I’d like to go to a meeting but am wondering

Other
#1

I’d like to go to meetings but am wondering how truly “anonymous” meetings are. Are there repercussions if others share your name?

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#2

Your not anonymous in the rooms, your anonymous outside the rooms. If that makes any sense. Ppl should know you in a meeting that’s how we help each other. But your name shouldn’t leave the meeting.

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#3

It is as anonymous as you want it to be. Most people only share their first names. So people can address you if needed. Your recovery journey is your. Do what you need to do to feel comfortable and get clean. Good luck to you.

#4

They are very welcoming. I'm not the prey and give up control type but I'm going to NA and AA. Sober is Sober in my opinion. :+1:

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#5

Only first names.

#6

Go by a nickname if you want. Stuff shouldn’t leave the room and if it does you’re in the wrong place.

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#7

FFS just get your a$$ in a meeting and stay sober. Being sober is the only repurcussion.

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#8

I used to make a big deal about all sorts of stuff like this. But they were just excuses to stay drinking. I claimed to be opposed to god, to not trust the anonymity. But what I was really afraid of was the meetings actually working.

Because if they worked then I wouldn’t have my alcohol anymore. And that was too scary to face for a long time.

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#9

I go to zoom meetings and in there you have an option to not even show your face. I prefer them over in person meetings. Not to mention there are soooooo many more and at all times of the day. Just Google aa/na zoom meetings and figure out which one works best for you.

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#10

First names only, but you get out what you put in. You can sit there and not talk at all but that kinda defeats the point. Once you meet people in the rooms they will introduce you to others. It’s a community, a sober network. I’m very close with some fellow NA members we know each other’s full names, talk on the phone. But it’s not that way with every person in the rooms. Go to a meeting, listen and see what it’s all about. I avoided meetings for a long time and all my reasons were just excuses because I didn’t wanna get sober. Right before I got sober I asked god to remove negative people from my life, and he showed me that I was the negative person in my life. Someone from NA told me exactly what I needed to hear and I’ve been sober ever since.

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#11

<3

#12

Thanks all for the responses. I do understand some of the responses saying not going due to it not being totally anonymous is an excuse but in this case, there are other things at play. And I do think it would be wise to keep that in mind when other people post in the future. As much as you are trying to help/be encouraging…..some people really do want to go to meetings but are in situations where it is not truly the best route for them.

I like the online suggestion and will be utilizing that. Thanks much!