Twelve Steps to Recovery: Step #8

This is the second installment of how the Twelve Steps of Recovery used by Alcoholics Anonymous can relate to those with eating disorders. We already looked at Step 1; now, we’ll be considering Step 8:

• Step 8 – Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all

I have to admit that I’ve never written out all the persons who were harmed by my eating disorder. If I did, I’m sure I’d be shocked.

I suppose I should start with myself, to be perfectly honest. Then, I’d move on to my immediate family. From there, I’d branch out to my friends.

Though I’m not sure how I would make amends, it probably seems like a good thing to do to start listing all the people I’ve hurt along the way. Having an eating disorder turns you into a liar, and whenever you lie to someone who cares about you all in the name of holding on to your addiction, you’re being disrespectful and unkind (at the very least.)

Our final AA Step will be Step 12:

• Step 12 – Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs