Recovery But NA?

[LuckyV2]

What does it take to recover? And do you have to recover using the NA Program? Do you need to go to there meetings? What about AA, how does AA relate to NA?

NA was based on AA. Just as many other sites or should I say programs are. But NA is not the ONLY WAY! Yes I do a lot of posting about NA cause I know that the program has helped many to recover. I come here daily as other sites as well and post the daily meditations.

What I would like to point out here is that it's been well over a year or better since I've been to a NA Meeting. I do however read some of the literature at times, but really I do more reading of the AA Big Book than any other recovery literature. Why you might ask?

Well I had a real issue with this and talked with my counselor about this issue as well. I just feel more comfortable in AA. Than I was thinking about Sobriety in NA verses AA here where I live.

There are many that have a lot of clean time... some well over 20 years but hey don't attend the NA here they go to the AA. So why I am wondering

My counselor explained it to me like this.

AA has been around a lot longer, has and does have many recovering alcoholics/addicts under the same roof. She told me do I want to go with those that have stability or with those that are still crawling. Of course that was a pretty simple question. But why is it that people do not go to NA around here where I live.

I've started 2 meetings here where I live....

One has almost died out. I haven't been there for a long time but what took me out of the NA round here is the gossip about other groups. Each NA Group putting the other groups down, people talking about others, which I would say in the meeting that isn't right they are not here to defend themselves it is a outside issue anyway as far as I am concerned.

Recovery happens only within the individual.

It isn't the Group, AA or NA or SA or whatever

It has to be GOD!


Don't really even have to be God some would say...

Well if it works that way for you than GREAT

I only know that If I am not following what God has asked me to do my life is the shits. It doesn't matter which recovery process I am in or not in.

Sorry just had to ramble.

[jillbedford]

My sponsor in AA is really an NA, but she recovered entirely in AA. She likes AA better. My issue has only been alcohol and her issue was only narcotics, but we both are alcoholic in our thinking. She is 10 yrs "sober" and I am 10 months sober. She has taken me thru all 12 steps in the last 10 months and my WHOLE life and attitude has changed.
I am not sure what goes on at NA meetings since that is not my place. But you are always welcome in the rooms of AA. You know that, right?

[laurie6781]

Vic I have seen this with my own eyes in several parts of the country and have contact with others in other parts of the country and it is is the same.

I personally could not tolerate NA and the 'attitude' of the members I came across after I had been in AA for about 9 months, I was having doubts as I used an awful lot of drugs in conjunction with my alcoholism, however, RAN back to AA.

I cannot put my finger on it, but I certainly found more committment in AA than I did in NA back then and still do today here in town, so ...................................... I used and use the AA Big Book, had an AA sponsor (2 of them because when you got her, you got him too, if you wanted, lol and I NEEDED).

At this point in time, for you, all I can say is if you find that AA is working for you to help you REALLY work the steps and get honest with VIC then .................................................. ............ GO FOR IT my friend! If you are finding the face to face SUPPORT you need in AA, then ....................................GO FOR IT!

The more I think about it, I do believe in AA I see a lot more folks 'striving' for spirituality to gain peace and serenity in their lives and in NA I see folks, many times just 'white knuckling' and not finding the spirituality and peace and serenity.

Just remember all of the above is J M H O.

Love and hugs,

ps: You ramble anytime you need to, just don't drink and/or use!

[Autumn]

I have an alcohol-addicted friend who prefers NA over AA. Not that he's sober....

[Autumn]

....come to think of it, I confiscated all his NA literature years ago.

I have offered it back several times since....

[Biker Bill]

Hey Vic, I just go to AA i find that there is alot more i can get out of AA than NA. I only have one sponsor and he is in AA ane he has 20years. I know what you are taking about NA and how they talk about people and other NA groups. I get so much more out of AA and i don't here all of the BULL****. Vic do what your heart tells you to do.

[Giyana]

what squirrel?

[Harley Kat]

I know that for 6 years when I first came in to an 12 step program, it was N.A. I was very active & am grateful for that foundation, however...when I went thru a divorce from a man I had met & married with a big N.A. guest list...everyone took sides...his.

Shortly after that alienation & personal pain, I "chose" to pick up (no blame or victim here it was my choice) & couldnt get off heroin on my own, so I went on Methadone since I didnt have insurance for detox or rehab.
I shared it with my NA sponsor who shared it with several people, I was asked to sit down & listen since I wasnt really clean.
Ya know? I left & the pain & shame from judgement allowed me to stay out & shoot dope for many years.
When I came back once again, on methadone, I came back to AA & took yet another risk & shared it with my AA sponsor & she didnt care what was keeping me off the dope...she hung in there with me until I was able to safely taper successfully off of the contraversial but life saving (for me) medication "Methadone".

Ive been going to AA ever since. I am off of all medication & will support anyone with the desire to stay clean and sober..medications or not. I am grateful to NA for my foundation & even those experiences but... but AA loved me, inspired me to quit using & drinking then helped me with right thinking.
Thank you for letting me share my experiences. I gently suggest you trust what "you" feel.

[LuckyV2]

Oh I go to AA myself just have a urning (sp) to figure out why NA struggles so much and I think that Laurie hit it on the head as usual!

The Spiritual aspect. Now speaking of that I am to talk someday concerning the step 3 and how I've been kinda studying it.

OK back we are to NA and why it seems to stuggle...

A few things some people said...

When I lived in Columbia Missouri a few years back. Oh yea I like to move around a lot...

The NA was VERY STRONG there and I loved it! The group that I went to was a POWERFUL Group and it was held at the SA (Salvation Army). The spiritual aspect was noted each time when someone spoke! The electricity in the rooms was like unbelievable feeling it gave you goosebumps at some of the meetings when people talked. The meetings reminded me of going to Conferences etc where you can really FEEL THAT BOND!

I used to laugh my homegroup there was also AA it was the ODAAT Club I think. Anyway reminds me of New Hope here where I live. But at the meeting of AA they used to say, "If ya want recovery you go to AA, if ya wanta get laid you go to NA" Maybe that is why I like NA?

What made me think of that was this

Autumn I have an alcohol-addicted friend who prefers NA over AA. Not that he's sober....

So anyways I do go to AA and quite faithfully. I would like to see NA here Change, but how? When the people that have anytime like over 5 years and one guy in particular that things they run the show. Telling people that the only ones that have a PROGRAM are his wife that was a nurse that got busted for shooting up demoral or something and stealing it from the hospital, one of his sponsees that just got out of Federal and on Federal Parol. If you are not in there click and that click has the meets than you are nothing which is very wrong.

The last meeting I attended after this guy with 15 years of clean time said that I SPOKE MY MIND and haven't been back to a meeting of his since. Don't want anything that he has not even his clean time if that was offered.

Nice topic thanks

[LuckyV2]

Oh The Squirrel?

You haven't ever heard about the squirrel? Ask Miss Done...

Oh Miss Done!

Would You Care To Join In Here?

[Giyana]

Miss Done? Help please. Squirrel here chomping (frozen) nuts ... waiting...

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by LuckyV2

Nice topic thanks

It's good to see you still posting, and not giving up, Vic.

It doesn't go unnoticed by me how helpful it is to others when someone posts about their own problems.

Your thread reminded me of my friend and his NA materials. It hadn't occurred to me in a while that I still have them, and I'm hoping some of it might be of use to someone else who needs help - that is, if she even wants it.

[Done-With-It!]

LOL, Lucky and Gi, you two have me so confused.
I didn't see any mention of the word squirrel or
reason for Gi to ask the question (in this post)
What squirrel?

Been trying to figure that one out.

I tried to find the original story for you Gi, but
I think it was deleted by mistake.

Basically Chance has what you could call hmm,
a "Higher Power" or someone , lol, a squirrel who
watches over him and makes sure he's okay.
The squirrel has adopted Vic as a pet.

In a nutshell. that's the squirrel......

I'll explain it more when I'm not so tired.
But that's a true story.