Nar-Anon support for families

rahmiyn · #1 25th March 2009, 09:48 PM

I am a Christian who lives with two sons, one who is a recovered addict (Oxycontin) and one (younger) who is in trouble for marijuana possession.

Because of the younger son, I went to an Nar-Anon support meeting last night (for the first time) and an NA meeting with this younger son.

I came away really affected by both meetings, because I realized the twelve steps really do focus on wisdoms we find in the Bible. It really struck me how recovering addicts are essentially required to do what young Christians are required to do in the conversion process: repent, forgive, resign yourself as helpless and completely in need of God's rescue, his strength.

I was surprised that the families are also encouraged to go through the twelve steps, that this is the key to their finding peace and joy again in their lives that have been drained and strained with dealing with addiction in others they love. But, the solution is the same as that of the addict, which again really surprised me.

In a way, it made me realize just how great an equalizer Jesus' salvation process is, how it emphasizes we are all sinners, we are all in need of the same wisdoms regardless of who we are or how seemingly together we might be.

But, of course the meetings don't focus necessarily on Christianity, but I was fascinated how the basic wisdoms in the twelve steps reflect the basic wisdoms we find in the New Testament teachings.

Has anyone else experienced NA or support groups? I really would be interested to hear what others think about the twelve steps and how they relate to Christian wisdom.

Thanks.

ajtoce · #2 26th March 2009, 02:35 AM

my mom has been going to AA almost her whole life. she is in a relapse right now, but i used to go with her all the time just to be with her. i went to rehab for 10 months and never really worked the steps. the steps do require you to acknowledge a higher power, but it is up to the individual to put it in a christian perspective. the majority of people in these groups end up giving all the glory to the steps and none to god. just make sure your son puts down the Big Book and reads the Good Book on a regular basis. I have a lot of knowledge on this subject so feel free to ask away!

rahmiyn · #3 26th March 2009, 01:30 PM

just make sure your son puts down the Big Book and reads the Good Book on a regular basis.

Tbh, I got the impression in the meeting I attended that this is the type of thing we have to let go of, trying to persuade the addict to do what's right for him or her. These two sons have rejected the Bible and Christianity (which I partly blame on the church our family attended and all the controversy going on). I can understand why they would want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.

But, really, my OP was more about the effect the meetings had on me, that they would expect me to go through the twelve steps just as the addicted family member would. I wondered what others thought about this particular aspect, as it tends to say we are just as much in need of the same thing our addicted family member is if we are to emerge from the terrible situation with peace.

Is this something you too got from the meetings? That we have to look at ourselves and not the others?