Newcomer’s Corner

If you are new to Nar-Anon, welcome! We are so glad that you found us, fellow travelers. You’re not alone. Please be sure to check out Nar-Anon’s official website at  Nar-Anon.org. There you will find out more about the program, how to purchase literature, where to find all registered in-person and virtual meetings, and more.

Finding Friends

We all need Narabuddies (the friends we find in our family group meetings who share their experience, strength, and hope with us). Communicating with one another between meetings reminds us that we are not alone on this journey as we deal with the family disease of addiction. If you hear a member share something that resonates with you, be sure to request their contact information [the chat tool is open at the beginning and towards the end of every meeting]. The more contacts you have at your disposal, the better your chances of finding a Sponsor. And, keep in mind that reaching out is not a bother! Please trust that we don’t give out our numbers or emails unless we are willing to be contacted. 

Literature

In Nar-Anon, we read only from Conference Approved Literature (also known in meetings as CAL). Most newcomers find the following three pieces of literature most helpful:

  1. Sharing Experience, Strength, and Hope, also known as SESH, is our daily reader (item B-202).
  2. Nar-Anon’s “Little” Blue Booklet, is read during every meeting (item B-200).
  3. Nar-Anon 36, which is our Step Workbook (item B-206).

If purchasing your literature from the Nar-Anon webstore, you may also find the following pamphlets very helpful:

  1. An Open Letter to My Family (item P-109)
  2. Detachment: The Key to Survival (item P-107)
  3. Boundaries and Consequences (item P-116)
  4. It’s Not About Yesterday, But Today (item P-113)
  5. Finding a Sponsor (item P-101)

There are also free articles found in Nar-Anon’s Serenity Connection Newsletter or here: https://www.nar-anon.org/serenity-connection 

“You are no longer alone.”

Nar-Anon

Nar-Anon is a Spiritual Program

This means that we accept the idea that we are dependent upon a Higher Power for help in solving our problems and achieving peace of mind. A member’s individual religious beliefs are a personal matter, and we make it a point to avoid discussions regarding any specific faiths.

Group Participation

At Nar-Anon meetings, only one person speaks at a time. Anyone may express an opinion during their sharing. We don’t engage in dialogue, debate, or cross-talk. We also don’t comment, correct, or judge others as they share. What is true for one may not be true for another. You can freely choose to just listen. We’re not here to talk about the addict’s problems but to keep the focus on ourselves and our own recovery. If you have questions, you can stay after the meeting to speak with others…”

Contributions are Voluntary

Our 7th Tradition in Nar-Anon states: “Every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions”. As all contributions are voluntary, a member may give what they can afford when the [virtual] basket is passed…

Literature

[O]ur literature is to help and guide you as you recover and continue to work the program. It’s not intended to fix all your problems; it’s to help you in your journey.

Types of Meetings

Since each group is autonomous, they can decide, by group conscience, how their meetings will be conducted. However, this is always done in accordance with the Nar-Anon Traditions. Meetings can be held by group sharing, step and/or tradition studies, topic meetings, or speaker meetings.

Nar-Anon Spoken Here

You may notice that Nar-Anon members have a language all their own. This is one of the reasons we ask members to keep coming back. At first, the new words and phrases you’ll hear may appear foreign to you. You will learn about the steps, traditions, and slogans and find helpful information in our Nar-Anon literature. Sometimes you may wonder why the same readings need to be repeated at each meeting. As you continue to attend meetings, you’ll find that those readings and slogans become a part of your everyday recovery.

Group Service

[A]fter you’ve attended meetings for a while, you may want to lead a meeting or serve as group secretary, treasurer, or group service representative (GSR). We have found that doing service work has been helpful in our recovery.

Excerpted from What’s Nar-Anon? – Nar-Anon Family Groups © Copyright 2021 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Used with permission.