Step Groups

[Guest cerise]

Lately I have been asked to join a step group and although I am waffling my HP (higher power) is saying

1. You have already done a set of steps in which you discussed the role of being TG and how it influenced your drug use (my Hp always speaks to me in the 2nd person)

2. you are going to beat around the bush and avoid the issue frustrating the group and wasting your time .

Step four requires "a searching and fearless moral inventory" and that would include the disfunction in my life as a result of hiding ,denying and exploring my true self .

I like these people and being asked to join is a compliment ( I like sharing and people like my honesty as well as my vunerbility ) .

I first came out in a Dual Diagnosis Meeting ( I was allowed to attend even without A diagnosis) and this was a turning point for me not only on my TG journey but as a bonus I lost my fear of Heights that I aquired 20 some years ago (NO BS ) .

If I look at it as a way of networking and connecting with more people it would be a good idea to join and in fact Step five only requires you to share your step 4 with 1 person so any gory details can be avoided but at the same time avoiding the details is the polar opposite of what this is all about .

As well this is an all mens step meeting and I find as part of my recovery getting to know women has been invaluable .

I would rather do steps 4 and 5 with someone who is also TG male or female.

In context this is where I am at

1.We admitted we were powerless over our true TG nature and our lives had become unmanageable .

I'll stop there for now.

[Guest Evan_J]

Hmmm.

Sounds like you want to make the all mens group your "home group"?

If so, that doesn't mean you can't have another meeting that you enjoy visiting -maybe a mixed one or even look for a lgbt one, and do your 4th and 5th step.

OR, if a "meetin" is anyplace two or more addicts are gathered together for the purpose of recovery, technically you could do them on this thread.

[Guest cerise]

I have a home group which is a mixed group . I also co chair a newcomers mixed group. in effect I need and like mixed groups .

But back to your other thought , technically I could do some them on this thread but the aspect of a pile of people reading my step 5 might have an affect on my 5 in regards to it's content . As well this type of forum is prone to comments ie crosstalk .

As far as the "all men's step group" I will do a forum step 5 right now and say that "one of my defects of character would be the inability to say no when something doesn't work for me".

Falling under the category of people pleasing .

There Evan you just did a step 5 with me .

Albeit a safe one .

Coming clean is something that requires face to face . I took a long time before I could find someone to do my first step five with .

As well I will finalize what to do about the step group tomorrow.

In actual fact the first step group I ever attended was a lgbt step group . I was brand new at the time and was not ready to say "Hi I'm so and so , alcoholic pothead , and one of my defects of character is that I have been lying to myself and those around me about me about my true gender identity and as result have been using drugs and alcohol for years to mask/deal with my condition.

oops I guess that's 2 step 5 topics .

Chow fer now.