Why Are Na/aa Meetings Important In Your Recovery?

Pain Pills
1
I just want some feedback/insight from others who attend meetings.

Thanks!
Gentlepeace
2
Hi Gentle...
For me, and this is for me am I in no way am judging anyone elses recovery but for me, meetings keep me grounded, they keep me clean & sober...I am an alcoholic/addict and my mind works differently from "normal" people...I have racey thoughts, I can become selfish and self-centered, when I am going through things I have never done clean & sober, it helps so much to share with others that understand me, have gone before me and are willing to help me, share with me how they have done things and gotten through things with out having to use or drink...Meetings have allowed me to open up and share honestly, to meet people and develop real friendships, to learn gratitude and most of all, meetings help with my spirituality...I can feel a sense of peace when I walk into the room and I know no matter what is going on, no matter what I have done in the past, the people in the rooms are there to help and are there to be helped...we all have the same disease and are working on maintaining our sobriety, one day at a time....

Good post...thanks for letting me share....
xoxo
Stacey
3
Meetings are my medecine. At least one a day helps keep my disease in remission. Any and all lengths. I drank and drugged everyday and stayed drunk and high, so it's probably a safe bet to assume if I attend a meeting each day and work the program I'll stay clean and sober.


Take care,
Bob
4
Well said Bob

Jeff
5
Meetings keep me clean and sober. They mean recovery to me. Without them, I am discontent and edgy.
6
Thanks for your posts guys.

At times I just feel like i am going through the motions..........but it is keeping me sober! And I am beginning to feel happier.

-Gentlepeace
7
In the beginning,the meetings were a necessary evil.Although I didn't particulary like them,I knew I wouldn't use if I was sitting in one.It was after the meetings and the social interaction that I really began trusting and getting to know others.
This is how I was able to choose a sponsor.
In other words,don't rush home after the meeting.Stand around and talk and keep you ears open.This is where you really get to know people.Sometimes in the meeting you will only hear what people want to project.

Today,I use the meeting as a reafirmation.I don't go because I want to use but I go to give back.We can't keep it if we don't give it back.It's also more of a social thing for me now.I like those people.At first all I could do is notice the differences.Now I go and celebrate the similarities.
8
Meetings are where I learn how to work a 12 step programme. Without them, I too become edgy. I go twice a week. Meetings are Not my recovery. They are a critical part of my recovery. The power of addicts sharing and helping addicts is very powerful. I also go so I can share my experiences with the new comer.

Without NA, I would not know how to work a 12 step programme. Without a 12 step programme I would maybe have abstention, but no recovery.

I speak for myself.
9
If I didn't go to meetings I'd be loopier than I am now. It's easy for me to fall back into old behaviors. Not necessarily using, although I'm sure that would follow, but the self-centeredness, selfishness, dishonesty, and the other things I've learned to change would probably sneak back into my life if I didn't have friends to call me on my behavior. Not only has AA given me a new way of life, it has given me lifelong friendships that I will always treasure. Most of my friends go to AA so before and after the meetings there is always the visiting and catching up that goes on. Meetings help me remember who I am and where I came from. They give me an opportunity to help newcomers. I go to meetings to see what happens to people that stop going to meetings and it's not pretty.
10
What literally everybody put out there. They are a great reminder to me for the 12th Step in the "practice these principles in ALL our affairs". They are also great "people practice" for this incredible social isolator. They keep me on Planet Earth and not Planet Elim. And as Bob B. said, I too, spent an incredible amount of time drugging, the amount of time I spend in meeting and on Step Work is actually less than time spend high or spend scrounging or lying or running for drugs. And I get ALOT more done at work and at home. A win-win situation all around.

As for "giving back"? Me??! Oh boy....if someone as timid and afraid of reality can learn sobriety and face reality head one, maybe I might, just might, inspire someone who feels like I did (and sometimes still do) to do the same....

Oh and now for the 10th Step. I owe our grad student big time. I really snapped at him...Grrrrr....so wrong.
11
QUOTE
As for "giving back"? Me??! Oh boy....if someone as timid and afraid of reality can learn sobriety and face reality head one, maybe I might, just might, inspire someone who feels like I did (and sometimes still do)



............and you do Elim.Everytime you post.



One of the things I found out when I got involved in the program is that most of those folks were the same type of people I chose to be friends with anyway.
It's not like I was going into a PTA meeting to try and mingle with a whole new genre of people.LOL

That no=nonsense,"tell it like it is" was a refreshing format to me.I find a lot of my "straight/normal" friends I interact with kind of like it too.