Narcotics Anonymous

I attended a Narcotics Anonymous meeting on Monday, March 5th in Olive Branch, MS. I went alone and I have to say, I was a little nervous to walk into that door. I imagined the anxiety and uncertainty someone coming with an addiction must feel when entering a room full of people for a meeting for the first time. But, once I had found where I was supposed to be and found a seat, I felt better. The facilitator sat at a desk at the front of a small room and we sat in a circle. As more people came in, he ended up giving up his chair and sat on the desk, and then eventually moved to the floor during the group discussion. He read the outlined script to start the meeting, welcomed newcomers, and ended the meeting. Because there were new members, he also told his story of recovering from addiction. Once he had finished his readings and gave his short testimony, he said, "Okay, it's y'alls group!", and took a seat in the floor. From that point, the members led the meeting until his readings to close. Being in a small room in a circle made it impossible to "hide" but it also encouraged participation and the feeling of being involved and belonging. I would say the session was therapeutic in that it was encouraging. After different members took turns reading the 12 steps and philosophy and explaining what NA was, discussion took place. During the beginning readings, it was obvious that it is done every meeting. People chimed in in unison with different sayings as people were reading. (The best way I can describe it is like when people chime in during Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer because they know it and have heard it so many times..."Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" "Reindeer!" "Had a Very Shiny Nose" "Like a lightbulb!", etc.) At first I couldn't tell if they were making light of it, joking, even disrespecting. Some were playing games on their phones or tablet, some didn't seem engaged or like they were even listening. But, as the session continued, it was clear that the members believed in the program and had seen the change in their lives. They spoke in a common language of drug use and recovery, and I found that really interesting! The language used by the leader and the members was sometimes pretty crude, but in the same breath as an "f*%$*  this sh*%$*" came the words "this is my surrender" and "I have to wake up and choose to live or choose to die" and "forgiveness" and "trust". I thought there was something really beautiful about the pairing of a powerful language with the harsh reality. I think that that communication in itself is therapeutic. Being honest, and empowering. This group opened and closed in formality, but the in-between was very informal, sometimes light, sometimes heavy. People joked and laughed, and they ended with celebrating those that had met milestones of sobriety. I really enjoyed this experience and have so much respect for the people I saw in my group who are showing the courage of taking steps to come together with other people, find support, encourage one another, work everyday to make the right choice, and to be honest, with themselves and with others.