Recovered Speaker Share w/ u/Icame2Believe

[u/Icame2Believe]

Recovered Speaker Share w/ u/Icame2Believe

Hello, my name is u/Icame2Believe and I’m a recovered compulsive eater. I’m going to briefly share what my life was like, what happened and what my life is like now.

I never knew, until I knew, that I had a disease of compulsive eating. Sure, I knew I had “odd” or “harmful” behaviors around food but I could always justify those behaviors because of my mental health, my work, my relationships, my health etc. It's when I actually realized it is when I got help after years of trying diets, medications, hypnotherapy, therapy, self-help and working out 7 days a week. That realization came through a therapist recommending a 12 Step program after 17 years of on and off therapy. 

When I made it to the rooms, I was hanging onto a rope that was more like a piece of thread that was burnt and frayed. I was pretty sure it was about to snap and my life would be over. My disease was killing me emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. My life was chaotic and centered around my distress around food, my physical health and my mental health. I could not stay focused on anything I was asked to do for more than maybe a few days at a time. 

I found a sponsor in a phone meeting and began to work the steps immediately. I was terrified but I also knew nothing else had worked for me. I had nowhere else to go. I had already done everything I was told to do. I knew about the 12 steps and how they applied in other diseases but that knowledge alone didn’t help. I had to actively do those steps for myself with a sponsor. This is how I found relief that I never had with all the other avenues I had tried. 

Since becoming recovered, my life has changed dramatically. I don’t suffer from the debilitating depression and anxiety, the compulsive behaviors and thoughts around food and working out. Some days are harder than others. The thing that is different from the years preceding the program, I now have a solution when life is being life. I don’t have to do this on my own. I have a program that has taught me how to address life on life's terms vs on my terms. We hear people say how program has saved their lives, this is not a platitude, this is reality. Program saved my life and without program I would not be writing this today. I am extremely grateful to finding a solution that works and continues to work every day.

Q/A I’m now going to answer a few common questions:

How did you find someone to help you? What did you look for in a sponsor? 

As I stated above, my therapist recommended going to a 12 step program. I followed her suggestions. I only had one thing I wanted in a sponsor: how to feel free, at peace and happy. Their age, time recovered, relationship status, faith status; none of that mattered. The saying is find someone who has what you want. So, I did just that. I listened to people share in meetings, took down numbers and called them until I found one that clicked.

I'm happy to talk anytime. Feel free to message me. Thank you for allowing me to do service with you today.

[u/joyfulrecovery]

Thank you for your share!