Priceless Information About AA and NA Meetings 

First time I went I was an active alcoholic but, first and foremost, an active opioid addict. I really wanted to go and talk about my drug addiction and one of the very first people I heard speak said she always thought drugs were unacceptable and wrong to use. I went to 2 more meetings and quit; never told my story and never felt comfortable. Now, years later, I'm finally sober and in recovery.... I have to try again.

Wow had to come back and listen to you your words still helping me too from above thanks 🙏🏽

"Millions of people have gone to meetings... and stay clean and sober the rest of their lives." Yep! I'm one of them. Got sober at the age of 20 and never looked back. I'm 39 now and it's been amazing journey. Just started making recovery videos too and it's good to see I'm not the only one. We need more quality content out there. Happy to have discovered your channel :)

I agree. Try out lots of meetings! Great video. Thank you!

I miss you man, I hope wherever you are, that you know how much you’re still helping me, and that I plan to carry on your mission once I am healed Thank you Ryan Donnelly, Mighty Angles watch over him 🙏

Thanks for sharing. I recently started attending meetings twice a week for the past month and a half. I needed this reminder that I can steer the conversation too.

Great Video mate. Good message. Keep rocking the free world.

Thanks for sharing. You are lucky you have your Dad. First meetings are so HONEST ...whether good stories or negative is hard to get used to.

Good message to the NC! Thanks for carrying the message.

Hey Ryan !:) Meetings are really helping me. Getting a sponsor was a huge step in the right direction.

thank you for the great info i went for the first time today i can relate to what you are saying. thanks for the tips

Great information and advice! Thank you very much for putting this out! Take good care, ~Antonio

Thank you for this! Exactly what I needed

Miss you Ryan

Hi I’m Tom in rehab at moment and going meetings and it’s the best thing I’ve done, one day at a time 👌

Your a legend, all conversations tat would stand for too, Interject go bright n positive

Thanks, Ryan!

thanks man im in REDGATE RECOVERY IN LONG BEACH AND WAS HATING IT BUT YOU HELPED ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT THANKS

I had a similar experience and never returned. Perhaps I’ll give it another shot

I started n.a yesterday I have a meeting tonight for real I came on RU-vid to learn about a sponsor and I came across you

Thanks bud!

Thank You

Thanks Ryan for great information

I need to start going to meetings. I’ve been clean far 1 and a half years, but I’m isolating too much. I know what I need to do!😊 Meetings! That’s what I’m missing out on, other people that I can talk and share with. Thank you, Ryan! If you see this comment, I’d like to know if you continue to go to meetings. Is it a life long thing, that recovering addicts & alcoholics need to do? Anyone else that would like to respond to this question? I would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone, who has experience about this.♥️😊

Man I wish there was something like this for mental illness like bi polar. It is very difficult to find things every week. I bet there will be more in the future. I just want to meet people and make connections.

Hi ryan. i just hit 2.3 years clean. we miss you. i finally went to my first NA meeting last week. i just wanted to tell you friend.... i hope your watching down on us

Thank you..

great explanation and great advice!

You made a good point about how the tine can get set at the beginning of a meeting. If the tone is a negative I've shared whatever I felt like sharing. It could be mid meeting and I've come out of no where with how I'm working on the solution.

Keep comin' back...it works!

Omg, meetings can be so overwhelming. I like bigger meetings where I can sit back, listen, hear & absorb others knowledge...its not weird if I don't share. Bigger meetings, I feel like you get all ends of the spectrum too. The very negative & the uplifting positive.

You gave a great tip! Put a smiley face next to their number.

Thank you, Ryan. I was a Fireside guy in NYC, UWS. We had the finest fellowship and support. I left New York and drank again. I have been on a terrible binge/sober life. Terrible, I know the gift of sobriety.

just got out of 21 day program ty for the videos I had 10 yrs clean I gave up on meetings and now look my date now is 8-15-19 clean date it was bad this time it never gets better is got deadly but one day at a time

Your open mind towards all is what gives weight to ur message..... been involved in both fellowships, at least in New England 95% of the meetings take the open/closed classification with a grain of salt. A closed meeting should never turn someone away.

This is what happened to me when I went to my first meeting. I just felt like everyone was feeling sorry for themselves and no one was thankful or nothing! I never went back lolol but maybe I should try again!

Great video Ryan, WE NEED MORE TRUE AA VIDEOS! These people knocking the 12 step programs are dangerously biased and irresponsible! I'm no Big Book thumper, but I do know AA saved my life when I couldn't. Great video dude!

I'm doing gr8 85 days off subs. Btw I can tell by the t-shirt that you have been hitting the gym.

I've had good experiences and bad . Went through a stupid phase where my anxiety was off the charts and I had no outlet. And going to these meetings didn't help . I always felt like I was being stared at and jusged whether I was or not who knows but it bothered me so much because prior to this I could walk in a room filled with people and relate to all of them in someway like a social butterfly. Now I would go in and stay quiet and have problems maintaining eye contact with others. It fucked with me pretty bad and still ducks with me even now that I'm no longer sober. I've got some issues with low self esteem right now since I'm nowhere close the where I wanna be at in life too so I'm sure that plays a role

Great idea, thanks Sir 😉

I'm working on my sobriety. AA is a free way for me to discuss things. But now I want to have a meeting amidst covid-19

My energy though...3 weeks clean from suboxone, still soo depleted & lacking. Trying so hard to get out on the sun, do my "fast walking" lol, but damn...still exhausted ub my bones. Gotta keep moving tho.

Great video

Getting ready to go to my homegroup shortly. I'll have 30 years since my last drink in less then 2 months by God's Grace.

Stop flexing brother lol You look great Ryan. Meetings are a rollercoaster of emotions and you are absolutely right about intersecting and changing the mood. I’ve spoken up and that alone feels amazing whether on the same topic or not. I will say that I did find some of the dudes there a little too ready to hit on me and any other pretty girl in the group. I ended up sharing a story that happened to divulge my lesbianism lol and it did calm some of those gents up a bit. The ones who respect you will actually intervene anytime someone is getting out of line. One individual really tested my desire to come back. I was probably two days into my recovery and so I was just appalled that he’d hit on me when I’m in there sharing about my horrible experiences using. I continued to go and he fell off the grid because he wasn’t taking it serious. Don’t get discouraged and stay focused on why you are there.

thanks man.

Sitting in front of an a.a lunch meeting can't force myself to go inside...ty for your help though

Is it bad of me to say that I have no interest in not drinking. I just want to go to one and see how it is

I'm 58 and hurting in day #1 off of a 6-week​ methadone detox/taper.

Rest in heaven brother

great ryan

I went to a CODA meeting like that... it was the only CODA meeting that I have ever been to.

Meetings have every walk of life there is, just like the real world. Go, you don't use for 1-1.5 hours no matter what you hear, so that means there's something for everyone. You have your feeling and can share and turn the meeting around any time. Not all 'members' take the responsibility seriously. When someone else interjects before you do, then you've found the guy like you want in your recovery. If you're just going to one meeting, you're going to assimilate to that vibe. It's why it is recommended to get to different meetings all the time. Sure, pick a home group,.. after you've hit and participated in a few different meetings.

YES

Thank you for sharing your story in your experiences you give great genuine advice !! I'm not a alcoholic or Addict towards any drug or anything, I was just researching group therapy for my anxiety and depression and panic attacks and this popped up. I really don't want to go to outpatient group therapy but everybody recommends it over one-on-one therapy. I guess I got to try it sooner than later. Thank you.

When i first got clean tears ago, there was no NA meetings close by. I went to a few AA meetings instead. I never shared. I was nervous, shy , it's not my thing. But after building up courage I shared. Some older AA dude made fun of me. He got reprimanded of course. But I've never shared again. That was 20 years ago....I find NA open their hearts to AA. But AA not soo much to NA....

You will never be forgotten

Rest in Peace, Ryan.

Nice dude

7,198 days ago I came into these rooms with a problem, 7,198 days later I keep coming back to these rooms with the same problem and that problem is my name is Chris and I'm a alcoholic. It is by the grace of God and the fellowship of Alcohol Anonymous I haven't found it necessary to take a drink or use a drug since Sept. 25, 1999

SMART RECOVERY is so much more empowering!!!! Join us !!!

I personally do not like court ordered meetings.. It sets us up to be considered as in an active collaboration with the justice system.. The suffering Alcoholic checking us out might well bolt before he ever gets to his first meeting.. I am certain I would not have come in myself If I saw this signing of a paper after a meeting.. Perception. ..

AA and NA are great. I have had some great times in AA with a sponsor house filled with cig's I was 15 , he meant well and had some meaningful times going out to eat. AA is great very great people you will mee. Coffee and cigs help to enrich the experience cannabis would help too and being active. Hell we had parties. some guy had his left foot amputated from diabetes, sad situation. I would go back right now. Most people are hard working american's but I love to laugh and AA is the place for that. I try to eat healthy.

Last July 1 a new girl sat next to me at an AA meeting. I'm an older guy and so I began to tell her how the meeting ran and she thought I was a regular comedian but told no jokes. This girl stood out from the crowd in a pretty, long dress. This angered the hell out of the 30 people there and I got called out as a thirteen stepping predator. I am still thinking about suing the ringleaders of that attack on my integrity, a word some people don't understand.

Hard folding chairs in front of a hundred people in a fuckin basement ain't my cup of tea...but you know what...sometimes things I fear or dread are only thoughts within my head.... that basement may be the jackpot meeting...only one way to find out, and a lot of alternatives if it ain't my jam. Thanks for the advice, I'll try it out 😉

AA really helps a friend mine goes - they drink together in church basements out of harms way - seems to work overall he is better doing that! Good luck!

12 Step Programs don’t work very well for most people and it’s a shame how they dominate the “recovery” industry in the United States. I’ve been to hundreds of meetings and seen the program harm way more people than I’ve seen it help. Fortunately more and more people are starting to realize just how ridiculous it is to have a faith-based approach to a life threatening medical problem. Can you imagine any other medical problem you could have where the doctor tells you to start believing in God and praying to deal with your problem? You’d probably want to get a second opinion ASAP.

Hey Ryan, I've been to a few meeting but every time I go it brings up cravings should I continue to go? I am 3 months clean.

NA works because I choose to put in the effort that the program requires of me. The people that relapse are those that refuse to be honest, open-minded, and willing.

RIP

Youre still making videos ha ive watched almost every one back in the day

What the heck are people meeting about every freaking night of the week?

I miss you so much Ryan. Love you my friend. RIP

Take what you want and leave the rest behind is what I always did

12 Step meetings are the best bang for your Spiritual local community Buck.

I just lost 36 hours. I’m trying to find an AA near me. None.

+24H :)

I need help. I would go to meeting but covid!

It's not a disease... It's an attitude/behaviour thing..

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” This scripture proves that God is going to convict us to go deep in the word.

I know people who get clean and then they get a life then stop going to meetings. And they seem ok. So is this wrong?

AA is a Nut house.

Don't ever share about cats the whole meeting will be "Well my little Kitty blah blah blah blah blah".

The look on my face when i here a.a. garble😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

The reason is becuese you don't know about SMART Recovery

Why is this not more talked about?

NOT OKAY BUD

Reject the 12-step cult.

Don’t blast me for this cause I don’t know... some guy I know told me that AA is good and NA everyone is trying to out do one another. Please comment I would like to hear from other people. Also I don’t know if it matters, but I am in the nyc tristate area.

I disagree. Meetings are great, don't get me wrong. But most people need some form of treatment first wether it be inpatient or outpatient.

Thinking of going to a meeting need support dealing with alcohol. I did really well for months till a girl walks into a bar...the rest is history

It's not what you get out of it.its what u brinG

My mother was an AA member for over 40 years. She sponsored hundreds of people. She said that NA does not have the type of success that AA has because of the way drugs work on the mind. That people gather there some r there for genuine help a lot of in-between and many are there to score. So if you are going to na just be sure you understand this.

He went 2 and a half to 3 years of his recovery, got what he needed and left? That's not how recovery works, you can't keep it if you don't give it away. You're being a selfish alcoholic if you get what you need and stop going. You're not in recovery, you were, now you're just dry.

Can you be my sponsor?

OMG, I am friggin' melting. Feel so horrible.

Anybody know what happened to this dude?

aa doesn't work for most individuals in society with alcohol problems. Why ? due to childhood trauma from authority figures the dictatorship within the aa cult group is re traumatizing and only works for the unempathetic who have a pay off due to there superiority complexes not all l may add but the majority. "Your sick and your doomed to die unless you join our sacred circle" When your around such types it's an instinct. l couldn't watch all your vid your constant eyes bopping all over the place and the finger pointing .....sincerity isn't your strongest point it's indoctrination. Futhermore stating aa is different here than there only pertains to Geography.

I've been literally thousands of times. It is total bull. Its a cult.....

Its great for pulling eager women for sex to! Never expected that! Love it!