Multiple Fellowships?

[Victoriana]

I am now attending AA (6 weeks), SLAA ( three years), NA (14 years) and CDAC( 6 weeks) (yes, I really am an addict). The time spent on this is not the issue and they all follow 12 steps. My question is: How helpful is it to attend so many? Should I just pick one and stick with that?
Any suggestions welcome.

[BIG AL]

Good morning,no one home nice and quite this morning.Me and my sponsor decided or he did that I was going to stick with the 12 steps of AA.So I wouldnt complicate things.My drug use always started with a drink.I was a serious alky and ounce I took that first drink it set off a chain reaction wich included getting drugs and going till they gone and everything and every dallor around me.So we just stuck with the 12 steps.I Did cocaine or speed everyday for yrs also a seriuos drug addict.Thats me thats what me and my sponsor worked out and it seems to work.One other reason is Na around our town is very week.I went to a Na meetin about 2 yrs ago and the chair person said.Yall told me when I would be ready to work the steps and its been over a yr now and I think I am ready.I almost fell out of my chair.If me and my sponsor would of waited till I was ready I would be dead by know.Becouse when I sobered up all I knew or ready for was another drink or drug.Dont get offended you NAers I am only talking about this town.I am positive this is an exception and it is going strong in other areas.

[dalin]

It is so easy to get lost in the issues.
NA covers the disease of addiction,in all it's ramifications.
I talk to my sponsor at least once a week,at 15 years clean.
I only bring up things at meetings that can help other addicts
recover,based on our literature.
I know that untill I had a solid idea of recovery,that any thing
that I said was being strained thru multiple fellowships my first
year clean(I made a noon AA meeting,3 NA meetings,one Coda meeting,
one Al Anon,and one CA meeting)every week.
When I picked NA as my fellowship of choice,and truly commited,
my self esteem and self worth kicked in.I had to realy learn the difference
between fellowships,and not to say that was differnt from any other
addict around the table.I was taught to choose the fellowship whos
literature was written for you.
If I went to every fellowship I qualified for,well there are only 7 days
in a week...
I respect the other fellowships.But NA literature is written for me.
I have one freind that does multiple fellowships.Most addicts find a home
that they would be willing to bet there life on after that first year.
Do some reading.
Pray about it.

[dalin]

Must be a small town,our meetings in the Toronto area have just as many meetings
as the liquid fellowship...thank God.

[Victoriana]

Thank you. The thing is I have been thinking about all the different fellowships and I think I am getting bogged down in treating each addiction separately instead of dealing with the addict as a whole. I guess that is easy to do if you try to conquer one addiction at a time and keep finding new ones, as I do.

[Jay Bee]

Hey Victoriana, Myself , I do both followships , NA and AA. Mainly NA. It's about receiving the information about staying clean a day at a time , for me. The literature in NA help's me understands the Disease of Addiction , it's always about the drugs, but i have other addiction too, that has nothing to do with Narcotics. In NA We deal with the Disease of Addiction. If going to other followships helps you , let it be , RECOVERY is your responsibility. I truly believe , if GOD put something in front of us, that has been working, why try to fix it, it's not broke , it works.:15:

[zoomie]

Drinking was my drug of choice, so I stick with AA. I have been to a few NA meetings though and it was nice to go. I should go to Alanon,but I think I would get upset when people would talk about how horrible the alcoholic in their lives where. I'd probibly get kicked out of Alanon LOL because I'd be sticking up for the alcoholic.

[dalin]

I have nothing against other fellowships.
But I know that my first few NA meetings,as I introduced myself
as a Cross addicted ,heroin junky,cracksmoking,crystal using,co-dependant
thorowly violating NA's purpose of unity by trying to be "Different"or
"Unique"
Finaly when I got a sponsor,he explained why we introduce ourselves
as addicts,and only talk about our aproved literature.
If it wasnt for AA's pioneers we would not have a program,so we do respect them.

[BIG AL]

I hear you if I could of smoked a cockroach I would have.It is all about were you find your way.My sponsor said I was sicker than others so I did not have much of a choice in things if I wanted to live.He said we are not going to do things the best of my ability becouse my ability stinks.We were going to do things the best of his ability.Thank god for people like him who saw through mt B.S.

[Victoriana]

Exactly Al. It seems as though as soon as I recognize and start to treat one addiction another will hit me in the face. I'd hide under my covers all day but would get addicted to my pillows!

[BIG AL]

I dont like the part were more will be revealed becouse it just means more work most times.:3:

[Victoriana]

I think I just got lost!

[Ourshirtsrock]

I am now attending AA (6 weeks), SLAA ( three years), NA (14 years) and CDAC( 6 weeks) (yes, I really am an addict). The time spent on this is not the issue and they all follow 12 steps. My question is: How helpful is it to attend so many? Should I just pick one and stick with that?
Any suggestions welcome.

My problem is Drugs , but as I often state I am addicted to MORE! More of anything that makes me feel good! I attend AA exclusively and apply these principles to all my addictions, Just switch the words in my own mind sometimes. Like I am powerless of alcohol and drugs and people places and things !

Better to find a really good support system in one fellowship then to spread myself to thin , so that Noone really gets to know me in many fellowships!:smile:

Just my 2 cents! good luck!

[MichelleW]

I easily trade one addiction for another too it seems. It's a good question that you raise. I haven't been to NA but should have been in it 15 years ago. I can understand why they have separate fellowships but these days I see alcohol as really just being a legalised drug, and the two addictions go together so commonly these days. For me personally, the effects and the reasons for taking drugs and alcohol were pretty much the same. It was to blot out everything that was bothering me, instead of facing it squarely and dealing with it constructively. I'd just get sicker and sicker in the meanwhile, while my coping mechanisms wore down even further.

I'm trying to learn to balance my thinking and lifestyle a bit better, and sort out my spirituality, otherwise I know it's inevitable I'm just going to go chasing some other self-destructive behaviour.

[BIG AL]

Wow Jay Bee got his feathers ruffled.I dont need to call my sponsor to give my opinion.At some point we have to think for ourselve.Oh by the way my sponsor is the one to stay away from NA in this town.I hope I gave you something to pray about.Be Blessed buddy.:2:

[dalin]

Man I am glad I live with healthy meetings......

[Victoriana]

Me too Dalin.
There is only one NA meeting a week where I live which is fine but AA is once, sometimes twice a day. SlAA is every other day. CDAC is anytime I need it.

[Jay Bee]

frist let me apologize to you big Al , for saying what i said. Im wrong and Im sorry. Now , Im real protective when it come's to any thing that is GOD giving.Sometimes I get words twisted up:15:. I sat here and look at that reply I sent , when I had hit the submit button , That was me taking something out of content of character. Now in my heart I know that was wrong, agin Big AL im sorry. Now , lets talk recovery. Im learning from NA and AA , that NO MATTER WHAT DONT USE and If I dont pick it up , I will have the opportunity to recover one day at a time , both followships teaches me , to pratice on applying spiritual principles in my life , also it will only work , when WE work it, and the work is 12 Steps , 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts , that is the program. I thank GOD I was able to find and work the program.:195:

[BIG AL]

Hey I am sorry if I affended.I am serious drug addict 2.There are sick groups in AA and Na we all know them its part of the course of meetings becouse we have people coming in and out.You are right they are all based on spiritual principles.Its up to up to expose each other to them.I remember about 3 yrs ago they were calling my home group group sick.All becouse of the thermostate was set to low and left there.We got into it with the club wich as you know is seperate from the group.And we lost alot of memebers of the group over it.Good people I tell you.After a whuile it all calmed down but those memebers some with solid recovery(just stubborn) never retuned.

[CD BUCKBERRY]

I have always thought you should go to the fellowship that helps you the most.Alcohol is a drug in N.A. But our Steps and Traditions come from A.A..To a newcomer it could be confusing trying both fellowship at once.You decide yourself?