Social anxiety and NA
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 9
Social anxiety and NA
I've been going to NA meetings the last couple of weeks. I like it, but my social anxiety is getting in the way. I'm very quiet there, and I'm too afraid to share anything. I have the feeling that everyone thinks I'm weird. This won't stop me from going, though. Maybe things will get better with time. I was just wondering if anyone on SR has the same problem? Thanks for reading!
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family!
Posts: 23,031
Keep going! We all attend meetings for the same reason and it's not unusual for the newcomer to not feel welcome at first. It took me months to feel like I fit in. Now I can't get enough of meetings and Fellowship 
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
Agree, keep going!
What works for me is to realize that even if I'm always uncomfortable, and even if everyone thinks I'm weird (they don't), and even if I never say anything, and even if the worst happens, I'm still getting help so I have to go.
Often, after a while, during the time I'm usually talking myself up and getting the courage to go, I realize that I'm not that uncomfortable anymore. If I'm lucky, I actually start looking forward to it.
What works for me is to realize that even if I'm always uncomfortable, and even if everyone thinks I'm weird (they don't), and even if I never say anything, and even if the worst happens, I'm still getting help so I have to go.
Often, after a while, during the time I'm usually talking myself up and getting the courage to go, I realize that I'm not that uncomfortable anymore. If I'm lucky, I actually start looking forward to it.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 48
My home group knows I don't ever talk I have always pass other that twice. I can't stand speaking in front of people. But I always hear something that I needed to. Everyone is there to get better and all you want to do is listen that is what works for you.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 109
I'd say find another meeting to go to. I went to one meeting for several years and never felt welcome from day one. At a certain point I just quit going because I felt that I must be incompatible with AA on some fundamental level. Then, severely hung over one afternoon, my ex girlfriend took me to a meeting near her home. I immediately felt at home and that has been my homegroup ever since. I know I do better with small groups myself so if this is a big meeting, perhaps you'd want to try a smaller one.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Vermont
Posts: 15
I find myself having the same problem when I go to meetings. But at the end of the day I remind myself that all the people in that room has been troubled by some of the same things I have. Getting yourself heard can really feel great.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 378
I go to AA and I'm going through the same thing.
What really helps me is to start small. Just say you're grateful to be there and thank everybody for their honest shares. Do that a couple times and then add something more personal, even if one sentence.
Another thing that helps me is praying to my Higher Power for courage to share.
Baby steps. No one came in being an expert in sharing, trust me.
Good luck and don't give up. You'll get there.
What really helps me is to start small. Just say you're grateful to be there and thank everybody for their honest shares. Do that a couple times and then add something more personal, even if one sentence.
Another thing that helps me is praying to my Higher Power for courage to share.
Baby steps. No one came in being an expert in sharing, trust me.
Good luck and don't give up. You'll get there.
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