have come in and out, but very few stayed. As I've been told before, the reason many women don't stay around is that it's no different than the bar... it's just without the drug.
I had to find "safe" people that wouldn't jeapordize my recovery through sex (it's an easy cross-addiction, let me tell you!). I went to functions, got numbers from other women, and used them!
Today, my sponsor lives about 75 miles south of me, but I call her at least once a week, and try to get together with her as time (and money) permits.
I would suggest calling a helpline, attending functions, joining these chat rooms/message boards, getting and using phone numbers/email, and staying involved locally no matter how uncomfortable you feel. Often times it's our perception that needs changing rather than the reality of the situation.
Thhank you Amanda. Your reply really helped. I will stick to the meetings that they have here, even though I don't feel comfortable. Fake it til you make it, right. I know that I have one relaspe in me, but I don't know that I have another recovery in me, so I will do whatever it takes. Thank you. Jayme
Welcome Alaska glad to see you found us here. I to live in a small country town in NSW Australia and hear where your coming from. I'm not comfortable in the rooms of AA either, so I had to open my own NA meeting. I found that afew of the AA members had dual addictions and they help to support me and NA in my home town. I also have the same problem with there not being many women in NA recovery in my area and the one woman that does attend on a regular basis I sponsor. I have learnt to be grateful for the support that I do recieve not that I'm a big one for asking for help ( one of my shortcomings ) but I tend to put things out from the floor and here at MIP and that seems to work for me I get good feedback and lots of different opinions and that works for me. So my friend keep the faith things will get better......
