Unity With Diversity

Unity with Diversity

I have always seen myself as not fitting in, wherever I was. OA could have been one more opportunity to believe that. As a compulsive eater, with behaviors ranging from overeating, under eating, restricting, compulsive control of portions and food choices, excessive exercise, fasting, binging, and obsession with diet, size, weight and shape and control of when and how much I eat. I meet some OA members who may not relate to some aspects of my disease. I came to my first OA meeting afraid I would be told I did not qualify as a member. I was warmly welcomed and included.

I am also the mother of a recovering anorexic, bulimic, and exercise addict. I know that there are parts of her disease that I cannot relate to. I am aware of how easy it would be for her to believe she is different from others recovering in OA. Eating disorders have many faces, but the OA program works for them all.

The disease of compulsive eating is present in people of all varieties. Believing we do not fit in and cannot find help in OA is a way that our illness wins and we lose. I can tell myself I am too young or too old, too heavy or too thin, have had gastric surgery or haven’t, being a man, speaking another language, sexual orientation, income bracket or lifestyle. I can see differences rather than similarities, and pass up my chance for a life I have longed for.

The Unity With Diversity Committee encourages each group to review the list of literature below. We suggest meetings, monthly or bimonthly, using these brochures as the subject to increase awareness of the issues our members face. Not only will we be better able to recognize and understand how our fellow members struggle. We may very well learn about aspects of our own disease that we may not have recognized or treated in the past. We may also be better prepared to relate to family members and those we sponsor within the program.

Please review this list with your members and select literature that can be helpful to OA in your community.

• Many Symptoms, One Solution
• To the Teen
• To the man who wants to stop compulsive overeating, welcome.
• OA members come in all sizes: Welcome, whatever your problem with food.
• What if I don’t believe in “God”?
• Recovery form Relapse
• Members in Relapse
• A common solution: Diversity + Recovery
• Black OA members share their experience, strength and hope
• Focus on Anorexia and Bulimia

Thank you for doing your part, to see that OA is there, for the compulsive eater who still suffers.