Telephone Tools & Concepts From Phone to Photograph: the Next Right Thing It was 10:30 in the morning, and I was in a dangerous state of mind. I had just broken a promise to myself and gotten on my scale, only to find that its number had not budged a bit. I stared out the kitchen window, my mind racing. “What good is this? I have been abstinent, writing all my food … Read More
Relapse Relapse & Recovery Back from Relapse I am a grateful, recovering anorexic, exercise bulimic, and food addict. I have four wonderful years of abstinence. I came to OA in 1996, and by 2002 I thought I had graduated. I stopped going to meetings, making my calls, and writing down my food. I suffered through two years of relapse—starving my body, mind, and spirit—and came back in 2004. … Read More
Gratitude Recovery A Tale of Two Knees I have had two knee replacements in two years. The first time I wasn’t abstinent, but this most recent time I was. I want to share the difference. The first time I was in rehab, I was physically, spiritually, and mentally bankrupt. I paid an acquaintance, my eating buddy, to bring me non abstinent food. I ate sugar and white flour … Read More
Recovery Partner in Recovery When I was coming out of relapse six months ago, I used a practice that had worked for me before: getting a Partner in Recovery. A “P in R” is a peer in the program who is available for a daily check-in. I had learned this technique in Portland, Oregon, but since then had moved to Austin, Texas. At my … Read More
Newcomers The Best Thing I have always had an obsession with food. As a child, I was obese. Half an hour after I finished a meal, I would announce I was hungry again. My family didn’t think this was possible. As a teenager, I was never seen without a soda and a sweet. They were my icons. I tried every weight-loss program invented. I … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Holiday Tools I am a grateful compulsive overeater, abstinent since I walked through the doors of OA fourteen years ago. Thank you, God! I am maintaining a 33–35 pound (15–16 kg) weight loss, one day at a time. I have greater emotional and spiritual fitness than when I came. I live a life that is happy, joyous, and free; it’s a miracle … Read More
Service Call Out Last year, I made an outreach call during a difficult time. It was my first call to this particular member. Her tone was cold and distant. After a few minutes, I realized I wasn’t getting what I needed from the conversation, so I thanked her for her time and ended the call. I remembered what a wise member once told me: “You can’t … Read More
Service Service Call The telephone is the hardest Tool for me to use. I have stubbornly resisted this Tool during all my ten years in program. Even in my teenage years, I did not like answering calls from my girlfriends. Whoever heard of a teenage girl who doesn’t like to talk with friends on the phone? My disease causes me to feel inadequate, … Read More
Service Aspire More and Think As a returnee to OA after many years of “research,” I discovered the action plan Tool. I love it. Here’s an action plan I made for myself: To get and stay abstinent, I ASPIRE MORE and THINK. When I feel an oncoming urge to eat compulsively, I: A—Allow six minutes before eating. I set timers in the kitchen and other places … Read More
Service Forget Me Not When reflecting on our precious Tools of recovery, I always forget one (probably the one I need to concentrate on most). So I use a mnemonic device to help me recall all of the Tools: And Action plan Please Plan of eating Spend Sponsorship More Meetings Time … Read More