Al-Anon v. Nar-Anon????
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: North Richland Hills, Texas
Posts: 36
Al-Anon v. Nar-Anon????
I have checked on a Nar-Anon meeting in my area and I am shocked at how few options there are for this in my area. Only two different meetings a week, one on Mondays and one on Tuesdays. It being Thursday there is not one around me to attend. I really want to. There is an Al-anon meeting close by tomorrow night. I may have to try an Al-anon meeting just because there are so many more options. Will i feel so out of place at Al-anon when my daughters problems were not alcohol.. but pills... opiates and benzo's??? Or is it like I hope it will be where (a drug, is a drug is a drug)...and it wont really matter all of the same principles will be there.. but the specific advice will it work for me..
Just so confused why there are so few options for the non-addict we are a huge metro-plex.. I cannot believe there are really only 2 choices a week...
Just so confused why there are so few options for the non-addict we are a huge metro-plex.. I cannot believe there are really only 2 choices a week...
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In a better place
Posts: 282
There are no Naranon meetings in my area--closest is three hours away. I go to NA and Alanon occasionally, but FA is my regular weekly meeting. It's not local, but it's not too far (45 mins or so depending on traffic).
Alanon is great--so supportive and welcoming, though I did find that only one other woman in the closest meeting was dealing with an addict offspring. Coping with an addicted or alcoholic spouse/partner is a different dynamic than a child, whether minor or adult (and dealing with each of those is different). I have not tried other Alanon groups in the area--other meetings might have a different mix.
I find the local NA meeting to be inspiring--it's why I went to my first meeting--to see for myself, in the flesh, real human people who were addicts in recovery. Things had been so bad for so long with my son that it was hard to imagine that anyone actually existed who was in active recovery, and for more than just a couple of weeks or months.
I found wonderful, gutsy people ranging in age from late teens to late 60s, some C&S for 20+ years, some getting their first white chip. It was humbling and awe-inspiring. I just sit there and soak up their courage. I needed to see proof that recovery happens--that where's there's life, there's hope--and I get it there.
I go to Families Anonymous because it is primarily parents of addicted children, but also psyche/behavioral disorders. I find it very helpful, informative, strengthening and empowering. These are some tough (yet surprisingly tender) cookies. I am very fortunate there is a group accessible to me. I highly recommend FA if there is one available.
Alanon is great--so supportive and welcoming, though I did find that only one other woman in the closest meeting was dealing with an addict offspring. Coping with an addicted or alcoholic spouse/partner is a different dynamic than a child, whether minor or adult (and dealing with each of those is different). I have not tried other Alanon groups in the area--other meetings might have a different mix.
I find the local NA meeting to be inspiring--it's why I went to my first meeting--to see for myself, in the flesh, real human people who were addicts in recovery. Things had been so bad for so long with my son that it was hard to imagine that anyone actually existed who was in active recovery, and for more than just a couple of weeks or months.
I found wonderful, gutsy people ranging in age from late teens to late 60s, some C&S for 20+ years, some getting their first white chip. It was humbling and awe-inspiring. I just sit there and soak up their courage. I needed to see proof that recovery happens--that where's there's life, there's hope--and I get it there.
I go to Families Anonymous because it is primarily parents of addicted children, but also psyche/behavioral disorders. I find it very helpful, informative, strengthening and empowering. These are some tough (yet surprisingly tender) cookies. I am very fortunate there is a group accessible to me. I highly recommend FA if there is one available.
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Jungle
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It is amazing that there are not more Nar-Anon meetings available when addiction is rampant.
I have gone to both Nar-Anon (my "home" meeting) and Al-Anon. My step study is mostly with Al-Anon. I find that all are great.
There is always the option to start a Nar-Anon meeting. You can find out how by going to the website.......just a thought.
gentle hugs
ke
I have gone to both Nar-Anon (my "home" meeting) and Al-Anon. My step study is mostly with Al-Anon. I find that all are great.
There is always the option to start a Nar-Anon meeting. You can find out how by going to the website.......just a thought.
gentle hugs
ke
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In a better place
Posts: 282
My husband actually suggested--and has been gently nudging me--to start either a Naranon or FA group. I have been mulling it over, praying about it, discussed it with my priest (he's all for it--used to work with heroin addicts-- and we have the space, AA already meets in our parish building every week).
Mmm...
Mmm...
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: North Richland Hills, Texas
Posts: 36
Originally Posted by Kindeyes 
There is always the option to start a Nar-Anon meeting. You can find out how by going to the website.......just a thought.
I watched her father do this (his was alcohol) 19-21 years ago.. I had to walk away from him.. I had a daughter to raise.. I never got help for my pain he caused. I tried to fill the "empty parent" hole till she was 9 then I spent the time since she was 9 trying to help her erase her pain after he committed suicide.. Watching her go through this now is just like rubbing salt in old wounds..
Your right.. though I would guess any meeting will be good for me..I think it is way over due for me..
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 41
Addiction is addiction is addiction.... My AH has multiple addictions-it started with alcohol, then gambling, then porn, most recently he moved on to drugs- first xanax then oxy...
All of the programs use the same 12 steps. There are few naranon meetings near me so I go to alanon and it is wonderful. I am a Christian, so I also go to Celebrate Recovery, they use the same 12 steps, just work their program from a biblical perspective. Not surprising, many at the alanon meetings have ALO's who have addictions to drugs as well as alcohol. The choice of program isn't really important, it's the same steps and the people have dealt with the same pain and insanity. As I said; addiction is addiction.....
All of the programs use the same 12 steps. There are few naranon meetings near me so I go to alanon and it is wonderful. I am a Christian, so I also go to Celebrate Recovery, they use the same 12 steps, just work their program from a biblical perspective. Not surprising, many at the alanon meetings have ALO's who have addictions to drugs as well as alcohol. The choice of program isn't really important, it's the same steps and the people have dealt with the same pain and insanity. As I said; addiction is addiction.....
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 267
There are no NarAnon meetings close to me, so I have only gone to AlAnon. My "home group" has a good number of parents of addicts. I also go to a parents AlAnon group- 90% of the parents have children who are addicts.
The chaos caused by alcoholism and drug addiction are identical. The path to serenity is the same for both. The most important thing is to find a meeting where you feel comfortable, with people who "have what you want" - which fellowship it is doesn't matter, IMHO.
The chaos caused by alcoholism and drug addiction are identical. The path to serenity is the same for both. The most important thing is to find a meeting where you feel comfortable, with people who "have what you want" - which fellowship it is doesn't matter, IMHO.
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, Mo. USA
Posts: 265
If there are few Nar-Anon meetings in your area the Al-Anon meetings usually take you in and help with the drug addiction also.
Nar-Anon is newer than Al-Anon but it is growing. Texas Will have another new group soon and a third one to start in October. They are trying to join the mid-west region and that will help them grow even faster. We are looking for people to start new groups. There is help to get them started and to continue with growth.
My home group Is the oldest in my area and one of the original ones. Founded in 1986. It was the only group in the midwest till 2000. Now there are 7 groups in my area, and still growing. There are 26 in the region and 4 outside the region wanting to join the region. It is true the east coast and west coast have many more. The hard part is to get someone to put the time in to start a group, and show up every week.
If anyone is interested in starting a group, Now is the time to do it ! We are having a few conventions coming up one in August and one in October.
Nar-Anon is newer than Al-Anon but it is growing. Texas Will have another new group soon and a third one to start in October. They are trying to join the mid-west region and that will help them grow even faster. We are looking for people to start new groups. There is help to get them started and to continue with growth.
My home group Is the oldest in my area and one of the original ones. Founded in 1986. It was the only group in the midwest till 2000. Now there are 7 groups in my area, and still growing. There are 26 in the region and 4 outside the region wanting to join the region. It is true the east coast and west coast have many more. The hard part is to get someone to put the time in to start a group, and show up every week.
If anyone is interested in starting a group, Now is the time to do it ! We are having a few conventions coming up one in August and one in October.
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