Question

[ladyamalthea]

I too am an addict, but not to a narcotic... my doc is actually food. I hope that doesn't sound silly, but addiction runs in my family, and I look at the way my sister used to use heroin and my habits with food are strikingly similar to her habits with heroin. I know of OA, and have tried OA, but do not feel comfortable at the OA meeting in my area because there is no one there that has anything else in common with me.

So here's my question: Is trying NA a viable option for me? Or will the people in the meeting be irritated that I'm there?

Thanks in advance for your honesty. I don't want to step on any toes or go where I shouldn't, but I'm desperate and have got to try something... food is quickly becoming just as deadly to me as drugs are to others.

[yourgirl]

Anyone that knows or is related to someone with alchohol or drug addiction is welcome in al-anon. That often includes addicts themselves.

[Gmoney]

Hi Ladyalmathea,

I can't speak for NA as a whole, but from my understanding NA is a fellowship/program for drug addicts. Don't get me wrong, you'd probably be more than welcome to attend NA meetings as an observer or visitor - yet, IMHO, NA wouldn't be suited to your needs because you'd more than likely run into the same situation you encountered at Overeaters Anonymous (no one having anything in common with you). Mind you...I say this not because there wouldn't be folks there with similarities, but I say this because you probably wouldn't recognize them.

The point I'm getting at is this: If food and/or over-eating is your problem, then you automatically have something in common with members of OA. In NA, we are taught to focus on our similarities instead of our differences and I can't see why it should be any different in OA. If you're as desperate as you say, I'm willing to bet that if you give OA a chance it could work for you.

Would NA members be irritated by you? To be honest, I don't know. What I do believe is that you'd initially be welcomed with love, but once they found that you never used drugs, many would question why you were there and suggest alternatives.

[REZ]

You are always welcome at open meetings of NA. Closed meetings are for people who consider themselves addicts or at least have a desire to stop using drugs. I know of many people in NA (myself included) who have some problems with food. In my opinion, food can trigger the same types of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that drugs triggered for me. I have worked the 12 steps of NA on my problems with food. However, food and drugs are different in some respects. When it comes to drugs and alcohol, abstinence is what I need to do. But when it comes to food, abstinence is not possible. I have to learn how to moderate my eating, which is not easy for an obsessive/compulsive person like me to do. Best wishes to you: I hope you find the help you're looking for.