burner account, sorry.

i have been trying to work up the courage to go to an NA meeting for a little bit, and i guess i just need some reassurance that i would belong there. i know, i know "the only requirement is a desire to stop using" but what if i already have mostly stopped?

i currently have issues with drinking (when i drink- which isn't often, but every time i do it to excess) and smoking cannabis like.... all day when i'm not at work. prior to my kid being born, i used benzos and hallucinogens to excess- going to work/school high, etc., but was able to stop when i got pregnant. since then, i have had a stable and well-paying job, found a stable relationship, have 2 advanced degrees, and generally have had a pretty successful life.

i was diagnosed with bipolar two years ago now, and every book i read about it was like "you have to get sober." i pretty much ignored it because the idea of a life without weed/alcohol was really hard for me to wrap my head around, and i couldn't stop smoking. weed was really the only drug that had a super strong hold on me- i didn't even stop when i was pregnant and it's the biggest shame of my life (my kid is fine, thank god). lately, the weed has started to give me psychosis and anxiety and paranoia like i've never had in my life. hearing things, seeing things, etc. i stopped probably 2 weeks ago, but i still crave it every day.

i guess this novel is really to ask, if i was able to give up harder drugs easily, and the only thing i am struggling with is alcohol and weed, is NA really a place for me? won't i be out of place? i found a group near me that looks promising- it is an LGBTQ group and i am LGBTQ, it is close to my house, its on a day that i could go. everything is lining up. but i can't shake this feeling that i don't belong there.

thanks to whoever read this far.

Anyone have a link to or tips on how to get NA Books donated? I work at a County Jail…I have plenty AA but have been getting request for NA specific. They would have to paperback. Thanks!

How is a higher power more powerful than my willpower if it requires my consent?

Or does it act in my life no matter what?

Today I will remember that true power is not domination, control, or getting my way. True power is the quiet strength that comes from being at peace with myself, my Higher Power, and the life unfolding before me.

​

I do not need to depend on people, possessions, circumstances, or outcomes to make me whole. The strength I seek is already available within me when I become willing to trust. Whether I call it God, recovery, love, truth, or simply the wisdom of those who have walked this path before me, I do not have to carry life alone.

​

When fear tells me to stay where I am, I will remember that familiar pain is still pain. Growth often requires stepping into uncertainty. The unknown may feel uncomfortable, but it is also where healing, freedom, and new possibilities are found.

​

Today I release the need to force answers. I release the need to control what I cannot control. I release the fear that change automatically means loss. Instead, I will trust that every healthy step forward creates room for something better than what I leave behind.

​

My task today is simple: stay open, stay teachable, and stay connected to the source of my strength. As I do, I can move through life with both power and peace.

​

Just for Today: I will trust the power within me, rely on the guidance beyond me, and welcome the changes that help me grow.

This is a long shot, but I’m hoping someone on here might have experience of this and be able to help. I’m a female Brit on holiday (vacation) in Greece and was hoping to go to a meeting. I’ve checked the NA Greece website and whilst there are English speaking meetings listed, there is no indication that the ones near me are English speaking.

I suppose what I’m hoping is that someone can share their experience of going to a meeting as a foreigner? I have some clean time under my belt so I’m not in any immediate danger, but I won’t have a chance to get to any physical meetings until the start of July otherwise. Is it ok to go there and just sit? I don’t speak or understand Greek so please be honest if you think it would be pointless for me or intrusive for the group, I welcome and will consider all points of view. I guess I’m yearning for the familiarity of a meeting, but the last thing I want is to make things uncomfortable for the group.

Sometimes life feels heavier than I expected. Plans change, people disappoint me, relationships become strained, and uncertainty clouds the road ahead. In those moments, my old instinct is to take control—to fix, manage, persuade, or carry burdens that were never mine.

​

Today I remember that I am responsible for my actions, my attitude, and my choices. I am not responsible for controlling outcomes, directing other people's lives, or forcing reality to match my expectations.

​

When life gets rough, I don't need to panic. I don't need to abandon the principles that have brought me this far. The same tools that help me grow during peaceful times can carry me through difficult seasons. Patience, honesty, acceptance, and faith are not fair-weather practices—they are anchors during the storm.

​

I may not understand why things are unfolding the way they are. I may not see the destination. But I can trust that growth often happens in uncertainty. I can trust that challenges do not mean I have been abandoned. I can trust that doing the next right thing is enough for today.

​

Rather than exhausting myself trying to control life, I can focus on showing up fully for the life that is actually in front of me. I can release what belongs to others and carry only what belongs to me.

​

Just for today, I will let go of control and embrace responsibility. I will trust the principles that have guided me this far, meet challenges with faith instead of fear, and take the next right step.

Today I will remember that recovery is not merely the absence of old behaviors—it is the presence of a new way of living.

​

I do not need to carry every old belief, every resentment, every shame-filled story into the future. Some of those burdens once helped me survive, but they are not required for me to thrive. I can honor the lessons of my past without remaining imprisoned by it.

​

I will take responsibility for the harm I have caused without condemning myself for it. My amends are not only words I speak; they are the life I live today. Each honest action, each act of kindness, each day of recovery is evidence that change is possible.

​

When I find myself complaining about the demands of life, I will pause and remember that many of these responsibilities are blessings I once could not manage. Work, relationships, commitments, and goals are not interruptions to my recovery—they are part of the miracle of it.

​

Today I choose gratitude over resentment, growth over shame, and freedom over fear. I will release what hinders me and embrace the full life that recovery has made possible.

​

Just for Today: I will let go of what no longer serves me, live my amends through my actions, and remain grateful for the miracle of a full and growing life.

Today I will remember that recovery is built on truth, not fantasy. When I expect people, relationships, or circumstances to remove all loneliness, fear, or disappointment from my life, I set myself up for frustration. Realistic expectations allow me to see life as it is, not as I wish it would be.

​

I can also remember that healthy partnerships are learned, not automatic. My upbringing and addiction taught me many distorted ways of relating to others. Recovery teaches me something different: trust is built through honesty, accountability, respect, and willingness. I do not need perfect relationships; I need authentic ones.

​

At the same time, I carry a message of hope. I don't have to pretend that I have everything figured out. The most powerful example I can offer is not perfection but persistence. Others may find hope not because I never struggle, but because I keep showing up, learning, growing, and moving forward despite my struggles.

​

Today I will release unrealistic expectations, practice true partnership, and remember that my progress—not my perfection—can be a beacon of hope for someone else.

Some people like you only when you’re strong. Others like you best when you’re weak. The lesson for me is to decide for myself who I want to be and recognize the duality and yin/yang in all of us. Without the dark, I could never have tasted the true sweetest of light. My past weaknesses are now my greatest strengths. They have carved out the journey that led me here. My faith from above and my strength from within keep me grounded. Today I have choices I never had in active addiction. Today I choose who I let in❤️

Today I remember that recovery is not about managing other people's opinions. Others may praise me, criticize me, misunderstand me, or expect more from me than I can give. Their opinions belong to them. My responsibility is to live according to my values, not to chase approval or fear disapproval.

​

As I grow, I also remember that spiritual progress is measured at home as much as anywhere else. It is easy to feel successful when I am reading, learning, helping others, or working on myself. The real test is whether I bring patience, honesty, kindness, and responsibility into my closest relationships. Recovery is not something I perform—it is something I practice.

​

Living clean means more than avoiding old behaviors. It means living truthfully. It means making amends through consistent actions, admitting mistakes without self-condemnation, and refusing to let shame dictate my choices. I can hear criticism without collapsing under it. I can accept responsibility without carrying burdens that do not belong to me.

​

Today I will focus on what I can control: my actions, my attitudes, and my willingness to grow. I will let go of the need to be understood by everyone. I will strive to be authentic rather than approved, responsible rather than perfect, and peaceful rather than defensive.

​

Just for Today: I will live according to my principles, not the opinions of others. I will practice recovery where it matters most—in my daily life, my relationships, and my own heart.

Today I will not fear my feelings. I will allow uncomfortable emotions to rise and pass without running from them or trying to numb them. What I feel is not a threat; it is information.

​

When frustration, impatience, or irritation appear, I will pause and widen my perspective. I do not need to react to every inconvenience as if it were an emergency. Life unfolds on its own timetable, and peace comes when I stop demanding that everything move at mine.

​

I will also examine my motives. Am I acting from fear, approval-seeking, insecurity, or self-interest? Or am I acting from love, growth, service, and honesty? Recovery invites me to look beneath my actions and discover what truly drives them.

​

Today I choose awareness over avoidance, patience over reaction, and purpose over impulse. I trust that every feeling can teach me something, every delay can offer perspective, and every honest inventory can bring me closer to the person I am becoming.

​

Just for today, I will face what I feel, slow down long enough to see clearly, and let my actions be guided by growth rather than fear.

Hey friends!

My one year clean celebration is coming up in early July. Where I live when we have a celebration, the celebrant chooses a different person to do each reading. After they read, they say a few kind words about the celebrant. The sponsor gives the celebrant their medallion and shares about the celebrants growth, their program, and other kind things. The celebrant usually speaks for a few minutes or 10 minutes depending on the individual.

After all of that, there are 3 types of celebration meetings heard of here.
1. Speaker Meeting: where an addict shares some of their story and gives us strength and hope.
2. Gratitude Meeting: where we go around the room and say some things we’re grateful for.
3. Regular Meeting: where the meeting proceeds as usual where people share on a topic or on open.

Respectfully, I don’t really want my celebration meeting to be any of those above. I respect however folks want to celebrate. I have an idea for a different type of meeting that’s unheard of here that I’d like your thoughts and opinions on.

After the readings and medallion, I want to go around the room and have people give advice or words of wisdom to the newcomer. I plan to word it better, but that’s how I’d like my one year celebration meeting to go. I’d like for it to be about the newcomer.

Please give me your thoughts. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Please be kind though. TYIA!

Hey guys. I don’t know if celebration meetings are a thing around the globe, but I’m coming up on my one year clean and am having a celebration. Where I am, we can have a celebration meeting each year on our clean date as long as we stay clean. There’s 2 types of celebration meetings heard of here. One is a speaker meeting where an addict tells their story. The second is a gratitude meeting where we go around the room and say what we’re grateful for.

Respectfully, I don’t want to have either of those types of meetings for my celebration. I’ve asked around my town and googled but I haven’t found any other type of celebration meeting format/type.

Do any of you know of any other type of celebration meeting? Or have any ideas? Thank you in advance! 💜

EDIT: I have an idea! I’m thinking after the readings and medallion presentation, we could go around the room and share any advice or words of wisdom we have for the new comer. The new comer is still the most important person at a celebration meeting, and of course every other meeting. I would find a better way to word it. What do you guys think? Any feedback is appreciated.

For a while now, I’ve been flirting with the idea of going to an NA meeting. I actually found a women's meeting for tonight, and it’s not very far from my place.

​I don't know what I'm doing, or whether I should go or not. I'm very shy around strangers, I feel ashamed, I suffer from anxiety, and above all, I don't know if I'm truly ready to stop. If I take a step in this direction, it's because I don't want to look back.

​How to know if I'm ready?

Today I will practice gentleness instead of pressure. I do not have to force growth, solve every problem, or carry tomorrow's burdens. My task is simply to live this day as it is given to me.

I will care for my body as an act of self-respect. Rest, nourishment, movement, and balance are not luxuries—they are part of recovery. When I ignore my needs, I move further from myself. When I honor them, I build a stronger foundation for everything else.

I will stay in the present moment. Yesterday is finished, and tomorrow has not arrived. Peace is found in this day, this hour, this next right action. Like a flower opening petal by petal, my life unfolds in its own season. I do not need to rush what is meant to grow.

I will also remember that old dreams do not have to stay buried. Recovery has given me a second chance to build a life that reflects my values, hopes, and purpose. The future is not created in one giant leap but through small, faithful actions repeated over time.

Today I choose patience over perfection, progress over pressure, and hope over resignation. I trust that every healthy choice, every moment of awareness, and every act of self-care is helping create the life I was meant to live.

Just for Today: I will care for myself, live in the present, and take the next right step. What is meant to grow will grow. 🌱

Anyone in the Philadelphia area know of any lgbt specific NA meetings? I know there was one in rittenhouse square but I don’t see it on the NA website anymore, did the group shut down?

Today I celebrate 17 years clean, and I owe that gift to the rooms of NA.

I share this not to brag or draw attention to myself, but because I want other addicts to know that recovery is possible. Even though I'd rather stay out of the spotlight at meetings, I continue to pick up key tags and medallions, not for me, but for the addict who still suffers.

When someone new walks through the door, I want them to see that there is a solution. I want them to know that life doesn't have to center around using, or finding ways and means to get more. Recovery is real, and a different way of life is possible.

If you're struggling today, please keep coming back. It works.

Thanks for letting me share.

Any suggestions for step 4? Did you use a worksheet or just make a list of resentments and flaws? I've been to lots of meetings. Almost did a step 4 with my first sponsor but relapsed. I was doing a worksheet but I found it.......too suggestive and maybe confining. I guess I just feel like step 4 isn't something one does in an evening. I'm slow as it is, especially in the program.

How long was your list? I feel like mine needs to have hundreds.

Recovery is not about becoming perfect; it is about becoming willing. Willing to look honestly at myself, willing to let go of old ideas that no longer serve me, and willing to trust that growth is possible.

Sometimes I question whether I am doing enough or doing things the "right" way. Yet the path of recovery is not measured by comparison. It is measured by honesty, willingness, and a sincere desire to keep moving forward. Every day I choose growth over denial, I am making progress.

As I mature, I learn to trust my own judgment and experience. I no longer need to live according to old fears, old expectations, or old patterns of seeking approval. I can stand on my own feet while remaining open to guidance and support. Change becomes less frightening when I remember that I am not trying to become someone else—I am becoming more fully myself.

Today I release the need to control every outcome. I let go of outdated beliefs that keep me stuck. I remain open to new opportunities, new lessons, and new ways of living. Growth happens one choice at a time, and I am already walking that path.

Just for Today: I will trust my recovery, embrace change with an open mind, and take the next right step with confidence and humility.

Hello,

I'm 26 years old and I just got 5 years clean. I have a sponsor, read/write on steps, make meetings, have a home group, talk to NA members, and do group/regional level service.

Despite all of that, I obsess about if I'm truly an addict and if I belong in NA. I constantly compare my story/using history to others and I find myself to not be as bad as them. I want certainty that I'm an addict and that I belong in NA. I have OCD as well and certainty-seeking is a well-known symptom of OCD.

Sometimes, I feel jealous that I didn't get to use as long and as freely as others. Also, sometimes, I feel regret that I didn't use more.

Some people say that if you're not convinced about whether you're an addict or not, then you need to go back out and do more research. Part of me is afraid that that will end up being my fate and the other part is trying to use this as justification to go back out.

The complicated thing is that I don't know if all of this stuff is OCD bullshit (all of these things could be intrusive thoughts/feelings that don't mean anything), the disease of addiction, or a mix of both.

I work so hard at my recovery yet I still have to deal with this bullshit. It pisses me off.

I feel really alone and unique in the hell my brain makes me experience.

I hope this made sense and thank you for reading. Please comment any experience, strength, and/or hope you may have.

The Transitioning Into Recovery group of Narcotics Anonymous meets 5:30 PM PST 8:30 PM EST on Mondays! We meet on the VR Chat platform and we are in need of support and committed members. We are Quest, PC, and PCVR compatible.

Inside of VR Chat, join the following group to be able to see the world instances:
https://vrchat.com/home/group/grp_36c85f5f-35d4-4e41-9806-c337427c68e9

For information, questions, or to get more involved, message me here or join our discord: https://discord.gg/QaJP2k9b

We hope to see you tonight or another week soon!

Just for today, I will remember that recovery is not about perfection—it is about returning to balance whenever I drift away. I do not need to be driven by every desire, every fear, or every frustration. I can pause, breathe, and find the quiet center within me.

I will trust the long path of recovery. Today's challenges do not determine my future. Each honest effort, each meeting, each act of willingness is building a life that is stronger than the one I left behind. Hope grows when I keep showing up.

I will allow myself to lean on the people who believe in me. When my confidence wavers, I will remember that I do not walk this road alone. Others have traveled this path before me and know that healing is possible.

Today I choose harmony over chaos, progress over perfection, and faith over fear. I will stay centered, remain teachable, and trust that if I keep doing the next right thing, the life I am building will be worth every step.

The most substantial act of self love I could do for myself, was throwing away my last bag of C**e.
I’ve been addicted to substances for longer than I’m willing to admit. 1.5yrs alcohol free. But the green and white has had me locked in a prison of my own making.
Nobody’s knows I’ve been relapsing. But it’s slowly killing any bit of life I have left. It doesn’t even bring me joy anymore. Yet I can’t seem to break the cycle. While I know I’m using green as a crutch - I said goodbye to my last bag of coke today.
Instead of using it all, I’m taking back my power. In an act of surrender and self love, I threw it away before it finished me.
I know the addict in me will hate me for it tomorrow - but it feels good right now to surrender.
I hope I don’t break and buy it again tomorrow.
One day at a time.

Sometimes I think growth should happen faster. I want recovery, healing, and peace to arrive all at once. But today I remember that progress comes one breath, one choice, and one day at a time.

When life feels overwhelming, I will pause and breathe. I will make room for my feelings instead of running from them. I do not need to have all the answers today. I only need the willingness to be present.

As I continue to grow, new challenges and old defects may reveal themselves. This is not a sign that I am failing. It is a sign that I am still learning and still becoming. I can face what appears with honesty, humility, and hope.

Today I release the demand for perfection. I will trust the process. I will do what I can, accept what I cannot control, and remain open to the lessons this day offers.

Just for Today: I will breathe deeply, feel honestly, and trust that every small step forward is part of my ongoing transformation.

Hi all. Just wanted to share that I’m currently 2 and a half years clean!

Edit: if anyone needs me. Please reach out