Emotional Abstinence
When our eating was out of control, our emotions were also out of control. Even after we accept physical abstinence from compulsive overeating, we may still go on emotional binges. This indulgence leaves us depleted and hung over and wreaks havoc in our relationships with those we love.
The Twelve Steps are our guide to emotional abstinence. They are the means by which we can live without being destroyed by anger, envy, fear, and all of the other negative emotions. Working the Steps frees us from our slavery to self-centered, irrational reactions, which harm ourselves and others.
Realizing the damage, which comes from hanging on to anger and resentment, we gradually become able to turn these feelings over to our Higher Power before they get out of hand. Accepting ourselves means that we can accept others for what they are without trying to manipulate them or expect them to be perfect.
When our eating was out of control, our emotions were also out of control. Even after we accept physical abstinence from compulsive overeating, we may still go on emotional binges. This indulgence leaves us depleted and hung over and wreaks havoc in our relationships with those we love.
The Twelve Steps are our guide to emotional abstinence. They are the means by which we can live without being destroyed by anger, envy, fear, and all of the other negative emotions. Working the Steps frees us from our slavery to self-centered, irrational reactions, which harm ourselves and others.
Realizing the damage, which comes from hanging on to anger and resentment, we gradually become able to turn these feelings over to our Higher Power before they get out of hand. Accepting ourselves means that we can accept others for what they are without trying to manipulate them or expect them to be perfect.
Controlled by
our Higher Power, we learn to avoid emotional binges.
May I remember the importance of emotional abstinence today.
May I remember the importance of emotional abstinence today.
From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters by Elisabeth L.
©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation.
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Compulsive overeaters are extremists........we tend to do NOTHING 'in moderation', not just limited to food behaviors. We react to everything in an emotional manner. Through the program, we learn to stop 'reacting' to everything and everyone in an emotional fashion. We learn to stay calm and peaceful in our soul, so that the need to overreact dissipates. We become composed, carefully considering our options BEFORE having an immediate emotional reaction. When God guides our life and we turn it over TO Him, there is no need to have emotional binges.
When I feel anger, resentment or envy popping up, I turn it over to God to handle FOR me. Being a slave to my self-centered, irrational reactions harms me AND everyone else in my life. I was raised in a climate of drama..........everything was handled emotionally, and with lots of crying and raging & acting out. I grew up thinking THIS was 'normal' behavior. It's taken a lot of work to replace old behaviors & thought processes with new ones. It doesn't just happen overnight, no matter HOW badly we'd like it to.
Compulsive overeaters are extremists........we tend to do NOTHING 'in moderation', not just limited to food behaviors. We react to everything in an emotional manner. Through the program, we learn to stop 'reacting' to everything and everyone in an emotional fashion. We learn to stay calm and peaceful in our soul, so that the need to overreact dissipates. We become composed, carefully considering our options BEFORE having an immediate emotional reaction. When God guides our life and we turn it over TO Him, there is no need to have emotional binges.
When I feel anger, resentment or envy popping up, I turn it over to God to handle FOR me. Being a slave to my self-centered, irrational reactions harms me AND everyone else in my life. I was raised in a climate of drama..........everything was handled emotionally, and with lots of crying and raging & acting out. I grew up thinking THIS was 'normal' behavior. It's taken a lot of work to replace old behaviors & thought processes with new ones. It doesn't just happen overnight, no matter HOW badly we'd like it to.
I was speaking to my sister last night, who's a self-professed control freak to the nth degree. She says how she's 'tried' to change but it's just NOT possible, period. She thinks she can 'try' to change herself in short order, without putting in the time and effort. Reminds me of a cartoon I saw recently which said, "I've been dieting ALL day, have I lost weight yet?"
Nothing worth having comes easy.
For today, I will maintain my emotional abstinence just as I will maintain my food abstinence. For today, I will not resort to extreme behavior of ANY kind.
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