Lets talk about N/A.......everybody please read

[gnarly_1]

Hi everybody there have been some questions about N/a on our forum over the next few days I will go and list all the steps one at a time.......step 1....we admitted we where powerless over our addiction and that our lives have become unmanageable

[gnarly_1]

Thanks everybody for your input I am hopping to help those that are scard to go to a meeting

[LadySailor86]

I have noticed a light in some if the folks that share in the meetings. People from all walks if life but all with this light. I want that light.

[jifmoc]

Good topic. (And Weaver your posts kick A$$!) Everything he wrote is so true. I have been going to a meeting every day (planning 90 in 90), and although I am not happy at all that I am an addict, I know I am one. A lot of folks w/ years of clean time say they are now glad they are addicts because their lives are so much more peaceful and happy since they discovered the rooms.

I also am sort of relieved that like me, many of us had to try and fail, try and fail, over and over for me to get hit over the head with: "Guess, what Jill, whatever you are doing on your own to feel useful, productive and peaceful is NOT working."  I said this in a share the other day: "Whatever I have been doing up til now has NOT worked, if it did, I wouldn't need to come into this room. So, I give up, I'm just gonna listen to the rest of you."

So, yes, step 1- being powerless over this pill. Yup, I am totally at it's mercy, that's for dang sure.

[lulu747]

I am so proud of you.  You are feeling the shift already.  Keep on working it.
Surrendering is the most empowering thing a person can do- not just an addict.
Keep it up and the peace will increase.

INCREASE THE PEACE!
I like that.

I didn't do NA personally.  I do Smart Recovery, CBT, addictions counselling, and EMDR.  I still struggle with the step that is changing my old beliefs about myself.  Specifically that my chronic illness/addiction is weakness.  I know intellectually that this is not true.  But I still have to work very hard at letting it go.
I have many friends and family members whose lives have been saved and transformed by NA/AA
Working a program is essential to recovery and true healing.

Bless you all
xo
Lu

[LadySailor86]

Well today I'll be going to my 2nd meeting in two days. I don't have anything to say about it except I do feel something working in me. I've got to let go and give over to the process. I let go about ten minutes ago and took it right back. But it was a peaceful ten minutes.

[gnarly_1]

bump

[Jtb12]

When I  was at rehab everyone said step 4 was the hardest to past.  Getting a sponser will help too.  90 meeting in 90 days is another suggesting too

[motye51]

I think step #4 is hardest for me.....I got a sponser, like I was told to do, in the beginning and we worked the first 3 steps, when I got to step #4 I started writing and all it did was **** me off (at myself) and I stopped my book work.  I stopped calling my sponsor, I still attended meetings, but I stopped sharing.  I am now with a new sponsor that has me back in the book, as she told me this is what I have to do to get better.  I want to get better and so far, NOTHING that anyone has suggested that I do in N/A has harmed me in anyway.  It has all helped....I'm going to continue with n/a!

[weaver71]

Thanks for doing this, we tried it in a group, but only the open forum seems to get attention and thrive. Thanks buddy, I think this is a great idea.

People say the fourth step is the hardest, I believe the first step is. That is quit a humbling realization, "I am an addict and my life has become unmanageable." I can be pretty creative at times. I think I tried every single way to prove to myself I was still in control. I'd take a reasonable amount for awhile and say to myself, "See, you can use them responsibly." That's when I would celebrate my new found control and take a lot for awhile. I kept my business running, paid my bills, built up a homestead, so they couldn't be hurting me that bad. I became a master of justification and blind to my own self. Once I accepted I am an addict, well it took 2 1/2 years and some brushes with death to take a another step. Still, 2 1/2 yeas is nothing to how many years I used before I accepted drugs are bad and I am an addict. First step was the hardest for me. I guess I mean "ACCEPT" I am an addict, not just know it. I believe there is a difference.

The 12 steps are an amazing and simple, profound truth. I feel they are deeply inspired and all people could benefit from them, not only addicts and alcoholics. The first step of accepting being an addict feels humiliating to some, it's as if we see addicts as something different than they are. Most addicts are pretty awesome, that is not the stereotype, but very upstanding citizens fall into it. The embarrassing thing is denying addiction, while every can see it plain as day. We aren't as sneaky as we think we are. I found out that it's no big deal, as long as I accept it at take the steps to get clean. We judge ourselves way more than others judge us.

Anyway, if you think you might be an addict, you probably are.

[gnarly_1]

Hi well for me my addiction always came first I did not get out of bed without pills I planed my day around there use and then I started to increase my dose by getting more doctors to write me scrips lying to the doctor about my pain level and always counting pills to see if there was enough even with 3 doctors writing scrips I would still run out early I would still justify my use because I did have back problems I lied to my wife my boss and to any friends that though I had a problem I truly was digging a whole to big to dig out and was powerless to stop I detox several times but always went back  I got put on methadone by my pain management doctor and it went from bad to worst and my life was unmanageable...N/a saved my life I never had to pick up again if this program will help a old dope fiend like me it will work for anyone who wants help..........Gnarly

[dominosarah]

This is a big BIG step!