I have done many, many fourth steps since joining OA in 2014. I answered the OA 4th guide workbook questions, did the OA 12 Step Workshop forms as well as a Big Book approach with forms written by AA group I found online. Last February, I found Lawrie’s workbook (oabigbook.info) and followed the instructions which […]
Tag: Abstinence
The Power Problem: We Agnostics and The Spiritual Experience
Once I accept that I am powerless over my compulsion to stop the mental obsession and trigger the physical cravings that start active addiction, I must decide if I want to continue in the cycle of white knuckle “control” and relapse OR seek a power outside myself to solve the whole mess for me. As […]
There is a Solution & More About Alcoholism: The Addict’s Hope & Hopelessness
Hope and hopelessness are woven through the two Big Book chapters, “There is a Solution” & “More About Alcoholism”. We are given a glimpse of the hope in step two, recovery through a spiritual transformation, then hit again and again and again with the hopelessness of step one, in particular the mental obsession. The genius […]
Bill’s Story: A Compulsive Eater’s Identification
When I first joined OA, I was amazed to learn all the ways I identified with Bill W as a Compulsive Eater and alcoholic. My life was very different than his, but the overall arc was the same. I feel different. I didn’t belong. So I turned to food. Later, like Bill, I discovered alcohol […]
The Doctor’s Opinion & Complete Abstinence
Christmas Eve I had a relapse. I was resting on spiritual laurels and not rigorously honest through 10th steps. Thus, the insanely trivial upset of my husband forgetting enough stuffers to fill my stocking triggered the obsession and sanity did not return, I did not turn to HP or the steps and tools of OA. […]
Complete Abstinence
What is complete abstinence? It is zero slips. It is the act of refraining from my trigger food behaviors and trigger foods 100% of the time. I have had complete abstinence for the past few weeks, and I am working the steps ‘like my hair is on fire’. I had countless slips and relapses in […]
A Recovery Tale
Once, there was a Being, our Friend, shining brightly. It frolicked and played, reveled and mourned. It lived – pulsing light from its Inner Source. Somehow, someway, sometime, our Friend, became disguised, distorted and full of despair. How? Our Friend found a fountain burbling and others playing in the cascades and pools. As our Friend […]
6 Months Abstinence & the Power of Service
I had my 6 month anniversary on November 4th. It is quite surreal to me that I have been consistently binge free since May 4th. It is also quite surreal to me that time since my 3 month anniversary has not been marked by intense cravings. If anything, the cravings have lessened, and my program […]
100 Pounds Released
The scale this morning at the doctor’s office confirmed my suspicion that I have released 100 pounds since beginning OA in September 2014. To have released so much with so little stress and anxiety is simply a miracle. For the first time in my life, I am getting healthier one day at a time and […]
90 Days
For the first time since entering the OA rooms nearly 2 years ago, I have 90 days of abstinence. I feel so blessed and grateful for the abstinence. Likewise, I am grateful for the foundation of the steps, the support of the fellowship, and the continual presence of HP which all made this possible. One […]
