Has anyone ever tried NA? If yes, could you tell me your experience and would you or would you not recommend it and why? Thanks
i stand behind NA meetings 100 percent. its kind of hard to explain NA meetings and the feelings you get from it until you attend one yourself, so just get out there and do it. its addicts helping addicts recover. its a completely non judgemental environment, you can share your experiences or just listen. everyone is there to help each other and support one another any way they can. its a feeling of unconditional love and you make life long friends. ive been to them in different states and they are the same vibes everywhere. love and understanding.
It will depend on whether you like the structure of meetings like NA or AA. Not every one will like the twelve step approach, I know I don't. The best thing to do, is go along and see how you feel once you're there.
Were they able to help you get clean and/or keep you clean? Non judgemental sounds wonderful- and getting help from people from the same boat is all anyone can ask for. I have heard that opiate addicts have made great connections for drugs at these places. That is my concern
Man, I just typed a big ass thing and went to submit it and the page messed up. So I'll type it again. Yes I've tried N.A, A.A and C.A. I wouldn't say I'm a dedicated goer to the meetings but I've been to my fair share of meetings in my hometown and other towns. Personally out of the three A's I've been to I would recommend A.A. N.A- It's okay. I defiantly would recommend N.A or A.A or any other A to anyone that is honestly serious about getting help or staying clean. I've seen people that go to the programs and work the steps live a clean and healthy life and they swear up and down it was all from the program. My experiences with N.A were alrite. You listen to stories from different people, you learn alot of things. People are nice and willing to greet you and take you in and help you out as well. However The things I don't really like about the N.A meetings (im not sure if its like this at all of na meetings but the ones I have been to theres no order when people go to speak, one person talks can be for who knows how long and then the next person to speak up, its there turn.) Thats how it goes at all of the ones I've been too, thats really the major thing that I don't like about them. It's not a big deal by any means, but I'd like a variety to hear when I go to a meeting, I've sat there and only heard three people talk in a meeting before. A.A is my personal favorite. I go to these meetings more often and I was never really a big drinker. I have been to some meetings of these where a few people seemed offended because me or someone else were there for drugs and not alcohol (news flash. alcohols a drug). Not all the meetings are like that. They are always glad to see new faces and young people. -same with other A meetings. The ones I've been to are more serious then the N.A ones and they've had more order to them. The one thing I don't like about meetings is it seems repetitive. Same stories everyweek, 'New face! Hi How ya doin! Keep commin back works if ya work it sucks if ya dont' I would recommend meetings though. Ive seen alot of people get help from them. If you go to one and don't like it just dont give up there. Go to a different meeting at a diff location, try a few out, get a feel for them. If you like it keep coming back, because honestly it does work if you work it. Now I think it would be just neato if there was an online N.A meetings.
I am in NA, and I stand behind it 100% as well. The meetings can get repetitive, but as they say "it works if you work it". Just go to the meetings and follow suggestions and if you are willing and open minded, you will stay clean. Out of all my using friends, I am the only one who has stayed clean for any amount of time, and I'm the only one who goes to NA. That speaks for itsself. Some meetings are great, some aren't. Some are speaker meetings where you listen to someone speak and share their story for a while and then other people can comment. Some are open meetings where there is no speaker. Some are large, some are small. Its all about finding the meetings that work for you. As people have said, it is a very loving and non-judgemental environment, and there is no pressure for you to do anything. And people are more than willing to help if you want the help. As far as online NA meetings, I'm pretty sure there are. There is a forum site for addicts, alcoholics and whatever else at www.intherooms.com If you have any questions my AIM screen name is the same as my name here so feel free to get in touch. I am not on these forums very often.
NA might be a good place for you to go talk about stuff.. Maybe give you a few hours away from using something. depends on what you are using.. I suggest you go to 90 meetings in 30 days if your really trying not to use.. That means pick up on them little location booklets and hit 3meetings a days.. Then you can back down a little to 60 meetings and then one a day to once a week.. It works it you work it. So work it youre worth it...
one of their main messages is just "keep coming back" i was actually at a meeting tonight (i go to about 6 a week depending on how i feel) and there was a woman from venezuela. she was visiting her boyfriend and she shared with the rest of the group how happy she was to be there because it feels like family. it just goes to show how widespread it is. it definitley works if you go on a regular basis, i know for me atleast its done a great job in keeping me clean and positive. they also have a book so before you go if you want to know more about it read the literature and youll get a better idea about what they are all about. they talk about God, i dont really believe in god and i struggled with that aspect of the meetings but someone the other night said that a "higher power" can just represent Good Orderly Direction (G.O.D.)
Same here. I had actually brought it up to my buddy in rehab the night of the 2008 IL N.A. conference or whatever. It was in springfield IL, one of my counselors spoke. His name is Calvin, great guy. But they had said the exact same thing good orderly direction.
I've been to a few NA meetings, and I have to say that the quality of the meeting depends on a few things. It depends on the people, their clean time, the type of meeting, etc. I enjoyed some of the meetings I went to, however, I can't say that NA is for everyone. Some people are addicted to a drug and smoke weed on the side or something, and NA considers smoking marijuana "using" and breaking your clean time. Also, you can expect a religious aspect pretty much no matter what meeting you go to. So if you are religious, then that's a plus, but if you aren't, and don't plan on it, a lot of the things discussed may be irrelevant to you. Good luck, and if I were you, I'd at least try going to a recommended meeting in the area, as you never know how it might help you in the long run.
your only gunna quit when u really want to. I was going to NA and AA meetings when i was on probation, but it didnt stop me from using every drug in the book. once my life started to get outta control and i was scrapping up change to buy my pills i realized it had taken over my life and i quit, cold turkey. ive been clean for about 1 1/2 months and i dont even get the urge to do it anymore because i know how much it sucks to live your life as a junkie. stay strong my brother
aa and na work if you want it to. A big problem lately has been the court system throwing a huge amount of people into meeting that don't want to be there.
I've been to both NA and AA, and they are pretty awesome, if you need a support system. You'll hear a lot of stories of addiction and recovery, as well as relapse. It's comforting and very effective to hear those stories and get advice from people who have gone through the exact same things you're going through and know exactly how you feel. Like others have said though, the meetings only help if you want them to. Don't waste your time or anyone else's time, if you're not serious about it.
