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Guide to 12 Step Meetings for a New Person in Treatment

NAFor many people looking to get clean and sober, one of the major suggestions often offered by an addiction treatment provider (a treatment center, therapist, doctor, etc.) will be for that person to also attend “outside 12 Step meetings”. Most of the time, this will be either AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings. This can sometimes cause a barrier for the person looking to overcome their addiction or their substance abuse issues, meaning the client in treatment. Many addiction treatment providers will run into resistance from the client. The person will offer a number of reasons or excuses why they shouldn’t have to or don’t want to attend meetings. Some of those will include:

What’s a Good Excuse for not Seeking Help with Recovery?

While these all may seem like valid excuses, they are not. Many of them are misconceptions or uninformed opinions about 12 Step fellowships and the meetings those within the fellowships attend. The truth is, most people simply are uncomfortable the first time they go to a 12 Step meeting. Most of the time they won’t know anyone and they are being directed to attend a meeting of people who have admitted they have an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

The stigma of addiction or alcoholism is often so strong it pervades the thinking of someone suffering from the same illness. The “I may have a problem but it’s not as bad as THOSE people” thinking. And walking into a meeting of a bunch of people that are unknown is typically uncomfortable in any situation, not to mention walking into a meeting of unknown people carrying the guilt and shame and personal stigma of addiction. No one walks into AA or NA riding the crest of the wave of life. No one ever walks into their first AA or NA meeting happy to be there. They may be tired, they may be relieved, they may have accepted it but certainly no one is carrying balloons and cake and announcing they have arrived at the meeting and to “LET THE HEALING BEGIN.”

Now, every meeting SHOULD be welcoming to a new person. However, that isn’t always the case. AA and NA meetings are filled with people that are human, that sometimes act poorly or judge others. They may not be doing well in recovery themselves, they may have had a bad day, or they may just be an asshole. It happens. If you get a bad response or are treated poorly at your first meeting, don’t run to the hills screaming how unwelcoming AA or NA meetings are, just go to a different meeting.

Here’s a tip: A meeting that treats new people poorly or that does not greet new people with nonjudgmental, open arms is probably a pretty bad meeting to begin with and one that should be avoided. A good meeting of AA or NA will be welcoming, people will introduce themselves, they will offer friendship and fellowship and attempt to explain to the new person what occurs at meetings so that meetings don’t seem so scary or uncomfortable.

Things to Remember for AA & NA Meetings

A few other points to remember for the client resistant at attending AA or NA meetings:

About Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous Meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings can be scary for a new person just getting clean and sober. They can seem overwhelming. They can seem weird. But they also offer the best outside support for a person going through treatment or just getting out of a drug rehab to learn to stay clean and sober long term. They offer a supporting environment and a blueprint for a sustainable recovery. Many new people will not like their first experience at a meeting. Don’t be worried: Almost all new people don’t have a great experience at their first meeting. Don’t give up. Keep going. Look for meetings where people are smiling and are happy. A good meeting will have an energy that is undeniably attractive. A good meeting will great a new person and welcome them and introduce them to the group. A good meeting will talk about being happy while clean and sober, will talk about the 12 Steps and sponsorship. A good meeting will not talk about how much they hate drugs and alcohol, but rather how drugs and alcohol simply don’t work for them anyone. And they will talk about what they do now to stay clean and sober and if the new person is interested in staying clean and sober, they would certainly show them how to do so.

Need Help? Contact a Recovery Professional Today

If you or someone you know is suffering from a drug and alcohol addiction please call us for help. Maryland Addiction Recovery Center offers the most comprehensive addiction treatment in the area. Please call us at (410) 773-0500 or email info@marylandaddictionrecovery.com. For more information on all of our alcohol and addiction treatment services and resources, please visit the web site at www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com.

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