Submit your Ask It Basket Questions Here!

[Kat]

We would love to include member-submitted questions in our weekly online Ask It Basket meeting!  If you have ideas or perhaps even questions you would like to hear feedback on, just respond to this topic.  Every effort will be made to include new questions into the Ask It Basket meeting, held in the chat room at 10:00 PM EST.  See you at the meeting!


If answering Ask It Basket questions in this forum setting is more suited for you, please go to the following link, and follow the instructions on how to respond to questions:

Ask It Basket Forum Edition

[Kat]

The following questions were submitted by Rae:

Why do you think step one is written in two distinct parts?

How are powerlessness and unmanageability related in your recovery?

Why do you think Step 2 refrains from using the word "God?" How does this affect your understanding of your higher power?

The action of Step 3 is making a decision, but that decision creates real change. How do you act on the decision you made in step 3?

Tradition one states that "Unity is a Must in Narcotics Anonymous," what does unity mean to you?

Step two states that we came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. How does keeping to Tradition 2 maintain the sanity and the sanctity of a group?

Have you ever been frustrated with a member who relapsed multiple times and wished they would ‘make up their mind?’ Have you been that person? How does the Third tradition protect all members, even those who have had trouble staying clean?

From the "Group Booklet," "NA groups—not NA meetings—are the foundation of the NA service structure." Why do you think this is? How does it protect the service members of a group and the meetings conducted?

[Kat]

These questions were submitted by JudyO:

Here is a few topics for you…I also chair an Ask the Basket meeting.

How do I CELEBRATE and not use?
How do you have fun clean?
Share about your favorite things to do.

I don’t understand what is the difference between
the fellowship and the program ?"
Aren’t they the same?
Can you explain this to me?"

What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?

The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is…
(take a risk and share with us)

My Sponsor is telling me that I am in relapse
and I haven’t used drugs……….
What is a relapse?
I’m scared of these upcoming holidays !!!
My family get togethers are a trigger.

Were you ready to stop when you finally stopped ?
How long did you continue to use after you no longer wanted to use ?
What made you take the final step ?

One of My Friends In Recovery Passed On,
I am going through so many feelings….. HELP!!!
How do I Deal with Loss and Grieving in Recovery
and feel these feelings and not use?"

I can’t stop using and someone said to me
"Recovery is not going to start working,
until everything else has stopped working"
What did it mean to you when you heard
"KEEP COMING BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME?"
What has become of you as a result of taking that suggestion ?


I am Lonely, What do I do with this feeling?
I want to act out,
Which really means I want to hurt myself.
I have NO reference points of being able to feel this feeling
and take care of myself.


What is your definition of an oldtimer (in the rooms)?
Do you believe that "oldtimers" are viewed/treated differently
than other addicts in the rooms ?
How do you avoid becoming complacent ?


I am new, do I surrender to the program?
Or do I surrender to the disease?
How does this work?
I thought surrendering meant I was weak.

[Kat]

The following questions were submitted by HopeisFound:

Have you surrendered? if so, how and why?

we hear that an addict alone is in bad company! do you believe this to be true and if so, why?

how many f2f meetings a week do you think are necessary/

why is it so important to be able to ask for help

what does faith and hope mean to you?

what do you do to get out of your head, to slow down negative chatter?

are you powerless? if so, please explain how

why is it so important for us to surrender

what does having reservations mean to you? do you have any?

what does sponsorship mean to you? Do you have one?

what steps do you take to work thru a resentment? why is it important to rid ourselves of them?

why are personal amends so important? have you made any? if so, did it effect your recovery?

what does being responsible for your own recovery mean to you?

why are commitments important? do you have any?

we hear there are three things that are indespencable, honesty, openmindness and willingness, what does this mean to you?

What does turning it over mean to you? Have you been successful with this? if so, please explain how!

[Kat]

The following questions were submitted by Gemm:

What has been the most traumatic thing you have had to face in your recovery and how did you get through it clean?

How do you figure out what you are feeling and then learn to deal with all the new feelings in recovery?

What are some of the tools of recovery that you use on a daily basis and why? How do they help you stay clean?

[benana]

How have you acted differently today?
Did your disease run your life today? If so, how?
What did you do today that you wish you had not done?
What have you left undone today that you wish you had done?
Were you good to yourself today? How?
What did you learn about yourself today?
What has your Higher Power given you to be grateful for today?

(taken from "Living the Program")

[Kat]

Thanks Ben…keep ’em coming!   

[benana]

What does "the disease of addiction" mean to you?
What is the specific way in which your addiction has been manifesting itself most recently?
What crisis brought you to recovery?
When did you first recognize your addiction as a problem?
Over what, exactly, are you powerless?
What does unmanageability mean to you?
What are you afraid of about the concept of surrender, if anything?
In what ways have you begun to be honest in your recovery?
What have you heard in recovery that you have trouble believing?
In what ways have you been practicing open-mindedness in your recovery?
How are you practicing the principle of humility in your recovery?
Have you made peace with the fact that you’re an addict?
Have you made peace with the things you will have to do to stay clean?
How is acceptance of our diseae necessary for our continued recovery?

[benana]

Why shouldn’t you judge your insides by the outside appearances of others?
Why is it a good idea to take care of difficulties as soon as possible?
Why is it important to stay aware of our defects?
What helps you to deal with the difficulties of living in the moment?
How do you avoid repeating the actions that make you feel bad?
What does the phrase, "We have the right to feel good" mean to you?
How can the "good times" be a trap?
How is recovery more than just pleasure to you?

[benana]

Why do we need the steps even when we’re feeling good and when things are going well?
What is the danger in being too hungry, angry, lonely or tired?
Why is it dangerous to take ourselves too seriously?
Why do we admit our faults instead of explaining them?
In what way do the steps free us to be ourselves?

[benana]

Why is self-examination a critical element of conducting our lives on a spiritual basis?
What’s going on in your life today? How have you been reacting to it?
What is the importance of keeping in touch with our thoughts, attitudes, feelings and behavior?
Why do some members relapse even after long periods of clean time?
Why do we need to continue practicing the principles of each step even after we have moved on?
What is the danger in being too hard on ourselves, picking at our every motive and looking for problems where none exist?
Are you being honest today?
Are you growing, or are you slipping back into old patterns?
Why is humility important to self-examination?
What harm do we cause when we fail to respect the views of other people as much as our own?
Why can’t our sponsor make decisions for us?
What kind of changes are your relationships, friendships and interactions with others undergoing?
What are the devices you use to keep other people away? What would happen if you dropped them?

[abcd]

What has recovery allowed you the opportunity to love in life?

[Kat]

Thanks!  Feel free to add as many as you like, and welcome to the forum!

[itsmytime]

I have a few questions that I would like help with.  I am new to NA and working on recovering from an addiction to pain medications.
1.  What is the best way to overcome the boredom?  Life always seems to go by fast while on pain medications – when I do not have them, I do not find joy in anything that I used to (even stuff that I found joy in before becoming an addict).  Sure, it’s easy to say go out and do things, but I am broke from my habits and just starting to try to get back on my feet again – so "How, without lots of money, can I overcome my boredom?"
2.  I’m embarrassed in my addiction.  Few people know about it.  I don’t really like to share and definitely do not want others that are close to me that do not know to know about it; however, I want to share in my success.  How can I stop feeling embarrassed about my addiction?
3.  I get frustrated and angry with people very easily when I am not on pain medications.  How can I overcome these feelings and not let people get to me emotionally and mentally in very stressful times?  Overall, what is the best way to deal with daily stress without the drugs?

That’s all I have for now. Thank you everyone for reading.
Jen

[recovery]

What made u seek recovery in the first place

are u convinced u r an addict why or why not

if there is something that you r confused about in recovery do you ask questions

[Kat]

Thanks to both of you!  Great questions!

[Kat]

itsmytime, I hope you don’t mind…I have posted your questions on our "Ask It Basket Forum Edition" so that we can talk about them there as well.  We like to answer questions here on the forum too, and that is why we have both spots. 

http://www.na-recovery.org/board/index.php/topic,1729.0.html

[recovery]

what made you seek recovery in the first place

do you still do what you did in the beginning to stay clean today

if you r new to recovery what recovery tools do you use to get you through the hard times

are u scared of getting and/ or staying clean today