Na?? Al Anon??? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

sturpin · 05-17-2005, 01:04 PM

As most know, I was married to an alcoholic who died of this disease last year. I have recently discovered I had an addiction problem to hydrocodone (had been there I just kept it hidden from myself).

During my OP treatment and counseling, my counselor wants me to go to AL ANON, and doesnt see where I need NA. She said my personality was more of an "AL ANON" type...(no clue what that means...but probably agree, cause I am always about pleasing others first and being the "martyr")...I know that all the support groups are really hand in hand....but my question is...would it hurt if i went to both or is that too much for my plate?

Sorry if this sounds silly to most of you "old timers" but I dont know who else to ask...

Thanks,
Sue

BikerBill8 · 05-17-2005, 04:31 PM

Hi, Do what you feel is right for you. You can go to both and see what is good for you.

Blake · 05-17-2005, 04:40 PM

Get in where you fit in...try them both...I used to go to a couple of different meetings and it helped me comitt to NA as my brand of recovery, I just feel at home here.

**Ann** · 05-17-2005, 05:05 PM

Sue, my home fellowship was CoDA (Codependents Anonymous) and about half our membership also belonged to AA or NA. Many addicts are also codependents, and many codependents turn to substance as a release. Codependency doesn't mean being on the "other" side of addiction, it describes a behaviour and addictive personality type, and often goes hand in hand. Perhaps that's why so many codependents are attracted to addicts.

My suggestion would be to try both, and work on the different issues relevant to which meeting you are at.

Hugs
Ann

Gooch · 05-17-2005, 05:54 PM

Well for me addiction is addiction ...it;s not about the substance so much as the thought patterns and behaviours that led to my problems with drugs.

I've had codependancy issues and recently discovered an article written by a sociologist that surmises that codependency is the root of addiction, that addicts are codependant before they ever pick up a drug.

What I really like about NA is that in the explanation for the symbol it says "the outer circle denotes a total and universal program with room within it for all manifestations of the recovering person."

That tells me it's none of my business whether you had abuse issues with drugs, scratch offs, people, or oreo cookies. You are as welcome in NA as anyone of us is.

Hope that helps.

sturpin · 05-17-2005, 11:33 PM

thank you all for your input..I tend to agree with trying both...

Sue

mackat · 05-19-2005, 12:05 PM

i have gone to both - i find NA more pertinent, cause it addresses the actions that caused me the most pain and it gives me a program to get free of those actions on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels.

the Anons have been more relationship specific for me. Useful, but not as important to my recovery...
i had to address my addiction for quite a while before i felt able to look at the relationship stuff...

livingfree · 05-19-2005, 12:09 PM

I say try both. I go to so many different meetings to help me stay clean I sometimes forget if we should be hugging or holding hands? Find where you fit in best.

05-17-2005, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
sturpin Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Iowa via Alabama Posts: 43	Na?? Al Anon??? As most know, I was married to an alcoholic who died of this disease last year. I have recently discovered I had an addiction problem to hydrocodone (had been there I just kept it hidden from myself). During my OP treatment and counseling, my counselor wants me to go to AL ANON, and doesnt see where I need NA. She said my personality was more of an "AL ANON" type...(no clue what that means...but probably agree, cause I am always about pleasing others first and being the "martyr")...I know that all the support groups are really hand in hand....but my question is...would it hurt if i went to both or is that too much for my plate? Sorry if this sounds silly to most of you "old timers" but I dont know who else to ask... Thanks, Sue

05-17-2005, 04:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
BikerBill8 Greatful Sober Biker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cottonwood AZ. Posts: 495	Hi, Do what you feel is right for you. You can go to both and see what is good for you. __________________

05-17-2005, 04:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Blake I'm an addict. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 1,201	Get in where you fit in...try them both...I used to go to a couple of different meetings and it helped me comitt to NA as my brand of recovery, I just feel at home here. __________________ Warning: I'm a sick person so take any advice I may be spewing with a grain of salt, but it's what has worked for me, so far.

05-17-2005, 05:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ann Sharing Our Light Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 15,155	Sue, my home fellowship was CoDA (Codependents Anonymous) and about half our membership also belonged to AA or NA. Many addicts are also codependents, and many codependents turn to substance as a release. Codependency doesn't mean being on the "other" side of addiction, it describes a behaviour and addictive personality type, and often goes hand in hand. Perhaps that's why so many codependents are attracted to addicts. My suggestion would be to try both, and work on the different issues relevant to which meeting you are at. Hugs Ann __________________ Somewhere between the gator swamp and the Taj Mahal there is a path, it may be hidden, overgrown or may blend in with the other surroundings, but it is there, it's your path and it is calling you.~Frankly~

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05-17-2005, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gooch Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: out there... Posts: 2,668	Well for me addiction is addiction ...it;s not about the substance so much as the thought patterns and behaviours that led to my problems with drugs. I've had codependancy issues and recently discovered an article written by a sociologist that surmises that codependency is the root of addiction, that addicts are codependant before they ever pick up a drug. What I really like about NA is that in the explanation for the symbol it says "the outer circle denotes a total and universal program with room within it for all manifestations of the recovering person." That tells me it's none of my business whether you had abuse issues with drugs, scratch offs, people, or oreo cookies. You are as welcome in NA as anyone of us is. Hope that helps.

05-17-2005, 11:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
sturpin Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Iowa via Alabama Posts: 43	thank you all for your input..I tend to agree with trying both... Sue

05-19-2005, 12:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
mackat Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: a spiritual vortex, Colorado Posts: 846	i have gone to both - i find NA more pertinent, cause it addresses the actions that caused me the most pain and it gives me a program to get free of those actions on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. the Anons have been more relationship specific for me. Useful, but not as important to my recovery... i had to address my addiction for quite a while before i felt able to look at the relationship stuff...

05-19-2005, 12:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
livingfree Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Somewher in my head Posts: 22	I say try both. I go to so many different meetings to help me stay clean I sometimes forget if we should be hugging or holding hands? Find where you fit in best.

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