Introducing myself

[LillyBlossom]

Hello. I'm not sure I belong here. I'm a smoker and compulsive overeater. I attended A.A. years ago to stop drinking, but didn't stick with it. I have never returned to drinking, but I believe I have not recovered. I have many addict traits and am beginning to see how serious my other addictions are. I've also self injured and I'm afraid that if I stop smoking and over eating, that I will return to drinking or cutting. I'm really scared. I'm a diabetic and I'm beginning to struggle with chronic infections and eye problems. I have fertility problems and miscarried twins a year ago. I have two wonderful living children, but I'm feeling guilty over the miscarriage.

I see a therapist who recently told me it's time to stop talking about struggling with my addiction and that it's time to take action. While I understand what he said, I have no idea how to quit smoking or eating compulsively. I have read about how others have done it, but I don't know how to do it myself without just starting a new addiction or returning to an old one.

That's enough for starters. If I've reached the wrong place, please direct me to where I can go. I do attend a local Overeaters Anonymous Group.

Blessings,

LillyBlossom

[kaistevens]

I'm Kai, I'm an alcoholic.

Not that there is anything funny about your struggles right now, but I found it funny that you mentioned being an overeater and going to AA meetings. The group that I sobered up in told me about a woman who came to meetings for over a year. She lied. She said she was an alcoholic, worked with a sponsor, worked the steps, but she was an overeater. She lost over 68 pounds by just replacing the words. She told the group what was up after a little over a year sober. It was neat!!

I also attend a women's meeting with a girl who is baliemic (?). What I am trying to say is: An addict is an addict, and we need each other to recover, and I know that alcohol wasn't my problem, it was my solution. It is my 'solutions' that are my problem.

So, pull up a chair and join our family. We need you and what you have to offer. And keep coming back, cause I need ALL the help I can get!!

Love ya later, Kai

[admin]

:67: LillyBlossom! :17: Glad to have you join us here. I quit smoking March, 16, 2007. I did it cold turkey and with the help of God. I prayed a long time for removal of my smoking and it finally happened in God's time not mine. We do have a forum on the board here Nicotine Anonymous. Check that out when you get a chance. Glad to hear you are going to OA meetings also. We also have an Online Journal forum on the board that some use in their everyday recovery. Feel free to start a forum of your own there. Please feel free to continue to share with us on the board here. :42:

[anniemac]

Hi Lilly,

Welcome. At OA, are you working the Steps with a sponsor? My experience with AA is that I couldn't just "not drink and go to meetings" to recover. I needed to thoroughly and continually work the 12 Steps and incorporate them in to all aspects of my life. I can't just segment out that hour a day at a meeting for my recovery and then live the rest of my life as I always had. Everything I do, is in support of my recovery and this new design for living that I follow on a daily basis. I exercise every day, because I feel better when I do that, and it helps my thoughts to be more positive. I practice yoga as a form of meditation, as Step 11 work. I continually look at my motives in situations and look for the lessons in challenging situations instead of pointing fingers elsewhere. To me, recovery is a full time job/hobby, and one that I really enjoy!

[LillyBlossom]

Wow, thank you all for your replies and the warm welcome. I am amazed that I'm feeling less overwhelmed just by signing up here and beginning to read 12 step literature and write about what I'm thinking.

I just want to clarify that I have no idea if I was an alcoholic. I did drink for a while while I was suicidal about 15 years ago. I went to AA to stop that back then. I think I just replaced the alcohol with other behaviors. I don't think I had any real recovery. I thought I was done when I stopped drinking. I can see now that I just switched addictions. I'm wanting to now work on the underlying reasons for any addictive behavior. I suppose I'm talking about really working the program this time.

I do have a sponsor. I'm not sure what to do with her, though! She is very affirming, she also has dual addictions. She takes me as I am. I think it's a good place to start, but I want to find some more direction as well.

Thank you all!

[LillyBlossom]

I've been off for a while because I lost the link to this site. I'm glad that I found my way back. I let my sponsor know about this site and she's making it known to others as well.

[admin]

Hi LillyBlossom! :42: Glad to see you back. I hope you will keep coming and sharing with us. :42: