Having done NA to get clean from heroin nearly a decade ago, I’d just like to say it wasn’t really a religious thing at all.
One of the steps is “surrender to a higher power” but everybody explained to me at the time that it doesn’t have to be religious.
The idea behind the surrendering thing is that you must
a) realize that if you’re addicted you’ve been doing something wrong. Something about your habits and/or belief system caused you to get addicted. If you want to get clean, you must change something.
b) by surrendering you essentially say “OK. I don’t know everything. I will take a leap of faith and try something new”
I credit NA for my sobriety much more than expensive therapy.
And I’m not religious and haven’t been since I hit the age of reason.
Although, I know people that really don’t dig the surrendering thing at all, and they’re looking for more of a self empowerment format like Life Ring or something.
My 2¢ is that it’s not one size fits all. Everyone’s
Recovery program is going to be bespoke to them. Moreover, no single meeting or single doctor is a complete representation of a treatment program. It’s best to sample lots of different formats, meeting times, etc. until you find what clicks for you. Even within one program you’re going to find a lot of variance depending on attendees and conveners.
all valid points. an AA/NA meeting in an urban area is going to be fundamentally different than a meeting in a rural hillbilly part of the country.
I agree with what you’re saying. better to sample all sorts of different things. Really I just don’t want people to be scared of going to meetings because of the religious element. I like NA because you meet other people and you start to see patterns and get a sponsor and really dig into why you’re addicted, your life circumstances, etc as you follow the steps.
I went to 3 meetings a week for 6 months until I felt I didn’t need it anymore and I’ve been clean since. Doesn’t have to be the dramatic “90 in 90” that they recommend.
Having done NA to get clean from heroin nearly a decade ago, I’d just like to say it wasn’t really a religious thing at all.
One of the steps is “surrender to a higher power” but everybody explained to me at the time that it doesn’t have to be religious.
The idea behind the surrendering thing is that you must
a) realize that if you’re addicted you’ve been doing something wrong. Something about your habits and/or belief system caused you to get addicted. If you want to get clean, you must change something.
b) by surrendering you essentially say “OK. I don’t know everything. I will take a leap of faith and try something new”
I credit NA for my sobriety much more than expensive therapy.
And I’m not religious and haven’t been since I hit the age of reason.
Well said.
Although, I know people that really don’t dig the surrendering thing at all, and they’re looking for more of a self empowerment format like Life Ring or something.
My 2¢ is that it’s not one size fits all. Everyone’s Recovery program is going to be bespoke to them. Moreover, no single meeting or single doctor is a complete representation of a treatment program. It’s best to sample lots of different formats, meeting times, etc. until you find what clicks for you. Even within one program you’re going to find a lot of variance depending on attendees and conveners.
all valid points. an AA/NA meeting in an urban area is going to be fundamentally different than a meeting in a rural hillbilly part of the country.
I agree with what you’re saying. better to sample all sorts of different things. Really I just don’t want people to be scared of going to meetings because of the religious element. I like NA because you meet other people and you start to see patterns and get a sponsor and really dig into why you’re addicted, your life circumstances, etc as you follow the steps.
I went to 3 meetings a week for 6 months until I felt I didn’t need it anymore and I’ve been clean since. Doesn’t have to be the dramatic “90 in 90” that they recommend.