Jennings County Nar-Anon Family

Jennings County Nar-Anon Family We share a message of hope to families who have loved ones that are struggling with SUD

October 30 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingSHARINGBefore Nar-Anon, I was always hiding my innermost thoughts. I did not want ...
10/31/2025

October 30 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

SHARING

Before Nar-Anon, I was always hiding my innermost thoughts. I did not want to bring them to the surface. Revealing my thoughts to others made them seem trivial. However, the pain I was feeling was real, and the emotional wounds that caused that pain were deep. Hiding my thoughts and feelings only increased the pain I felt and did nothing to help me heal and recover.

When I first came to the rooms of Nar-Anon, I did very little sharing. Instead, I just listened. As I heard the other members share their similar problems with their addicted family members, my courage grew, and I felt safe. The first time I did open up, it was clear that verbalizing my fears, anxieties and problems helped me. In that short five-minute share, I felt as though a five-pound weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt that others understood my problems. Sometimes I still get scared and my rambling thoughts are not always coherent, but the other members are patient and listen. After so many years of not communicating, I need more practice because it is difficult for me to even speak my thoughts. When I am having a hard time, I write them down first.

My life was unmanageable before I came to Nar-Anon. I have a tendency to forget what is good and positive around me. When this happens, I go to a meeting and find the loving support of the fellowship.

Thought for Today: Words of wisdom are not my forte, but I have found the healing effect of sharing my concerns with others. The times I most want to hide out with my problems are the times I most need to reach out to others.

“You get to the point where your demons, which are terrifying, grow smaller and smaller and you get bigger and bigger.” ~ August Wilson

Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 29 Nar Anon Daily SESH ReadingGROWING UPThe Nar-Anon shared experience has assisted me in healing my weak points...
10/31/2025

October 29 Nar Anon Daily SESH Reading
GROWING UP
The Nar-Anon shared experience has assisted me in healing my weak points and recognizing my assets. Working Step Four is difficult, but necessary, in this evolving process.
My character defects have held me in bondage for too long. I accepted bad behavior from people who I love because I was unable to set appropriate boundaries. I chose the victim role of the shame-blame game. It was exhausting and drained my energy. I became ready for a change. This meant I had to start looking at myself for answers. It was time to get off the pity pot and stop asking “why me?”
My past errors in judgment do not define me. They are part of my learning process. My guilt and shame can only hold me back if I allow it. These feelings cannot control or haunt me as long as I use the honesty tool of recovery. I now have the courage to look at my weaknesses, talk about them, and strengthen them. My energy is being restored. My character defects are evolving into personality assets. A healthy outlook is now as much a part of me as the painful past.
I am learning how to balance my life with a new vision. Life is a tapestry of many threads. They complete a life portrait that is all me! I recognize my gifts. I am okay! God did a good job. I am my own masterpiece. I feel whole again – almost. Well, it is a process.
Thought for Today: Recovery is about growing up and now is a good time to get started.
“If you do not ask yourself what it is you know, you will go on listening to others and change will not come because you will not hear your own truth.” ~ Saint Bartholomew
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 28 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingDETACHMENT At my first Nar-Anon meeting, people referred to “detachment.” I rememb...
10/31/2025

October 28 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

DETACHMENT

At my first Nar-Anon meeting, people referred to “detachment.” I remember how foreign that word sounded to me. I remember thinking, “How do I do that?” I left the meeting knowing that I definitely needed to find out more about detachment. I was convinced it could be the answer I had been looking for!

I began to read about detachment. At first, it sounded harsh. I am supposed to let her take care of herself. Just let the addict fall on her face? She needed me so desperately, how could I just stop, and let her take care of her own problems. She will surely crash! How can I do this? All of these panic questions popped into my head.

Now I see that I was just as sick as she was. My sickness was helping her and living for her, while I was neglecting my own life in all her drama. I was not helping her; I was stopping her from seeing there was a problem and trying to fix it on her own. I was playing God trying to bring about the outcome I wanted, not necessarily what she needed.

Since then, I have learned to detach, and I am living a much calmer existence. I tell myself daily to not get plugged into her drama. I have set some boundaries and she is responding to them. She is still in denial that there is a drug problem, but I have hope she will some day see. It is not my responsibility to play God with another’s life.

Thought for Today: The addict has to take care of his or her own life struggles, as we have to take care of our own lives. They may not see there is a problem if they never have to experience it. It is my responsibility to take care of me and my life. By detaching, I can allow this to happen with love.

“Do not take life too seriously; you will never get out of it alive.” ~ Elbert Hubbard Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 27 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingIT WORKS IF YOU WORK ITMany of the Nar-Anon meetings I attend close with the Seren...
10/31/2025

October 27 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT
Many of the Nar-Anon meetings I attend close with the Serenity Prayer and a few words of encouragement with the collective suggestion: “Keep coming back; it works, if you work it, so work it, you’re worth it.”
Keep coming back. This was the only thing that I remember hearing at my first meeting. Initially, coming back to Nar-Anon meetings for me was not a choice I wanted to make. I came because I wanted to change my husband who is the addict in my life. One idea that I neither like nor accepted right away was that I had to change myself. I felt I had no character defects and I definitely was not the problem. I listened at meetings and to my surprise, I kept learning. By listening to other members share their experience, strength and hope, I learned two things. I was not alone and I was not without character defects.
I now know that I can go to meetings and share the anger and rage I feel. The people in these rooms understand. They do not judge me. For the first time, I have permission to be angry and I do not need to hide or feel ashamed. Once the anger has passed, I can begin to look at the one thing I can change: me. In Nar-Anon, I can heal and recover if I keep coming back and work it, because I am worth it.
Thought for Today: I know that I am not alone; I have the support of the Nar-Anon fellowship. All I need to do is to keep coming back.
“Since there is no ‘arrival’, no magical day on which we suddenly achieve serenity and live on forever free of stress or strain, most of us eventually learn to be patient. We find that we can trust the process of recovery to move us ever forward, even if it sometimes feels as if we’re moving backwards.” ~ How Al-Anon Works
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 26 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingSTEP TEN IN JAILTime in the Nar-Anon program gave me a false sense of security. Ev...
10/27/2025

October 26 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
STEP TEN IN JAIL
Time in the Nar-Anon program gave me a false sense of security. Everyone told me what a great program I was working. I had accepted that I could not change my husband, but I still wanted to help. I still thought that I could be an integral part of the addict’s recovery. I started out small, a little help here, and a little help there, but I had my program behind me. I felt, “This time I’m okay, I know what I am doing, and I can handle it. This time is different.”
One evening I called home and the addict answered the phone. I knew within a few minutes that he had been using. I left work early and went home immediately to confront him. The confrontation soon became mutually physical. The addict attempted to leave by taking my car and I called the police. When the police arrived, we told our stories and we were both taken to jail.
At that time, I had been in the program a year and thought I had my reactions under control. I could have used any one of the many tools I learned in the program to avoid these consequences. I had a lot of time to think that night. I took what I believe was my first honest Step Ten; accepting that I was in that cell, not because of the addict, who was in the cell next to me, but because of my own insane actions and reactions. I was responsible for me.
Thought for Today: Recovery is a process. I may never be all better. I can learn to grow every day if I keep an honest, open and willing mind to new ways of doing things.
“Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start.” ~ Book of Common Prayer
Copyright 2007 Nar-Aon Family Group Headquarters

October 25 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingSELF-AWARENESSThis is a hypothetical monologue that those of us recovering from th...
10/26/2025

October 25 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
SELF-AWARENESS
This is a hypothetical monologue that those of us recovering from the effects of addiction might have:
Who is this “me?” “Me” is who takes care of “them.” “Me” is who will be so much better, once “they” are better. Who has time for “me” when there is so much that “they” need to have done? “They” don’t appreciate “me”; “they” don’t see all the good “I” am doing for “them.” “I” know what “they” need, if only “they” would listen. “They” think “they” can take care of themselves, but where would “they” be without “me?” “They” keep making the same mistakes and “I” have to clean up the mess. “I” don’t make mistakes; “I” am too busy with “their” mistakes. “They” will listen; “I” will make them. “I” don’t give up; “I” will find a way to make “them” better. The pain will go away, then “I” will not be so scared all of the time. “They” will see how much “I” love “them,” how much “I” have sacrificed for “them.” Then “they” will make “me” happy, and we will all be better.
Thought for Today: We may think it is easier to be a victim of other people’s behavior than to take responsibility for our own lives. Nar-Anon puts the focus on us and takes it away from the addict(s) in our lives. It is scary to look inside ourselves and take responsibility for what we think and feel. Nar-Anon gives us a safe environment to take those looks, and a loving program to help us grow.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 24 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingENCOURAGEMENTI have learned from Nar-Anon that there are several ways to keep myse...
10/26/2025

October 24 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
ENCOURAGEMENT
I have learned from Nar-Anon that there are several ways to keep myself encouraged while living with an addict. When I go to meetings, read literature, work the steps, get a sponsor, and trust a Higher Power, I am choosing to take care of myself.
But what about the addict? If the addict chooses not to be in a program, I feel there is no one to encourage him except me. I know there is nothing I can do to change the addict, or to make him want to change, but I can constructively encourage him in little ways:
· I can stop trying to control or run his life. Let him choose, fall, fail, and learn on his own. Saving him from the consequences may mean that it takes longer for him to reach his bottom and get help.
· I can trust in him and believe that he can succeed in recovery. This does not mean I have to trust him or believe what he says. My positive attitude and energy will rub off on him.
· I keep expectations low. Instead of a high level of expectation, I note progress from where he was to where he is, not where I think he should be.
· I give verbal reinforcement for accomplishments, progress and growth. I show appreciation for the good things even if it is expected or seems insignificant.
· I trust in a Higher Power to take care of the addict and thereby not interfere with the working out of the addict’s process.
Thought for Today: By practicing these few ways to encourage the addict, I stay out of the way of the addict’s recovery and I stay in peace and serenity by ridding myself of the responsibility I might have mistakenly taken on to try to get and keep the addict clean.
“Love and let be.” ~ Nar-Anon Blue Bookle
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 23 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingSELF-CAREThe first time I heard about self-care was in a Nar-Anon meeting. I never...
10/26/2025

October 23 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
SELF-CARE
The first time I heard about self-care was in a Nar-Anon meeting. I never knew what it meant to take care of myself. At home, I was taught to put everyone else first, especially my younger siblings. It was my responsibility to care for them. I love what Nar-Anon is teaching me about self-care. Self-care today means to care for myself first. When I do that, I become a better person and I have more energy to be available to others.
I thought my responsibility was to take care of my ex-husband. Through Nar-Anon, I learned that I was not allowing my ex-husband to be responsible for taking care of himself. In the meantime, my five-year-old son was caring for himself. It was not until one of his teachers pulled me to the side to let me know of my neglect that I saw the truth. That is when I sought help.
A professional told me about Nar-Anon. I called him back later and thanked him. I began to take care of my son and myself. Now eleven years later, another son and a fiancé, things are a lot different. I continue to take care of myself, even when it becomes challenging.
Thought for Today: Now when I come home from work, I go to my room and unwind, instead of going straight to the kitchen. When I wake up in the morning, I talk to my Higher Power first before I talk to anyone. I exercise and read my literature daily.
“If I must love my neighbor as myself, it is at least as fair to love myself as my neighbor.” ~ Nicholas de Chamfort
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 22 Nare-Anon Daily SESH ReadingONE DAY AT A TIME I am sitting here in a Nar-Anon meeting by myself, not feeling ...
10/26/2025

October 22 Nare-Anon Daily SESH Reading

ONE DAY AT A TIME

I am sitting here in a Nar-Anon meeting by myself, not feeling alone. I have checked the literature supply, written a notice for the local newspaper, read the thought for the day, and read part of A Guide for the Family of the Addict and Drug Abuser. I am so grateful to the people that were here when I needed them; so starting a group is one of the ways I can give back.

I remember my old behavior and habits. My busy mind was always going a hundred miles an hour. I wondered where the kids were, if they went to school, if they were fighting, if my husband was using, did he sneak home, were the kids high, would their dad catch them using, what did they do, or say, and what would happen tomorrow? Today in Nar-Anon, my mind moves in one direction at a comfortable pace, one day at a time.

It is such a relief to know that I do not have to make decisions for others. I am not responsible for their actions, or whether they choose to use or stay clean. Sometimes, I think that it is easy for me to say that since my family members are all clean. Then I would start to wonder how I would handle it if that were not the case. A dear friend reminded me “A day at a time – don’t worry about what may happen tomorrow, because those worries may never come to be.”

Thought for Today: I like myself. Today I can be of service in Nar-Anon and not take charge. Today I can find something to be grateful for in my life. Today I love my husband and my children. Today I believe in a Power greater than myself, and without this program, I would not be where I am. Through total faith, I became ready to let these changes happen within me.

“It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis.” ~ Margaret Bonnano Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 21 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingBELONGINGNo matter what kind of group I joined, I always felt like an outsider. I ...
10/23/2025

October 21 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
BELONGING
No matter what kind of group I joined, I always felt like an outsider. I did not feel as though I belonged. That all changed when I found Nar-Anon. I felt it at my first meeting; I had found a second family! I fit in here in these rooms. I could talk about my son’s addiction without feeling ashamed. My group understands how I feel, and I do not feel so alone. It is okay for me to be me. It is wonderful to be safe and have Nar-Anon friends I can call because they understand my feelings of going crazy. I am comfortable getting up in front of my Nar-Anon group because I know I am accepted. I am an equal. I do not feel judged or odd. I can sense the unconditional love of the Nar-Anon fellowship. I can experience the healing.
I was having a rough time and had stopped attending meetings for several weeks. When I came back, I was welcomed. No one asked, “Where were you?” I was accepted, hugged and told it was good to see me back. My Nar-Anon group is my family of choice and I am so grateful to belong.
This experience led me to a newfound sense of confidence. This sense of confidence helps me relate to others outside my Nar-Anon program. Nar-Anon has given me back my self-assurance and self-esteem. I know that today, with the help of my Higher Power, I can carry on with my life whether my son is using or not. My life is mine again and it has meaning.
Thought for Today: The unconditional love I receive from Nar-Anon is similar to medicine. It protects and soothes the pain and hurt I have suffered because of addiction, so the healing process of recovery can begin.
“If we make our goal to live a life of compassion and unconditional love, then the world will indeed become a garden where all kinds of flowers can bloom and grow.” ~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 19 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingLIVE IN THE NOWI have a problem with living in the here and now, just for today. I...
10/23/2025

October 19 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading
LIVE IN THE NOW
I have a problem with living in the here and now, just for today. It took me a long time but I finally realized that I could not cure my addicted husband and I separated from him. With four small children, I felt that it was okay for other members of the fellowship to live one day at a time, but I had to think of the future of my kids. What if they blame me for their father's drug use just as he does? What if they become addicts themselves? Could I be Mommy and Daddy for them? I read something recently that finally changed my mind:
“As we focus on the present moment, we live it deeper, and we derive a satisfaction that we did not know when we were regretting the past and worrying about the future. Whatever happens now is all I can manage and all I need.” ~ Food for Thought by Elisabeth L.
Sure, I still worry once in awhile, but that is fine as long as I do not let it consume me. Now I ask myself, “Are my children happy today? Is there anything I can do to make this day a better memory for them?”
I think the reason I can do this is that I am finally at peace with where I am now and who I am. I am grateful for today, for right now.
Thought for Today: I will live in the here and now. I cannot see the future and I may glance back at the past, but I will not stare.
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

October 18 Nar-Anon Daily SESH ReadingVIOLENCEViolence comes in many forms: physical, verbal and mental abuse and ugly s...
10/18/2025

October 18 Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

VIOLENCE

Violence comes in many forms: physical, verbal and mental abuse and ugly stares full of hate. I have experienced them all. I remember being pushed, hollered at, and pinched by my grandfather who was partially responsible for raising me. He was an alcoholic who was drunk most of the time. His violence extended to sexually abusing us as young children. When my father died, my mother took her grief out on me. She expected me to be her number one assistant because she was left to raise four children. Later, I married a man who was not only violent but also an addict.

I believe those years spent experiencing violence in its various forms gave me an inner strength to carry on in this life. I know I no longer need to allow or tolerate abuse from others. I know because I deserve better treatment. I also gained awareness and sensitivity towards the hurts of others. I am able to listen, learn and guide without judgment. Sharing with someone in Nar-Anon I can trust is a powerful healing tool. With my newfound hope and support, I feel free and able to continue on with my life. I learned in Nar-Anon that I have the power to make my own choices for a healthier and better way of life.

Thought for Today: No one deserves to be abused; we all deserve to be safe. With the help of my Higher Power, I will no longer continue to act like a victim. I will choose to get help and recovery from past abuse and make a better life for myself. I will help others do the same.

“Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. Ever. Period. But it does - and when it does there is help.” ~ Domestic Violence Handbook

Copyright 2007 Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

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North Vernon, IN
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What’s Nar-Anon?

The Nar-Anon Family Groups is primarily for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction problem of someone very near to you. We have traveled that unhappy road too, and found the answer with serenity and peace of mind.

When you come into the family group, you are no longer alone, but among true friends who understand your problem as few others could. We respect your confidence and anonymity as we know you will respect ours. We hope to give you the assurance that no situation is too difficult and no unhappiness is too great to be overcome.

Our program, which is not a religious one but a spiritual way of life, is based on the Twelve Steps of Nar-Anon. We've found that the working of these steps will bring the solution to practically any problem. We urge you to take this program and its twelve steps seriously. It has been as helpful to us as the Narcotics Anonymous program is to the addict. We only ask for the wisdom and courage to see ourselves as we really are, to do something about ourselves with the help of a Higher Power as we understand this, and for the grace to release our addicts with love and cease trying to change them.

Keep an open mind and attend as many meetings as possible. Feel free to share during the meeting. You may ask questions after the meeting. You'll soon make friends and will feel very much a part of the group.