The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Hi I am ed, For about seven years I have been in Overeater anonymous, and i have experienced recovery i have been fre from compulsive eating for almost 4 years. but something is not quite right. I still have no peace. This time of year is tough, 10 years ago (on Dec 1st) my mom died from a combinnation of alcoholism and food addiction. I still Feel like i have not come to terms with this. I looked at the questions of the al-anon site, and answered most of them yes. People pleaseing, fear of authority figures, worring about others disappoval,sense of doom when things are going well (a big problem for me right now). Still i am lacking serenity, I strugle with other compulsions. My oa program has taught me how to live without excess food , but I still don't know how to live with people. something is not quite right. I have thought about his for awhile, I was reading and praying this morning, when God really put in my head that i should look more into al-anon.
Do I belong here? What can anybody tell about this program?
This program is all about learning to live with ourselves and think differently so we can relate to and interact with others in ways that are not harmful to ourselves or to them.
Alcoholism is a disease that has one set of symptoms for the person who drinks the alcohol, and a separate but equally lethal set of symptoms for the people who come into daily life contact with the drinker. No matter how long we have been without active alcoholism in our lives, if we have ever lived with the disease at some point, the secondary symptoms will continue to affect us until we seek recovery for ourselves specifically for this set of problems. When you say you have stopped compulsively eating with the help of your other program but can't find peace, that may be why.
You are in the right place, welcome, and keep coming back.
Welcome. I too suffer from compulsive overeating and have been to treatment for it. Do you know of any online chatrooms? My alanon program is working for me, but now I am left with the eating for coping and need to get a handle on that. Sounds like we are in opposite places now and I sure could use some information from you too. Keep on coming back here and you will find that serenity and peace comes in small doses at first. Then, longer doses later on :) cdb
You sure do belong here. Anyone who is affected by someone with alcoholism is welcome. You might even have a jump start if you already are aware of, understand and have worked a 12 step program.
I great big welcome to you.
Bob
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You are a perfect child of God and God and I love you just the way you are! (added by me...in that special alanon way)
This is your lucky day! We all shapes and sizes here - our common denominator is - we all affected by someone else's alcoholism.
You struck a chord in my heart - I was a fat (unhappy) child, a "puppy fat" teenager, a "skinny"(even more unhappy, I was starving) 20 something, and a plump 30 something. Now, I am a voluptious 50 something, and could not care less about my size, I walk at least 3 miles a day and swim 4 or 5 times a month, and, most importantly, am comfortable in my own skin.
The thing that has changed my life, is not my shape, it has upped and downed (more up if you must know!), but, now, I have found a program which works for me. I hope it might help you too, but, you have to give it a try.
Welcome to Alanon, Ed, in this program, no-one will judge you, you can find recovery, at your own pace, and you will be supported, people will be glad for your successes in life, and support you when you are down - what more do you want? LOL
Hi Ed & welcome! One of the lines I like from the Al-Anon material is: "If someone's drinking or sobriety is bothering you, you are in the right place." My mom hardly drank, but she acted so much like an alcoholic. Her parents were the alcoholics. I guess you could say her sobriety bothered me. lol I think your HP has guided you to the right place.