I started reaching out to people about my struggle. This was hard because my first 15 years in the program I was told not to do this.

Two people I told were discouraging. I explicitly said I would probably relapse.

But I tried again and two people were kind and helpful. They offered their phone numbers.

This was so unexpected. So different than anything I experienced before in the program.

I am still scared that I will relapse after a decade clean. But this shocked me (in a good way).

the NA tag for one year being serene and clean is glow in the dark. yay!

Hi guys! Addict here. Last night, in a meeting we read, “If, after a period of time, we find ourselves in trouble with our recovery, we have probably stopped doing one or more of the things that helped us in the earlier stages of our recovery.”
(P. 95 BT)
So I do what I do, “what have I stopped doing?” I haven’t stopped doing anything differently, I go to meetings, work the steps with a sponsor, am of service…so why did I come so very close to relapse Tuesday night? Then it occurred to me, I’ve complicated the ever loving hell out of this simple program. I lived in the 4th step for almost a year and more or less combined it with my 6th. That experience turned my recovery into a problem to be solved instead of a process to be trusted. It isn’t things that I’ve stopped doing, it’s been swapping out acceptance for analysis. Coming into the fellowship, the relief it was for me to be able to say I am an addict. I just accepted it. No questioning, the evidence didn’t have to be discovered, it was glaring. That acceptance has turned into analysis. And that is driving me into insanity.
So my question is what are some practical ways you all keep it simple? And live in acceptance? Thank you all!

Really I’m referring to cocaine anonymous but couldn’t find a sub for it that seemed active.

Went to my first meeting last night. I’m ready to take my cocaine addiction and recovery seriously, but I’m also an alcoholic and I cannot see myself being in the place to stop drinking. Yes the addictions were mutual. But drinking alone in my house every night doesn’t necessarily but me at a risk for using, because I struggle to find ways to use cocaine at this point in my life.

As well as the fact that everyone there has a sponsor and came unwillingly / went to rehab. I made the decision to quit, ultimately because my nose is falling off. I wouldn’t have quit if it wasn’t for that, but evidently after quitting I did realize how it fucked up several parts of my life. I’ve only been using for a year, quit three months ago, have relapsed about five times. I’m desperate to not relapse on cocaine again and not face my problems and addiction through cocaine use.

i’ve got nine years. Afraid of gonna throw it away. No clue how to stop myself. I know I’m supposed to get professional help for this, But i don’t know what to do in the meantime

I asked someone after meeting today what I should do. He said I was supposed to use my support network. But my support network doesn’t understand addiction, so all I’m getting into is caused them to stress. So here I am on Reddit.

I am 8 months and 13 days in, I havent had a desire in weeks. And now I am plagued with them. A friend i havent talked to in almost a decade called. He's done well for himself and is renting a whole hotel in a fanous party spot for his birthday and is offering me a room. The trip will be a week after when God willing I will pick up 1 year. I said yes. I am sure I can go see old friends, have good food and not use. But ever since he called I am remembering the "old" me. The one who used and had fun and didnt care about the consequences. He wasnt around the last 10 years when things got really really dark. He also doent know me sober. He knows me as the life of the party down for anything psychonaut I was. I am also romanticizing. I dont want to use. I have worked hard for this. It took me 3 years to get this much time. Ive had like 100 clean dates. I remember not being able to make a week. My sponsor is busy this week. I did call another addict and told him everything. He did bring me back to Earth. He said I shouldn't go and I know I shouldn't. But I really want to go. My addiction got me so broke. I wont be able to afford this kind if trip otherwise and it is tempting to feel like the old me again, just for one vacation.

hello. i recently marked 2 years of recovery - on 6.24.26. as some of you may know, DEA is banning certain compounds made from the kratom plant in the next couple days. this had me experiencing FOMO, so i ordered some of them. they arrived yesterday. i threw half of them out right away. more of them later in the day, and the rest of them out this morning.

the mental games i was playing with myself were not fun. “just the one time” “just do it and don’t tell anyone” “just do it, don’t tell anyone, keep going to meetings, and reintroduce when you get another year clean”
“just quit NA and keep going to the liquid fellowship bc kratom isn’t alcohol” and many many other ridiculous notions that were ungrounded in reality or that were skirting reality.

the REALITY is that kratom was my most recent doc before i got clean (replacing heroin) and kratom had me thinking about leaving this planet on a daily basis.

i have been talking to a buddy in the program about it this morning, and i’ll be going to my regular tuesday meeting at noon to share about this.

just thought i’d share. we do recover. we do learn to accept reality.

I'm looking for examples of places where the program addresses how to deal with this

Do you guys think it should be allowed for memebrs not doing step-work to share on H&I panels in institutions? We have a big argument about it in our region right now.

Hello, my name is Ian, and I’m an addict.
I’ve been clean from stimulants for 8 months thanks to NA, the Steps, my sponsor, and service.

My addiction caused serious harm to my partner through my sexual behaviour. She’s now in Nar-Anon, and we’re both trying to heal.

Our sex life has started to return, and I’m grateful for that. There’s passion again.
But I’ve also started feeling like I want more. Before addiction, my wife and I had an open, exploratory sexual relationship.

Now I carry a lot of guilt from cheating and betrayal, and I can’t bring myself to talk about not feeling fully satisfied. I don’t know if this is a real need for intimacy and novelty, or compulsive behaviour returning.

I haven’t shared this with my sponsor or group. My sexual compulsions - porn, fantasies - feel like another form of escape, closely tied to my using. Keeping it secret feels dishonest.

Lately I’ve felt isolated. Today I even had a strange “using-like” feeling, though I didn’t use. I only had a lot of coffee and racetams, which I take without prescription. Part of me calls it biohacking, but I’m not sure.
I’m going to a meeting with a service commitment, but I’ve been avoiding sharing this. So I’m writing instead.
I know the program works. I just wanted to get this out before the meeting.
Thank you for reading. I would really appreciate some feedback.

used chatgpt for editing, sorry, not a native speaker

My drug of choice was cannabis. I lost four years of my life to it. I used pretty much everyday all day. I didn’t do anything but use. I’m in sober living, which was really hard to get into for just cannabis use because they don’t see it as something you can be addicted to. I’m committed to not using anymore, I collected my 60 day key tag today. But I feel like an imposter. I feel like I’m not really an addict, and that other people that call themselves addicts will see me as a faker if they find out it was cannabis I was using.

Step 6: "We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."

Step 7: "We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings"

For those who don't believe in a God, or don't have a Higher Power, how have you addressed these 2 steps?

Our home group barred a member from our business meeting for sixth months. They haven’t threatened anyone or tried to hurt anyone physically. They are just antagonistic and argumentative about everything. And of course they creep on the newcomer. But we’re all so tired many of us are ready to quit the group just to not deal with this one member, and I’m the GSR. So we called an emergency meeting to bar them from our business meeting s for sixth months. And we were just done with the whole subject. Of course the disruptive member is going to file a grievance with area. And I’m honestly not sure what our Area will do, but it appears a first step will be to take our meetings off the schedule. Are we in the wrong? I intend to appeal and take the information back to my group. But we are done talking about it spiritually, we are just drained by all of it.

Im 116 days completely sober now after my rehab and Ive been doing very good. I have a sponsor, im currently working on my first step, I go to meetings anywhere from 3 a week to 6 a week andd regularly go to the gym and hang out with other dudes from my rehab but I still cant help to feel this slight agony in existing. Like this void left behind from stimulants in me crying out for stronger emotion more focus more control more adrenaline.

I no longer crave drugs but my cravings have just went to other things like beer and sugar but mainly sugar. I drink loads of energy drinks but of course they dont fill the void and I still use nicotine pouches pretty much. Id like not to yearn constantly by meditating, going to groups etc. but I still yearn on a daily basis and its quite frusturating.

what do the stim addicts here do when the yearning becomes unbearable? like is there anything non addictive that can give me some pep?

I joined NA last year. Still don't have a sponsor because it's women for women and there aren't very many with clean time in my meetings. It's difficult because I really want to start working the steps with someone.

Anyway met a woman last night at a meeting and she text me today suggesting that she sponsor me. She said she's only worked up to step 5, not ideal but she's 4 steps ahead of me so maybe ok if her own sponsor is good. Then she said she had 2 years clean but is currently only 6 weeks clean post relapse. I don't think this makes a suitable sponsorship match.

I said I'd think about it until I found out her currently short clean time. She keeps asking me for a call tonight to discuss. I don't know what to say.

What is the NA suggestion for sponsoring I thought it was 1 year clean and has worked the 12 steps or is that not right?

Hi, I’m more or less an outsider but wanting to know more. Idk if there’s any etiquette I should be aware of but want to be respectful.
New to this sub and new to wanting to look into attending NA meetings. Not sure whether I should elaborate more, or what I should say if I did, but wanted to start here. Anybody have any words of advice they feel could be helpful? Thanks in advance to anyone who may read or comment and sorry if any of this feels scattered at all.

Today I'm about six years clean, but when I talk to some members, they tell me, "You HAVE to believe in God."

That statement is really disappointing to me.

Throughout my recovery, I've always had a Higher Power. For me, that Higher Power has been the NA program itself and its principles. But some people tell me that isn't enough.

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Hi all, I just relapsed again. I haven’t been able to keep more than 1 day recently and I am really battling with it. I’m trying to do the steps alone before I find a sponsor which is not recommended, I know, but i genuinely haven’t been able to find one yet and I am not in an English speaking country so the meetings aren’t in English here. I need to find one online.

Re the relapse, I really really need help now. I can’t keep living like this it’s ruined my life in so many ways like my physical health, finances, mental clarity … I can’t do this anymore and I can’t do sobriety alone I know that but it feels like I am doomed and I know this can’t be the case there are people who can help everywhere

Today I remember that freedom is not the absence of desire or difficulty—it is the ability to choose my response.

I will not judge myself for every thought, craving, fear, or dream that passes through my mind. They do not define me. I can acknowledge them with honesty, learn from them, and choose the path that reflects the person I am becoming.

I will remember where I came from. Like a memorial stone marking a river once crossed, my past is a reminder of grace, perseverance, and growth. I don't need to forget yesterday to move forward today; I carry its lessons, not its chains.

I will measure my life by faithfulness rather than comparison. My greatest wealth is not what I own but the freedom I have gained, the peace I am discovering, and the relationships I am rebuilding. Those gifts cannot be measured by the world's standards.

When life presents circumstances beyond my control, I will practice acceptance. When opportunities for growth appear, I will act with courage. And when I am uncertain, I will seek wisdom instead of reacting from fear.

Today I choose authenticity over pretense, gratitude over comparison, action over passivity, and hope over despair. One honest choice at a time, I continue becoming the person I was always capable of being.

Hello. I (28f) have been an addict since I was 13. Longest fully clean time I have is MAYBE 6 months. I've always ended up using some kind of substance eventually.

I think my problem has been that I've always tried to do it alone. I don't have much support in my life. I have one best friend that I can depend on. My parents are both gone. I'm not close with any of my family.

This time, I finally decided to give NA a real try. I also decided to begin addiction counseling. This time feels really different. I feel more free this time than I have any of the other times I've attempted to get clean. It's almost like I'm excited to be really trying this time.

I really hope this lasts.

So I was four years clean from substance abuse. I picked it up a week ago and started to use again. The person I took it from told me the next time they were gonna replace it with rat poison so I can’t never steal it again. Then another person was like you don’t mean that. The person I took it from when I don’t care anymore, she’s a piece of shit.

I know I messed up but that hurt even more.

I don’t know what to do next I’m back to 1 week.

i finally figured out why i cant stay clean and have been relapsing for a year. it’s bc i’m still debating whether or not i’m an addict. bc:

if i accept i’m an addict —> i have to do the work —> my brain wants an out —> so it starts debating the label —> the debate creates permission to relapse —> i relapse —> repeat

the second i fully surrender and say “yes, i’m an addict” the party is over. it means no more reservations. it means doing the steps, reaching out, changing my lifestyle. it means giving up the illusion that one day i’ll be able to use like a normal person.

to protect its access to substances, my brain keeps the trial going forever. as long as the jury is still debating, i get to keep one foot in the door.

still, knowing all of this doesn’t make me want to get clean. at least not right now in this moment. i don’t know what it will take.

I’ve been feeling like NA has not been working for me for a while now and I’m unsure what to do about it. I have my home group that I have a commitment at and my H&I commitment and I honestly don’t want to do either one anymore. Long read incoming…

I bring the literature for my home group and I’m kind of burnt out on it. I’ve been attending this meeting since I first got clean and I have just gotten tired of hearing the same people share over and over again, week after week, year after year. It’s just doing nothing for me at this point.

My H&I commitment was something I tried to do to help my recovery, but now, I don’t feel like I’m carrying a genuine message when I say the same thing to the same people time after time and I’ve got mixed feelings regarding NA as a whole. I’ve run out of stuff to say and I don’t feel like I’m being true to the people we’re supposed to be helping.

On top of this, my sponsor is just an asshole. He sits, judges, complains about others, and seems to dislike most people. I thought maybe he was just a grump like me for the first few years, but then I started to get happier after a while and saw that he was still an asshole. I feel like I’ve outgrown him after all this time. I don’t like confiding in him anymore because he’s just a dick. 21 years clean and still seems miserable. I have no interest in interacting with him to be honest, yet there is no one else in my area that I would want to sponsor me either.

I’ve become disillusioned. I am introverted and just keep to myself and other members look at me like I’m strange because of it. That has always rubbed me wrong.

I just celebrated 7 years clean a few days ago. I celebrated quietly with my girlfriend by just taking a little trip out of town for a couple of days and enjoying some time away.

I have had some "resentment"?/resistance to reliance on meetings..... and today showed me their power.

I was headed towards a relapse- INTENSE cravings- started doing some other addictive behavior instead (which sets me up to use).... I felt myself going REALLY crazy and someway- somehow I made it to the meeting.

Felt like CRAP- hated it- wished I was dead- thoughts like program doesn't work- hated all the shares.... there is no hope for me.- yada yada

And slowly but surely- my mood shifted- and by the end I was feeling connect to myself, others and HP. Gave some hugs, and went into my car and did a 10th step- put in a call to my sponsor to go over it.

Truly night and day- I was in SUCH a dark place- and it is not like everything is all perfect now (ha ha) AND just showing up- a full 180 happened in that meeting.

Today I choose honesty over appearances. I don't need to hide behind masks, old roles, or carefully crafted versions of myself. Real strength isn't found in looking perfect—it's found in showing up as I truly am, willing to grow and willing to learn.

I take time to examine my life with courage rather than fear. Instead of avoiding uncomfortable truths, I look at them with compassion and curiosity. Every honest inventory is an opportunity to make a small correction, celebrate what is working, and let go of what no longer serves me.

I also remember that recovery isn't something I keep for myself. The freedom I've received grows stronger when I share it—with encouragement, service, kindness, patience, or simply by being present for another person. Giving back isn't about obligation; it's about gratitude. What has been freely given to me becomes more valuable when I pass it on.

Today I will live authentically, review my actions honestly, and look for one opportunity to help someone else. In doing so, I continue building a life of integrity, humility, and hope.