Personal Development Community

This is looking interesting to me.  Any experience?

Jeff

I myself have no experience with OA in particular.  Hopefully, somebody will chime in pretty soon with some insight on them.  I can tell you that many folks swear by the 12-step approach to overcoming problem behaviors and issues. 

I can also tell you that my own experience with a 12-step program in Alateen as a young pre-teen was monumental in planting seeds of change that would begin to really grow as I matured a little more.  At that age, I was able to learn that it was the disease I hated and not the alcoholic in my family, but I still had years of rebellion and anger to work through.  When I was ready, those early seeds planted through my involvement with Alateen were what really started to turn me around.  The 12-step program of Alateen was the very beginning of my self-development and self-improvement quest all those years ago.

Thank you yaya02.  Very insightful and congratulations on your success..... great job!!!

Jeff,

I was fairly active in OA about 15 years ago.  For various reasons, I eventually stopped attending meetings but I have a very positive feeling about the organization.  When I attended meetings, I lived in St. Louis and there were lots of groups to choose from.  I attended a few different ones.  If you decide to go to a meeting, I would try a few if you find that the first groups/formats don’t work for you.  I highly recommend the reading materials.  I kept reading the books for a long time after I stopped attending the meetings.  You will probably find people in the groups who also have drug/alcohol problems or who grew up in families with an alcoholic parent.  I think that attending helped me think about why I was overweight and what my relationship with food was all about--helped me to get my head on straight.  I haven’t thought about OA in a long time.  In some ways it is a live version of these message boards; people sharing their story and looking for support--going to meetings regularly for some accountability.  I recommend it as another tool to use to help meet you goals.  Let me know if you have more specific questions.

Suzanne

Suzanne,

Thank you for the very thoughtful reply.  I eat too much because I love the taste of food.  Or at least I think so!  Am I a good candidate for OA?  I feel like I am unique.... but then again doesn’t everyone!

Jeff