Going to your first meeting can be a terrifying and shamed filled experience.  Our addiction has left us alone, isolated; filled with shame and remorse.  We didn't plan on ending up be sex addicts, but here we are.  The willingness it takes to start recovering is finally stronger than the pull of the addiction. 

 

Many of us expect to find the dregs of society when we walk through the door.  So filled with shame about our behavior, we are confident that everyone in the room will judge us as harshly as we are judging ourselves.  

 

We are relieved when we find this is not the case.  We are met by men and women from all walks of life, all social and economic backgrounds and orientations.  We are met by people that have a warmth and compassion that only true understanding of the pain of addiction can create.  We find a safe place.  A place to be honest, real and begin to change our lives.

 

Meetings are not group therapy.  There is no professional facilitator and there is no cross talk or advise given.  Nor is there a formal cost for meetings, though we do "pass the hat" to cover expenses, this is called the 7th Tradition.

 

Meetings follow this general format:

• There is a meeting chair that will start the meeting  
• The Chair will offer a moment of silence and a short opening prayer
• Volunteers read an introduction, the 12 steps &/or traditions
• The Chair will ask if there are any visitors or people new to recovery.
• Simply raise your hand and give your first name only. This lets us welcome you.
• Most meetings will pass around a New Comers Packet with phone numbers to give you after the meeting.
• Recovery "Birthday's" are announced at some meetings
• Announcements are made
• 7th tradition is observed
  
• Then either
• A speaker will talk on a topic or their experience, strength and hope, or
• Literature is read
• The meeting is then opened for sharing.  Some meetings ask that sharing be limited to the topic of discussion, others allow getting current.
• You are free to share or not.  There is no requirement, though experience has shown that it is very helpful to share just a little to help begin to break the chains of isolation.  Perhaps something as simple as "Hi, my name is _____.  I have no idea what to say."
• The Chair will end sharing shortly before the end of the meeting.
• A closing will be read.
• Finally everyone joins in a closing prayer (generally the Serenity Prayer) and the meeting is over.

Remember - You'll only have to go to your first meeting once!

 

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