About Emotional Sobriety And Food

The next step is emotional sobriety

The Emotional Sobriety and Food Workshop, after meeting for over 10 years, is completed. We are no longer meeting on a weekly basis.

For educational purposes, I am leaving the About page the same. I am awaiting for God’s guidance and direction as to what the next step should be for this blog.

Are you a woman who is a compulsive overeater/ food addict who is looking for peace mind?

Are you looking for conscious contact with the God of your understanding?

Are you looking to live a life of sane and happy usefulness?

Emotional sobriety is the byproduct of living in recovery from compulsive overeating.

It involves:

  • physical abstinence;
  • self-examination;
  • prayer and meditation to develop our relationship with God, as we understand Him,
  • practicing the principles of the program in all our affairs, one day at a time.

WHO’S IN THIS GROUP?   WHEN ARE THE MEETINGS?

We are a group of women who met:

Sundays: 5:30 – 6:30 AM ET (New York time)

Telephone Conference Number: 712-775-7031 or 267-807-9601 (as of 11/7/2021)

Access Code: 397-681-282

Playback Recording Number: 712-775-7029 or 267-807-9603 (as of 11/7/2021)

Access Code: 397-681-282

Our phone line also has international telephone numbers and screen sharing capacity.

To access the international dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/397-681-282

Or download the freeconferencecall.com app to access the meeting online: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/397-681-282

During our weekly meetings, we read and discuss the AA Big Book and other program/ recovery literature, in order to deepen our knowledge and apply the spiritual principles embodied in each of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions to our lives.

Group Formats

Here is the link to the blog page that has our newest group format and the various meditations.

Here is a copy of our newest group format as a PDF

Our group is evolving over time and our format is flexible.

There are 2 other open groups that also meet periodically, depending on interest:

  1. The ES&F 12 Steps in 1 Hour Sessions Workshop and
  2. The Step 11 Mindfulness and Meditation Workshop

To express interest in joining one, please contact me through the blog or through email at: emotionalsobriety2013@gmail.com

The goal of this blog is to be of service to the 12 Step community and to help carry a message of hope “to those who still suffer and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

We invite you to join us for a shared spiritual experience as THE result of the 12 steps, as we “trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.” (AA Big Book: 164:3)

In love & service,

Shira

Please note: WE ARE NOT ENDORSED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH ANY 12-STEP PROGRAM.

We are self-supporting through our own contributions.

Older group formats for historical reference for our group:

Here is a shorter format that we have used in the past. I like them for the choices for different meditations. I have not been using them recently.

This was the format that we used in the beginning of our workshop. They include various guided meditations and prayers that we have used during our opening meditation.

26 comments

  1. How does one begin? I have been in and out of OA
    since 1989 and have periods of abstinence but have never hade more than a year
    Of abstinence. I am just coming out of relapse and want to start over and
    work on my emotional soberity. I have always been an emotional eater and
    want to find a way to work through my emotions
    without reaching for food for the answer.

    Thank you for any help or suggestions you have for me.

    Edith

    Reply

    • Edith, what a great question! I want to refer you to this wonderful site: https://foodaddiction.com/types-of-eaters/. The writer discusses the differences between food addiction and emotional eating. They are connected, but not the same thing.

      Program is based on the idea that I have an abnormal reaction to certain foods. As long as I abstain from eating foods that trigger a craving, then I can keep the mental obsession in abeyance, and maintain abstinence.

      Fundamentally, in order to work a program of recovery, I need to:
      Follow my food plan, take the steps and take others through the steps, and live in steps 10, 11, and 12.

      Living in Steps 10, 11 and 12 means: daily inventory, prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with the God of my understanding and being of service to others.

      Really, program is very simple.

      I personally find that it is very important to use all the tools: meetings, sponsorship, reading, writing, phone calls, etc.. It is very grounding and centering.

      Emotional Sobriety is the gift that comes from living in the last 3 steps.

      However, learning how to work through emotions, without escaping into food or other self-numbing behaviors may be beyond the scope of program. I hate to say it, but, sometimes, program is not enough. That could be why it has been so difficult for you to maintain your abstinence.

      I hope this helps!

      Thank you so much for your comment! I really had to think about it.

      In love and service,
      Shira

      Reply

    • Hi edith I have emailed you really like some guidance and information regarding workshops and meetings. I am in uk. Have no idea how log in phone meetings exctra is area code need use first being in uk.?, wondered if zoom meetings know available also. I have done 12 steps for addictions. My emotional eating is killing me literally my health is suffering
      Need feed my mind worh solution understanding aroind emotional eating and sobriety thanks

      Reply

  3. Hi there. I am just coming back after relapse and stumbled on your site a couple of months back ~ I want to get back , knee deep in the solution and back to my relationship with God. I noticed that your meeting was for people who have worked through the steps ~ which i have historically done ,but am currently only 3 days abstinent. I am anxious to get my path clear again through inventory, amends and God… Just making sure that its ok to join your group and that it still is going on Sunday mornings ? Thanks so much.

    Reply

  4. thank you for the amazing 5 one hour meeting doing all 12 steps.

    I did pray as you suggested, for a knowledgeable partner, and it was an excellent partnership.

    Because of doing the 12 steps,, I rejoined OA with a really good sponsor. I was off the wagon, but we learn, its progress, not perfection!

    Is it possible to post all the participants, so we can call each other for outreach calls?

    I really am indebted to you as a sholeach, and a new kesher to Hashem!

    good Shabbos.

    Rachel L.

    Reply

  5. Thank you so much for posting all your recordings, I am finding them so helpful. I am in Arizona and cannot listen live. Your sharing is so amazing, I am learning so much. Thank you, Thank you!
    Wendy

    Reply

  6. I am new to this group. I live on the west coast and do not wake up early enough to attend in person, however I have been listening to recordings. Wish I could attend in person!

    Reply

      • Bs”d really appreciate all your hard work to create this lovely, helpful site!

        FYI-I started a “Secret” oa group on Facebook if people want to join-must be recognized/approved by moderators. Is anonymous &/but if your account has your real surname, obviously that will be seen.

        Great to have resources & caring support of us all!

        Thanks so much for your service!!👍🎈🎉🎈

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