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Originally Posted by Porkchop1126  Hi, my name is April and I am not sure if I am doing this right but I wanted to get started right away. For 3 years I have been trying to get clean, and I am still trying. I refuse to give up. They say if at first you don't succeed try, try again. I have only been clean this time for one week today, that may not sound like much but believe me when I say it is much for me. I think I am really going to enjoy this group and I plan on visiting often as I am having trouble finding N.A. meetings close to me, lots of A.A. (which I know they say the 12 Steps are the same) but I need to feel connected to my problem a little more than just any 12 step program. I am a drug addict, and I need to learn to understand that about me. Does that make sense? I would love any and all advice, support, help, comfort and as many friends as I can get. Thank you and God Bless Everyone. |
Hey,
Welcome, April. First off, I want to say how fortunate you are in knowing the truth of what is wrong with you. Many people do not and there is much confusion and blurring of the lines in both A.A.'s and N.A.'s singleness of purpose.
I didn't know what I was when I got to A.A. I thought I was an alcoholic anda drug addict. I had used lots of drugs when I was younger, but it started with alcohol. I was able to moderate my use of drugs (primarily speed) when it became a problem. But not so with alcohol. Once I started I couldn't stop and when I wanted to quit I couldn't. But at the to the four different treatment centers I went to, I was told that I was a drug addict and that alcohol was "my drug of choice." Today I know that where alcohol is concerned I do not have the power of choice when it comes to deciding when I will drink. I have the power of choice where drugs are concerned. My experience proves that I can take them or leave them.
I'm grateful that I met a man in A.A. who knew there was a difference and didn't tell me what I was. Instead he helped me find out for myself.
April you are right about the 12 Steps. They will work for any problem provided they have a foundation of truth, but the fellowships necessarily won't. I have seen many who based their recovery on a lie and did the steps based on that and hung out in a fellowship that they didn't belong in. More than a few of those went back to whatever their problem was and some have died.
I know you can find N.A. in your area, but you are welcome at open A.A. meetings as well. People will welcome you and they should, but do not let those who are well-meaning but mis-informed mislead you. You will not only find people like yourself in N.A., but you will find a place where, because of your own experience, you can be uniquely useful to people like yourself. I wish you well on your journey.
Jim