Has anyone ever been to an overeaters anonymous meeting?

[wearingadisguise]

I have big issues with food. It's either diet or gorge for me. I really want to do something about it but I don't really know where to start. OA meetings seem a bit extreme but when I read through their list of questions that you had to answer to see if you were an overeater you had to say yes to 3 or more to 'qualify' iykwim and I answered yes to about 10 Please can anyone share their experiences with me? I am a regular but have namechanged for this.

Will watch this with great interest as have similar problem - its a huge step forward to go to something like this - dont think Im brave enough sadly. Dont really have anything helpful to offer but just wanted you to know your not alone

bump.

Not personally, though have plenty of experience of other 12-step groups, but one of my BF went for a long time and found them very helpful. There will always be some people you relate to more than others, and she didnt' find the more rigid ideas (not OA's, but some of the members') helpful, but overall helped her hugely.

Why not go to one or two different ones and see how you feel? You'll still have the choice to not go, but with more info, at worst

Good luck, not a lot more painful than addiction/control issues of any sort, hats off to you for tackling yours.

My friend did really well with OA.

As Elibean says, why not try it, and let us know how you get on, we'll be rooting for you.

Thanks so much for the replies. I have talked to a friend about it who has similar problems, she too has looked at their website but not got any further. This friend and I have a crazy relationship where we aren't close friends but will in a 10 min conversation reveal the true extent of our craziness to each other then just pass niceties for the next 6 months. It is such a relief talking to someone who understands but I don't want to push her into discussing things if she doesn't want to and I do understand why, so maybe OA is the way forward. The relief of talking to people who understand is overwhelming so I'm sure it would help. I just need to pluck up the courage I guess...

Trick with courage, IME, is not to be fooled by feeling scared: the bravest things people do are when they feel like pants but go through the motions and do it anyway. Just remember every single other person in that meeting will be there because they have an eating disorder!

And let us know how it goes, if you feel like it, will be cheering you on!

Not for myself, but have worked with people who have attended OA

It's such a personal thing... but I would say go along and try a couple of meetings, see how you get on. The fact you answered yes to all the questions is encouraging in that it might be suited to you

Some people struggle with the '12 steps' concept but try and keep an open mind

The fact that the meeting will be attended by people in exactly the same position as you should help enormously - they'll no where you're at right now

Good luck. You've taken the first step in admitting that you're struggling!