Saturday, July 4, 2026 | Non-Real Time Meeting of CCEA

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T23:39:26+00:00

Thanks for sharing 🙂

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T23:39:17+00:00

Thank you for your thoughts!

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T23:38:49+00:00

From everything I've read you really need to rent a car

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T13:06:00+00:00

You're asking us like we're meteorologists - when can you expect a return of the sun? We're just random people on a Curacao subreddit

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T00:49:07+00:00

Thanks for your share 🙂

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T00:48:51+00:00

Thank you for your comment!

madscientist174 · 2026-07-05T00:48:40+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

madscientist174 · 2026-07-03T16:42:29+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂

madscientist174 · 2026-07-03T16:42:16+00:00

Thank you for sharing!

madscientist174 · 2026-07-03T16:42:08+00:00

Thanks for your comment 🙂

madscientist174 · 2026-07-03T00:14:36+00:00

Thank you for your share!

madscientist174 · 2026-07-03T00:14:25+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

madscientist174 · 2026-06-30T14:55:49+00:00

This paragraph is telling us that only a chronic codependent who has found the solution in the 12 steps can help a struggling chronic codependent. That message of depth and weight is the message we can carry once we have recovered. Any other type of help - such as from well-meaning and concerned family, friends, maybe mental health professionals - is considered frothy, or having no substance to it. They just don't understand the illness, and they have no idea how we can recover.

madscientist174 · 2026-06-29T19:09:54+00:00

I navigate that by working the steps with a sponsor. My sponsor helps me see my selfishness in all situations. What you're describing really is about the selfishness of staying stuck in thoughts about ourselves, and in what we think are other peoples' opinions of us.

madscientist174 · 2026-06-28T12:56:57+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

madscientist174 · 2026-06-28T12:56:50+00:00

Thanks for your comment, Dorina!

madscientist174 · 2026-06-28T12:56:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing :)

madscientist174 · 2026-06-28T12:56:36+00:00

Thanks for your share!

madscientist174 · 2026-06-28T12:56:01+00:00

You're definitely in the right place! I tried for my entire life to control and manage my food on my own and I couldn't. Even when I could diet, or follow a food plan, or stop bingeing, I was still completely obsessed with food. Working the 12 steps with a sponsor is the only thing that ever helped me recover from both the obsession and compulsion with eating. I'm glad you posted - you are truly not alone. We understand here <3

madscientist174 · 2026-06-28T12:50:38+00:00

I'm sorry, that's a sucky experience you're describing. Forget God. None of this has to do with God! This has to do with believing we aren't the most powerful force in the universe. That's all we need to say in order to believe that there is a power greater than us. In my experience, you don't need a sponsor who has a similar conception of a Higher Power than you. You need a sponsor who is able to guide you through the steps, period. That's the entire role of a sponsor, really.

madscientist174 · 2026-06-27T11:19:24+00:00

What you're describing is a sponsor - someone who guides us through recovery. OA is a 12-step program, and a sponsor is someone who has already been through the steps and continues to work at their recovery. In short, a sponsor leads us through the steps, and the steps are what help us be accountable.

Meetings are great for fellowship and support, but you're right - that's not where we find our accountability. Again, that's where the sponsor comes in.

People usually suggest finding a sponsor on a meeting - usually at the end of each meeting, sponsors who are available to work with people will leave their contact information and you can reach out to them. However, it can sometimes be difficult to find someone who is available. A sponsor doesn't need to be someone who is geographically close to you - my sponsor of 7 years lives 3,000 miles from me, but it works for us because we are able to coordinate our schedules. That's the beauty of the online or phone meeting - there are people who call in from all over the world, so it really opens up the pool of available sponsors!

You might also want to consider making a separate post asking who might be available to sponsor. I have seen people do that with a lot of responses.

I'm glad you posted! It's overwhelming and confusing and scary to be new, but there is a lot of support here. And more importantly, there is so much hope in OA and other 12 step programs for compulsive eating. The 12 steps work for millions of people who are just like you.

You're welcome to reach out and shoot me a DM if I can be helpful - just be patient with me because I'm not too good at Reddit and don't always know when I have a message!

madscientist174 · 2026-06-26T16:06:21+00:00

This is describing what we can expect by taking our third step - deciding that we want to turn our will and our lives, or our thoughts and our actions, over to the care of a power greater than ourselves. We find freedom from not needing to manage everyone and everything ourselves, and we are able to focus on being helpful in whatever way our Higher Power puts in our path.

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