Changing Ourselves
Addiction is like a chain reaction. It is a disease that affects the user and their family members, friends and co-workers. I tried to control, cover up, and take on…
Self-Pity
Self-pity is defined as “the self-indulgent belief that your life is harder and sadder than everyone else’s.” I spent many of my early Nar-Anon meetings overcome with self-pity. I was…
Feelings
I have learned in Nar-Anon that feelings just are. One day I decided it was time for me to start thawing out. I was ready to feel the feelings I…
Grief
I experienced great sadness when I lost my husband after a long illness. I grieved for a long time and I often thought I would never be able to get…
Peace of Mind
One of the first things that drew my attention when I came into the rooms of Nar-Anon was that the members who seemed to have the most serenity shared a…
Surrender To Win
When I first came to the rooms of Nar-Anon, I could not understand or even grasp the idea of “surrender to win.” I believed to surrender would mean I had…
Love Or Obsession
Nar-Anon meetings begin with the reading of several pages from our Nar-Anon literature. One night, a newcomer asked, “What does, ‘To watch is not to love’ mean?” I could not…
Maturity
When faced with the absurd behavior and the resulting negative consequences of addiction, I still thought I could respond, in a mature way, with reason and dignity. You’ve gotta’ be…
Detachment With Love And Respect
“A breakdown paves the way to a breakthrough” is a quote shared by a Nar-Anon member from her therapist, which sums up my journey toward detachment with love and respect.…
Enabling
At my Nar-Anon meeting, there was a discussion on enabling. One member asked, “How can I give food, clothing, money, and shelter to a perfect stranger and not help my…