Narcotics Anonymous Not Applicable?

My name is Tara; I am not an addict. But that does not mean I don’t relate.
Tonight I went to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting as part of a class assignment. I listened to men and women, old and young, recount their struggles and their inspiring tales of success. And I could relate. The most surprising thing about the NA meeting was that, even though I am not an addict, or an alcoholic, or picking my life up from rock bottom, I could relate with these people.
Struggling with a higher power, with the choices we have made in our lives, and with the repercussions of our actions both on ourselves, and those around us is something every human faces at one point or another. I was surprised to find that each time someone raised their hand to speak I could see a little bit of myself in a little bit of what they were saying. Yet at the same time I was completely, wholly aware of my own identity (which, I have realised, is a very rare blessing). I know who I am and who I want to be. I am lucky.
If I have ever been unsure about my choice to pursue a profession in Psychology, I learnt tonight why I want to do what I want to do. It’s not for the satisfaction of helping people, it’s not for the control of fixing someone else’s problem; it’s not for me at all. It’s for the people, the strong and inspiring people that have enough self-regard, and, more importantly, enough hope to want to help themselves. There is nothing I, as a psychologist, or any other professional could do for a person that they could not do for themselves. Human strength is a powerfully inspiring thing.
What struck me most was not the people courageous enough to speak, not the heart-wrenching struggles of the newcomers to the meeting, but simply the number of people that filled that small room both with their physical presence and their ambient encouragement.
Before I attended the meeting I did not fully understand how a self-help group worked. I learnt about it in my counselling class, I’ve heard about it, and seen re-enactments on TV, but I never really knew what self-help was until tonight. It’s each person’s individual battle, and victory over their struggle. Even if just for that day, even if just for the hour they are sitting in that room. It’s the will power to take control of your own life and learn to make the decisions you want to make. It’s the personal search for a higher power, and surrendering to it or, alternatively, choosing not to. Self-help groups are about helping the individual. All the group is there for is support, but support is the most important thing.
Anyone who is struggling with substance abuse, or simply struggling with themselves, should know what it is to be a part of something greater than themselves. Not God, or Buddha, or religion, or anything, but help. A group arranged with the sole purpose of helping yourselves by helping others, to me, is a higher power worth believing in.