We’ve already examined Steps 1 and 8. Now, we’ll be looking at 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.

Again, we’ll replace the word “alcoholics” with the phrase “persons with eating disorders”.

Personally, I feel that I’m doing this Step almost daily by:

1. Writing this blog.

2. Talking with teens and adults about eating disorders.

3. Being observant and watching out for EDs in those I love.

How are you carrying the message? How will you carry it to those you meet in the future?

(Interested in learning more about the twelve steps in action? Check out Mark at A Dozen Steps.)

Post from: Blisstree

Twelve Steps to Recovery: Step 12

• 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

Post from: Blisstree

Twelve Steps to Recovery: Step #8

Today, some of my fellow b5 bloggers and I will be talking about how the twelve steps can be relevant to our particular readers.

As far as eating disorders go, it’s not difficult to substitute “alcohol” with “an eating disorder” in the steps. The first I’d like to tackle is Step 1:

• Step 1 – We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable

If we say “powerless over our EDs”, the sentence still makes perfect sense. After all, an anorexic, bulimic or binge eater does tend to get to a “powerless” state. I know how it feels to be under ana’s grip; it’s a very lonely, unmanageable experience.

My question for you is this:

Have you admitted yet that you are a slave to your eating disorder? Have you accepted that fact? Or are you still in the mode of trying to justify what you’ve been doing to your body, your mind and your soul?

Next up, we’ll look at Step 8:

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

(Want to see how other b5 bloggers are interpreting the Twelve Steps?  Go to Healthbolt for links to them all.)

Post from: Blisstree

Twelve Steps to Recovery: Step #1