Run with it.


Go to meetings, work the steps with a sponsor and don't use between meetings.

Simple, but at times, not easy at all.

Best of luck.

in the past 9 day's. But my prescription pills that's a different story. I'm doing like my Doctor said I've gone from 4 Xanax's a day to 3 and 3 Paxil's a day to 2 since last Sunday. I was drinking 8 to 10 beers a day every day for 10 months.

Keep going back.

I remember NA meetings being inclusive and AA meetings being exclusive (I was called a "rocket scientist"...heheheh), but that may have been just in my area.

Just remember, no matter what your drug is: The only way to quit is to stop and don't start again.

How you get that accomplished is the tricky part...lol. (Simple, not easy.)

Last edited Wed Feb 5, 2014, 02:33 AM - Edit history (1)

They were more acceptable of me when I shared myself with them. At NA they hug everyone and say keep up the good work and keep coming back, you're worth it. At AA they just smile a little at you and leave when the meetings over.

but I remember a lot of overlap where I was hanging out. The 'methods' they use are pretty similar and they'll work for anybody who really buys in. I never had a problem with drugs, I'm an alcoholic. But I don't care for those who get too exclusive. Hell, I've been in men's meetings that allowed a woman in because she needed a meeting. It's all about helping people.

If you find a group that you feel comfortable in, that's your home group. But it's a good idea to keep going to other meetings, too, just to keep your perspective and freshness.

Best of luck!

somewhat different. Some I really liked others I would never go back again it's hard to explain. The two NA's there were a few of the same people but mostly not. They were both inclusive and one group today invited me to go to lunch with them and I accepted. I would never have done that before. Sit at a restaurant which I'm uncomfortable with anyways even with family or friends. But with people I have never met in my life and had known for just one hour I would have found an excuse that I can't go but thanks anyways. But I did go met them there and had a very nice time. I start my new job Friday as a Security Guard in a Hospital. Maybe things are going my way finally after losing my job in the Steel Mill after 33 years seniority and being laid off for a year and a half. The younger ones, guys and the girls who weren't even close to being born yet enjoyed the stories I had. They seemed amazed and were asking me questions about the groups I saw. Like seeing Pink Floyd 6 times from 1975 to 1994, Roger Waters Solo 4 times, Led Zeppelin in 1975, KISS Hotter than Hell Tour 1974.. I think, Yes- 1974-75 Tour, Queen, The Clash, DEVO, Gary Numan, Elvis Costello-1979, The Ramones, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath-1974, Emerson Lake and Palmer 1974 Tour, Genesis 1974-75 Tour, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen 4 times 79-85 Tours, AC/DC, Jethro Tull 1977 Tour, David Bowie 1975 Tour and Lynyrd Skynyrd in Wheeling WV 2 concerts before they were killed in that Oct. 1977 Plane Crash. Turned out two of the guys my age were also at the exact same Pink Floyd June 1975 Show 2 section's in front of me and the Led Zeppelin Feb. 1975 Show in Pittsburgh Pa. They all want to see my KISS autographs on a napkin from Lums Restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh which I still have and all my ticket stubs protected by plastic in a photo album from almost 40 years ago.

particularly since my vice is combusting catnip rather than drinking alcohol.

Some AA chapters (especially in upper income neighborhoods) have a negative attitude towards those that suffer from addiction and I have heard of specific chapters turn away addicts from their doors.

I think some of the reasoning behind it is because alcohol is a legal substance and the people with the condescending attitudes can't envision doing anything illegal, although they have probably driven intoxicated and inebriated dozens or hundreds of times.

While I didn't talk with many of the AA members in the elitist chapters, I did get the impression they lacked empathy or sympathy for others. They also dominated the meetings and didn't allow newer members to speak at those meetings. If my addiction was gambling, then I would place my bets that 90% of them are Republicans.

Ultimately the meetings don't matter as much as the determination to become either alcohol or narcotic free. If people are forced to attend either AA or NA meetings because of legal considerations, then the likelihood of relapse is extremely high. It's difficult enough to work a program going in voluntarily, compelling people to attend meetings is a cop-out from the criminal justice system and our society since the amount of funding for treatment programs is woefully insufficient.

Good luck with your meetings and I hope you can find a sponsor to guide you. If you relate more closely to the people attending NA than the others, then I encourage you to keep attending those meetings. Don't waste your time attending meetings where you feel uncomfortable or where other attendees don't relate to your situation because any resentment over those issues could be a trigger for losing sobriety.

As I was telling you before my folks were both in AA for 30 years. My dad was an old timer and he was stern with some new members and he did a lot of sponsoring. I think he was a real dick to the addicts though. He told me he didn't understand them and he didn't like them. As far as I was concerned that was patently UNCOOL. But that was his problem. Many people these days are duel addicted. It is a crappy deal to run off new members because they use as well as drink.

Glad the NA is a better fit. Keep coming.back!

an odd look.

Like the Boomers and GenX, do.

do you know DU has an addiction and recovery group? come on over, it's a pretty nice room.