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What I found in OA during that time absent-mindedly wandering over to the posed to do,” but seemingly didn’t have
was unending support and unconditional stove for what could have been another the power to act. With an open mind, I
love; people were willing to let me talk serving and potentially a binge. To some, was open and willing to work with two
through what I was experiencing -- with- it may seem trivial, but to the compulsive wonderful therapists who assisted me
out judgment. Most importantly, the 12 eater, it was a potential, eventual death in diagnosing PTSD and processing my
Steps offered a tangible way to process sentence. I literally dropped the serv- traumatic experiences. The experience
what was happening and to focus my en- ing spoon back into the pot as if it had was transformative. I remain willing
ergy on being part of the solution – or at burned me. This is the sanity referred to to do whatever is needed and am open
least not part of the problem. I was able in Step II: the awareness that this second to other modalities to help me access
to look past how the situation impacted helping was not only not necessary but the power of the Steps and deepen my
me and be of service to my family and had the potential to put me right back relationship with my higher power. I
others. Attitudes about my priorities were into the binge, diverting focus off every- consider it a privilege to walk the road
tested along the way. Sure, it was easy to thing important and positive in my life of recovery from compulsive eating with
say family came first, but what would I and onto satisfying a craving. A craving other trauma survivors. Today, I need
do when doctors called for a meeting? that would kick off an unceasing chase not focus as much on why I am a com-
It would mean my job had to wait. I had for ease and comfort through excess pulsive eater but on what I am willing
to trust that doing the right thing was food, which I had arrested through the to do today to recover. In the fellowship,
the right thing to do based on principles, 12-step program of recovery. we focus our work on the Steps. I am
regardless of the outcome or what others The 12 Steps helped me accept and neither a counselor nor a therapist, but I
might think of me for doing so. grieve my mother’s passing -- they were am willing to share my own trauma-in-
In the midst of all of this, I was grate- needed to process the trauma of her formed experience as part of my service
ful I had no desire to stuff my feelings accident, which has enabled my healing. to others.
down with food -- something that, even I attribute the way of life I found in OA I am grateful to the fellowship and
today, I look at as a miracle. Second help- to the underlying principles found in the OA members throughout California and
ings for me have always been a gateway steps of OA – and people I met in the Region 2, having met so many wonderful
to binge eating, and therefore, as part of fellowship who were modeling the princi- people through working the steps and
my abstinence, I do not partake in second ples in their own lives. doing service at all levels; I have friends
helpings. One night after a hospital visit, Several years ago, I found myself all over the world in OA. I hope that my
my family sat down for dinner, for which feeling “stuck” through crippling anxiety commitment to applying my God-given
my sister had made a family favorite – attacks that manifested in my work life. gifts and talents to this wonderful organi-
with enough for leftovers. I found myself I knew the answers and what I was “sup- zation never wavers.

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