Question by Jess Derrick: Some questions about Narcotics Anonymous…?
My therapist is really pushing for me to join a support group of this type. I’m agnostic, but there are no S.O.S. or SMART Recovery meetings that fit my schedule. If I go to NA, will I be pressured to ‘work the steps’? Quitting using is ok – I have done that for the most part anyway – but I simply cannot buy that I am ‘powerless’ over drugs, nor can I give it up to some ‘higher power’. I know they say your higher power can be however you understand it, even a kitchen chair, blah blah blah…but I think the entire notion is silly.
So…if I want to go to the meetings and benefit from camaraderie and information, is it likely I’ll be pressured to speak or to ‘work the steps’ if I want to keep going?
Reflex, I don’t think I’m powerless at all. I’m pretty sure I said that in my original question.
I’m tying to keep seeing my therapist on an individual basis, and not be transferred to group therapy.
Best answer:
Answer by Many Shades of Gray
NA and AA are bunk as far as I’m concerned, both in their religious tone and in their idea that people are “powerless” over their addictions, but they can’t make you work the steps. You’ll have to listen to the drivel if you attend, but you don’t have to accept it. You can still benefit from going and connecting with some of the other members though, and when you talk with some of them on a one-on-one basis, I think you’ll find that there are some reasonable people who also see things the way you do about recovery and addiction.
There was one other group that’s specifically secular in nature and has a message that I found to be much more beneficial to recovery, but for the life of me I can’t remember what it is. It’s been many many years. If I can recall, I’ll come back and edit details or e-mail you.
But yeah, just for the hell of it, go and attend the meetings, take everything with a grain of salt, and try not to gag when they tell you you can’t get clean without God. That’s a blatant lie, and I’m living proof of that.
@ reflexologist – wow, you really swallowed that kool-aid hard, didn’t you. Quoting right from the Blue Book I see. Complete and utter nonsense. If you like being a slave to meetings, then be my guest, but I like my normal life full of normal people and not having to go and reinforce my “helplessness” every day.
If doctors all thought the way you did, we’d still be curing diseases with voodoo.
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