Comments on: How Can I Handle the Return of My Addiction? https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/ Tools for Radically Joyful Living Sat, 17 Jun 2023 23:49:18 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Melissa Phillippe https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21526 Sat, 17 Jun 2023 23:49:18 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21526 In reply to Tina Meals.

Hi Tina,

How very wonderful to hear from you here! And all that you said is soooo well said! Congratulations to you on your ongoing surrender and recovery. What a blessing.

So happy for you that you have peace and joy (and you look great)!

BIG hugs and love to you. Hope to see you sometime soon!!!

Melissa

]]> By: Tina Meals https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21508 Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:00:52 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21508 This conversation is so important and I am grateful for the authentic and brave comments above! Food is the most difficult substance addiction. I have found that a 12-step program is what is keeping me abstinent from eating the food to which I am most biologically, mentally, and spiritually addicted: flour/sugar/quantities. Knowing and admitting that I am an addict (and will ALWAYS be) keeps me in a state of humility. Having accountability with a sponsor and others who are like me in recovery has helped create parameters and boundaries. Relying on God (working the 12-steps one day at a time) to fill me, live me, breathe me, think me in a surrendered state keeps me reliant not on self, but a power greater than myself and seeing the daily miracles fosters my willingness to try it God’s way. Perhaps this way of life is not for everyone, but it has helped me grow spiritually, live healthily in my body, and relieve the mental obsession I have had with food. It has fostered a huge awareness, which has then been followed with measured action that is in alignment with the awareness. What I am left with is hope, faith, and trust. (No more shame, guilt, self-hatred!) Thanks Meli! (PS: I miss you)

]]> By: Melissa Phillippe https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21104 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:01:11 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21104 In reply to Michelle Connolly-Brown.

Beautiful, Michelle! Thank you!
And so it is, indeed! đź’•

]]> By: Melissa Phillippe https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21103 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:00:05 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21103 In reply to Michelle Connolly-Brown.

đź’•đź’•đź’•

]]> By: Melissa Phillippe https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21102 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:59:33 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21102 In reply to Steve Jones.

Hi Steve! How SWEET to hear from you on here! (I miss you.)

This is SO beautiful! I am so happy that you’re food recovery has continued during this time since I last saw you. Yay! AND I am also very inspired and happy for you that you’re being so deeply served by your Buddhist practices and life. What a blessing.

I, too, find that meditation and compassion continue to deepen my ability to be Present. And that is an ongoing opening, awakening, and blessing. A continual cycle of ever-evolving blessings, actually…even in the midst of challenges. Pretty amazing stuff, after having been someone who just needed to run from life for so long.

Thank you so much for your wonderful insights and added wisdom! So grateful for your recovery, and your life.

I love you, brother.

]]> By: Michelle Connolly-Brown https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21099 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:46:20 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21099 In reply to Marina Anderson.

Thank you for your candid words. I know this dance very well. I support you and validate you and myself in this matter. ❤️

]]> By: Michelle Connolly-Brown https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21098 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:43:42 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21098 I find this extremely helpful. It’s so interesting to me that the 12 step programs for the r most part are about abstinence. Too bad we can’t abstain from eating. Since we can’t, we must create other solutions. Thank you to all for sharing and discussing this most important subject. I know for myself and everyone here that our relationship with food and our eating aligns with the divine and wholeness is revealed, right here and right now. I am so grateful for the fellowship of others, and the Law of Mind that always says yes. And so it is.

]]> By: Steve Jones https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21097 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 14:20:43 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21097 As a life long food addict who has tried every single avenue of recovery I so enjoyed this writing. As an alcoholic (sober 30 years now) and a drug addict my life is one of renewal every day. At almost 72 now my body has taken quite a beating from my addiction to food (especially flour and sugar) but I have never given up on myself.

As a practicing Buddhist the teachings are giving me a method to self compassion and understanding. I can honestly say that I have never given up on myself and spend a lot of time in my recovery programs. Such a timely set of circumstances to have this come about right at this time.

Meditation and contemplation is the key and cornerstone of my recovery and exploring self compassion has become kind a new way of life for me. I share in the pain and suffering of all addicts in this world and wish only Metta to everyone, everywhere. Thanks again Melissa for speaking on this as it is the suffering in the world which can manifest itself in addictions. Many of us just want to escape this suffering and the myriad of ways to do that needs to be re-directed into Love and Compassion for all sentient beings. Much love and Metta to you all.

Steve

]]> By: Melissa Phillippe https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21090 Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:20:51 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21090 In reply to Marina Anderson.

Oh my goodness. My sister-in-food! Thank you SO much for writing this rich and wonderful reply! SO grateful for ALL this wonderful wisdom, added for all of us!

What a blessing (!!!) to have realized the addictive nature of food for yourself at such a young age. That makes such a big difference. (I had that myself as well.) It allows for years of “dancing with it” to find a personal way.

And YES, I have definitely heard and experienced that the energy FROM which we eat our food alters how it reacts in the body. Z reminds of that regularly, too. And, more than anything, I appreciate that you have found your way to honor your sweet self, and go to shame less and less! THAT is the BEST!

]]> By: Marina Anderson https://ohmygodlife.com/how-can-i-handle-the-return-of-my-addiction/#comment-21074 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:50:04 +0000 https://ohmygodlife.com/?p=18041#comment-21074 Me too!!! Life long relationship with food!! Bingeing, purging,
hiding, guilt, shame, remorse. Ugh. My first recognition that it classifies as addiction came while I was at a training in my early 30s. A couple friends and I were training to support the middle school and high school kid retreats as part of the drug and alcohol prevention program. In the middle of a workshop…”O.M.G. that describes me and food!!!” Eye opening. It also opened my heart to more self compassion.

So here I am in my now 68 year old body, still dancing with food, body image, etc. And… what’s different for me now is I’ve learned some things that have helped and stuck. Traded in healthier fats. Traded out pastas. Learned i can eat sourdough bread without a gut reaction. I have learned to listen to my body and what makes it feel yucky.

I’ve developed a really effective self observer who’s not shy about speaking up. She brings a consciousness about eating those yucky-for-my-body foods BEFORE I eat them. Then I DECIDE whether or not to eat them. Sometimes that gives me the space to say no… it’s not worth the aftermath. Or, sometimes I say yes.. I LOVE this stuff… and I take the attitude to eat it with JOY!!! I may still have the physical aftermath but it is then not partnered with shame… only a wave of delight. And maybe my body uses it differently with joy??? Interesting concept.

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