The Glow of Others
“Coming into the program, I didn’t even realize how isolated I was,” says Jesse. “Soon I started to see a glow in others and in myself: The glow of recovery.”
Isolation
Step Nine: “The Importance of Working All Twelve Steps” Podcast Series
Tina, a recovering compulsive overeater, and Gloria, a compulsive overeater and food addict, host this workshop on Step Nine: “Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” They give specific examples to show what making amends can look like in different situations.
Breaking Out of Relapse
Have you relapsed into compulsive eating or compulsive food behaviors? This video can help you understand how you got here. It will point you toward the next right thing you can do to get back to recovery.
Interview with Dodie: Compulsive Eater
Before OA, food ruled Dodie’s every waking moment, even from a very early age. In college, Dodie weighed 215 pounds (97.5 kg) and felt trapped in ugliness. When she realized she had a problem with food, she found OA, and now maintains a 85-pound (38.5-kg) weight loss.
Interview with Bob: Overeater and Overexerciser
Bob was already in shape and at a healthy weight but learned in OA that his exercise habits masked a food addiction. He describes how OA gave him a safe place to find recovery and build a productive life.
Interview with Kathleen: Binge Eater
Kathleen’s binge eating and low self-esteem made her ill and unable to hold a job. She was in the midst of bingeing and counting calories when she heard on the radio a public service announcement about Overeaters Anonymous. When she attended her first meeting, someone told her “You’re not alone anymore,” and that was enough to give her hope and start her on her recovery journey.
Interview with Beth: Perfectionism, Isolation, and Compulsive Eating
Beth learned about OA after she noticed a coworker losing weight and becoming noticeably happier. When she realized that she was out of control, she asked if she could join her coworker at a meeting. At the meeting, she was relieved to hear that OA is not a diet program and that the other OA members had problems with food that were similar to her own.
Interview with Bob: Compulsive Overeater
Food was Bob’s sole obsession. He was selfish with food, and his unapologetic overeating even drove away friends. As an agnostic, he was uncomfortable hearing talk about God at his first meeting, but he stuck around, and now his life is changed completely and for the better.
My Part of Together
“We are all dependent on each other for our shared welfare,” says one OA member. “You came with a commitment to love me until I learned to love myself. Because I owe you for that love and acceptance, I get the work done that needs to be done.”
Stepping Up to Recovery
“I cannot believe I have been abstinent long enough to have made it to Step Twelve,” says Michele. “When I first came to this program, I would not have thought my life would be as it is now.” What changed for Michele? Read the story to find out!