Relapse Twelfth Step Within Twelfth Step Share It was 4 p.m., and I was experiencing food cravings. What to do? The Big Book instructed me to throw myself into helping others. “I could not expect to keep what I had gained unless I gave it away” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 253). I needed to call some program people and ask how they were doing. I got … Read More
Telephone Tools & Concepts Mountain Call I’ve always loved hiking and being in the mountains. When I gained enough confidence after three years of working an OA program, I signed up for a seven-day mountaineering trip. We would hike over snow and ice in the Canadian Rockies, carrying all our equipment and food and staying in alpine huts along the way. I was one of the … Read More
Telephone Tools & Concepts Interconnections When I first entered OA, I did not understand the interconnected web among the members. Someone gave me a daily readings book at my first meeting, but I never went back there. Years later, when I’d gained about 40 pounds (18 kg) and been warned I was pre-diabetic, I went to another meeting in a different city. I just listened … Read More
Service Speaker Go-Getter I’ve been in OA this time around for sixteen years. Before that I was in for eight years, then out for five. For all of these years, I resisted taking a certain service position: Program Chair (or Speaker Getter). It seemed like too much pressure for me to handle. In June, I relented and decided to give the position a … Read More
Abstinence Day In and Day Out I was “struck abstinent” on April 20, 2016. I used to think being struck abstinent meant it was permanent, but it isn’t. I work very hard to maintain my abstinence. Abstinence for me means eating three meals plus two snacks daily, with no sugar, fast food, or anything from my “red light” list. This is my action plan: On Sundays, … Read More
Abstinence How I Work It—Today In 2003, I was in my 30s and I couldn’t stop bingeing. In spite of the fat, depression, headaches, stomachaches, diarrhea, and isolation, I just couldn’t stop. So I came to OA, got a sponsor, and started weighing and measuring my food. My goal was to work the program intensely for one year and “get it.” (I had always been a … Read More
Meetings Still Possible When I started going to meetings years ago, I went to face-to-face meetings. I thought attending face-to-face meetings each week was the only way I could work program. However, in the past two years I have struggled with health issues, making weekly attendance at face-to-face meetings impossible. During this time, I discovered new ways to work my OA program. Now, … Read More