I've only been to one NA meeting and that 4 years ago when I was inpatient at rehab. So I guess I've never been to a real meeting. I found one in my area on Friday evening. I have some questions though. Are there any requirements? Do you have to stand and say your name the first time? Or will they let you just sit and listen if that's all you want to do your first time? I'm not oppossed to sharing but I don't want to be pressured into anything. I would rather make sure I feel comfortable first. I know it sounds childish and I'll probably end up liking it but can anyone tell me what it's like? Thanks.
Shelly
Shelly, I am so proud of you for finding this meeting and making plans to go.
Here is the requirement for membership:
The desire to be clean and sober!!
Thats it...no you don't have to say a word if you don't want to...it is my guess that you will be made to feel very comfortable. You will perhaps be greeted with alot of smiles and open arms.
There is nothing to fear from these people...these people are exactly like you and know how you feel and have felt. They will NOT judge you only love you.
You are growing....please go and then come back and tell us how it goes. I am so proud of you....I was afraid too and didn't believe that it would be helpfull. I was wrong...shortly after that my heart began to open and the miracles started.
I am not a particularly religious women but I am very connected spiritually and that has grown beyond my beliefs.
Here is the requirement for membership:
The desire to be clean and sober!!
Thats it...no you don't have to say a word if you don't want to...it is my guess that you will be made to feel very comfortable. You will perhaps be greeted with alot of smiles and open arms.
There is nothing to fear from these people...these people are exactly like you and know how you feel and have felt. They will NOT judge you only love you.
You are growing....please go and then come back and tell us how it goes. I am so proud of you....I was afraid too and didn't believe that it would be helpfull. I was wrong...shortly after that my heart began to open and the miracles started.
I am not a particularly religious women but I am very connected spiritually and that has grown beyond my beliefs.
Remember, everyone in that room is an addict and also had their first meeting once and felt exactly as you do and totally understand.
They are very non-judgemental. They were where you are once themselves.
They are very non-judgemental. They were where you are once themselves.
Good Morning Shelly
I will reiterate what Danny and keeKee both said.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.
You don't have to talk or say anything.You can sit and listen.They will ask at the beginning of the meeting if there are any newcomers and then if you choose you can raise your hand and say "Hi,I'm__________and I'm an addict and this is my first meeting"
You don't even have to do that if you don't want to.
I advise it because then people will come up to you after the meeting and introduce themselves.There is no better way to feel welcome.
I was so beat up and felt so low that I was so grateful that anybody wanted to even talk to me.Emotionally bankrupt would have been an understatement.
I know for me there was a feeling of healing and hope after my first meeting.I finnally found a place where there were people just like me.I was terrified and had a chip on my shoulder."The world had done me wrong and I didn't trust anyone."I felt unique and different at first but the more I listened,the more I opened my heart.
People telling us to have an open mind is a very tall order for most addicts.Even at my lowest,I carried around a certain amount of arrogance.......well,o.k. a lot of arrogance.After I found a sponsor and started working on the steps,I never realized how truly inferior I had always felt.
Go into that meeting.Say a prayer and let God do the rest.
It will be the beginning of a new if you let it.
Good Luck
I will reiterate what Danny and keeKee both said.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.
You don't have to talk or say anything.You can sit and listen.They will ask at the beginning of the meeting if there are any newcomers and then if you choose you can raise your hand and say "Hi,I'm__________and I'm an addict and this is my first meeting"
You don't even have to do that if you don't want to.
I advise it because then people will come up to you after the meeting and introduce themselves.There is no better way to feel welcome.
I was so beat up and felt so low that I was so grateful that anybody wanted to even talk to me.Emotionally bankrupt would have been an understatement.
I know for me there was a feeling of healing and hope after my first meeting.I finnally found a place where there were people just like me.I was terrified and had a chip on my shoulder."The world had done me wrong and I didn't trust anyone."I felt unique and different at first but the more I listened,the more I opened my heart.
People telling us to have an open mind is a very tall order for most addicts.Even at my lowest,I carried around a certain amount of arrogance.......well,o.k. a lot of arrogance.After I found a sponsor and started working on the steps,I never realized how truly inferior I had always felt.
Go into that meeting.Say a prayer and let God do the rest.
It will be the beginning of a new if you let it.
Good Luck
Shelley,
I can't really add a whole lot to what Kee Kee, Danny, and Tim have said about meetings in general, but I would like to share my first experience. The one thing I will add though is that I have been to meetings in a couple of different cities because I travel for work, and everywhere I have been I have always been made to feel welcome. I have always seen the newcomers treated very well. No one will make you share, I have been to meetings with only 3 or 4 people there, and no one was required to share if they did not want to.
We have a saying in NA: "The newcomer is the most important person in the room. We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
My first meeting I went to I was still using. I wanted to quit and I had just taken the last 6 Norco I had left, but I was still using. I summoned up the courage to go, and I will always be glad I did.
I had no idea what to expect. In 37 years of hard drinking and using I had never gotten around to going to an AA or NA meeting. I had thought about it a lot, but would never let myself get past the 'GOD' issue.......I have since changed my mind!!!! ;+)
Anyway, I went to the meeting and it was exactly like Tim described. I did identify myself as the newcomer, and will be forever glad I did. I did not have to share. As soon as the meeting was over though, I was given a list of meetings in the area that had been passed around with about 15 names and phone number on it of men in the meeting. The guys told me I could call them anytime, day or night, if I needed anything. I damn near started crying right then. I did cry later at home when sat staring at the list and realizing these people understood and would help me in any way I needed..... For me it was one of the most powerful parts of my recovery.
At first I kept going just because it was nice to sit in the room and listen. Even after a couple of one day relapses the people were ready to welcome me back and not judge what I had done. Later I really began to understand the program, and now I really LIKE to go!
So, please go and give it a try. No one will force you to do anything you don't want to.
Let us know how it goes!
peaceout
dtroitj
I can't really add a whole lot to what Kee Kee, Danny, and Tim have said about meetings in general, but I would like to share my first experience. The one thing I will add though is that I have been to meetings in a couple of different cities because I travel for work, and everywhere I have been I have always been made to feel welcome. I have always seen the newcomers treated very well. No one will make you share, I have been to meetings with only 3 or 4 people there, and no one was required to share if they did not want to.
We have a saying in NA: "The newcomer is the most important person in the room. We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
My first meeting I went to I was still using. I wanted to quit and I had just taken the last 6 Norco I had left, but I was still using. I summoned up the courage to go, and I will always be glad I did.
I had no idea what to expect. In 37 years of hard drinking and using I had never gotten around to going to an AA or NA meeting. I had thought about it a lot, but would never let myself get past the 'GOD' issue.......I have since changed my mind!!!! ;+)
Anyway, I went to the meeting and it was exactly like Tim described. I did identify myself as the newcomer, and will be forever glad I did. I did not have to share. As soon as the meeting was over though, I was given a list of meetings in the area that had been passed around with about 15 names and phone number on it of men in the meeting. The guys told me I could call them anytime, day or night, if I needed anything. I damn near started crying right then. I did cry later at home when sat staring at the list and realizing these people understood and would help me in any way I needed..... For me it was one of the most powerful parts of my recovery.
At first I kept going just because it was nice to sit in the room and listen. Even after a couple of one day relapses the people were ready to welcome me back and not judge what I had done. Later I really began to understand the program, and now I really LIKE to go!
So, please go and give it a try. No one will force you to do anything you don't want to.
Let us know how it goes!
peaceout
dtroitj
Shelly,
At my first meeting, Irish John was celebrating his one year clean date with a big chocolate cake. He gave me the first slice and told me I was the most important person there that night. Honestly, I think they were prouder of me, shaking in my shoes, than they were of John or the guys there with 20 years.
I'm proud of you. Come back and tell us how it went.
Love,
Gina
At my first meeting, Irish John was celebrating his one year clean date with a big chocolate cake. He gave me the first slice and told me I was the most important person there that night. Honestly, I think they were prouder of me, shaking in my shoes, than they were of John or the guys there with 20 years.
I'm proud of you. Come back and tell us how it went.
Love,
Gina
"Hi! My name's GiGi and I'm a recovering debutante"
...see,I told you it would be a mistake posting your nickname.LOL
Detroit-Good to see you.Man,you sound good.I'm glad to see things are working out for you.Isn't it amazing what a little willingness will do?
I can learn a lot from you.
Have a good one.
...see,I told you it would be a mistake posting your nickname.LOL
Detroit-Good to see you.Man,you sound good.I'm glad to see things are working out for you.Isn't it amazing what a little willingness will do?
I can learn a lot from you.
Have a good one.
Shelly,
It is so good to hear you are going to try an NA meeting. What I felt when walking into the rooms of NA/AA was acceptance. There were no expectations from others. They all had been where I was.
You do not have to share unless you want to. I think in the beginning it is best to just listen anyway.
-Gentlepeace
It is so good to hear you are going to try an NA meeting. What I felt when walking into the rooms of NA/AA was acceptance. There were no expectations from others. They all had been where I was.
You do not have to share unless you want to. I think in the beginning it is best to just listen anyway.
-Gentlepeace
Shelly...
When I went to my first meeting, the first thing I heard was the laughter and wondered why everybody was laughing...it took me a bit but I realized these people were happy, really truly feeling happy and enjoying each other...I didn't share at my first meeting nor raise my hand, I am a shy person and chose just to sit quietly and listen....The more I listened, the more I knew I was exactly where I needed to be if I was going to stay sober...Around the 3rd meeting, I raised my hand and soon after started sharing...
There are no rules, no requirements except the desire to quit using/drinking...it is truly a simple program...
Just say a prayer and let God do the rest....
xoxo
Stacey
When I went to my first meeting, the first thing I heard was the laughter and wondered why everybody was laughing...it took me a bit but I realized these people were happy, really truly feeling happy and enjoying each other...I didn't share at my first meeting nor raise my hand, I am a shy person and chose just to sit quietly and listen....The more I listened, the more I knew I was exactly where I needed to be if I was going to stay sober...Around the 3rd meeting, I raised my hand and soon after started sharing...
There are no rules, no requirements except the desire to quit using/drinking...it is truly a simple program...
Just say a prayer and let God do the rest....
xoxo
Stacey