Steps Awakening Began Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Working the Twelve Steps of the OA program is what helped me most in recovery. For me, great help came from working the Fourth Step because it helped me get in touch with some very traumatic things that happened in my past. At first, the memories of these things … Read More
Keep Coming Back Relapse Different Ways of Finding Recovery Editors note: Below are two world service contributions from OA members in support of our Strategic Plan. In August 1999, I was desperate and obese. I was still pleasant at work but not at home. I had reached the point where I couldn’t stop eating but the food was no longer satisfying, so I had nothing to live for. A … Read More
Recovery Relationships Different Paths to Unity Editors note: Below are two world service contributions from OA members in support of our Strategic Plan. My name is Heidi, and I’m a compulsive overeater—a short sentence, but one I could not say for many years. During my childhood, I was often alone because my parents worked full-time. My big sister did well in school, and my parents always … Read More
Steps First Willingness, Then Ability The other day my sponsee was telling me how grateful she was to have me in her life. I had to agree—I was also grateful. Had I not been willing to be a backup for her sponsor then none of the following would have come to pass. This member, who was in her second pregnancy, needed to reach out by … Read More
Anorexia & Bulimia Diversity Different Manifestations of Our Disease Editors note: Below is a world service contribution from OA members in support of our Strategic Plan. My friend and I certainly have different manifestations of this disease. What brought her to OA was life-threatening anorexia, while I have always been a garden-variety compulsive overeater. Still, we relate in many ways: We both need to be very careful with the … Read More
Steps Love Would Restore Me “Came to believe . . .” I came to meetings and I came to believe many things. I came to believe there were people like me who had this same problem and found a solution. I came to believe that whatever I’d been trying wasn’t working and probably never would work. I came to believe I could try to the … Read More
Share It Experience and Opinion Regarding “Love, Licks, and Fellowship” (August 2017), since our magazine presents experiences and opinions of OA members, my own opinion is that OA meetings are not a dog and pony show. This kind of thing is a distraction from Tradition Five, “Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers.” — Joanie … Read More
Steps Never and Always Step One: We admitted we were powerless over food—that our lives had become unmanageable. When I read about Step One and think about my life—my crazy eating habits, the mental obsession I’ve struggled with—I can freely, honestly, humbly admit that I am definitely powerless over food. I have tried to control my eating most of my adult life and have … Read More
Share It Our Own Concept After reading “Be a Coach!” (May/June 2017), my group had a group conscience meeting about the concept of a sponsor being a coach. We discussed the idea thoroughly and decided that, to us, an OA sponsor is not like a sports coach. We thought a “guide” or a “friend along the path” is a better image. We have our own concept … Read More
Share It Disappointed I just had to write in and let you know how disappointed I am that Lifeline published the story called “Turtle Tale” (August 2017). I think this was a horrible story that should never have been considered. I found the way the writer associated compulsive overeating and food addiction to her dog eating a live animal quite disturbing. The story itself … Read More
