• Compulsive eating • Under-eating • • Anorexia • Bulimia OA News and Information for the Professional Community Issue IV • Binge eating • Overexercising No matter what the problem Integrating OA Within a Clinical Setting with food, we can provide —Marty Lerner, PhD ongoing support to your patients or clients. everal seasoned professionals have long relied on SOA as an invaluable resource. Cer- tainly I have been among them for more Complement than thirty years. Doing so has made Your Care with all the difference for patients enjoying Overeaters Anonymous long-term recovery versus those on the merry-go-round of repeated relapse. In OA works, in part, because fact, having OA as a support group and it offers an ongoing support system for members and en- combining it with professional interven- courages them to help one tion is usually a game changer. another, thereby weakening OA has evolved since its inception in their isolation and loneliness. 1960 into a diverse and inclusive fel- Many members consider lowship. Its members present several ing to a moderate and recommended OA a complement to the “flavors” of disordered eating—bulimia, schedule of exercise, (3) striking a realis- professional services they binge eating, food addiction, and some receive. In fact, OA claims tic balance between work, play, and self- no medical, nutritional, or forms of anorexia. It has a rich tradition care, and (4) practicing the principles psychological expertise and of asking only that attendees have a of an ongoing recovery program, OA in suggests that interested sincere desire to end their compulsive particular, plus engaging with commu- members contact qualified or addictive relationship with food, and nity-based and family support, and for professionals for help in in some instances, compulsive . these areas. some, continuing professional care. At Many of us on the front lines credit OA our center, we use the acronym SERF to with beating the odds and doing for our teach the importance of , Ex- patients what we could not do alone. ercise, Rest, and a Food Plan. SERF has As such, I strongly advocate that all been adopted by our clinic as an add-on “I have served in teaching, the medical students and health care to another twelve-step acronym indicat- counseling, and nursing professionals we train be exposed to ing the precursors of relapse: Hungry, capacities in the health twelve-step groups to better understand Angry, Lonely, Tired or HALT. professions for more than forty the nature of addiction. Attending a few Regarding the great food (plan) debate, “open” OA meetings can clearly show years. I received a solution in I tend to look at the types of how valuable the program can be. To be eating disorders (compulsive overeat- Overeaters Anonymous, and sure, some patients can recover with OA ing, binge eating disorders, bulimia, and I have had the opportunity to alone, while others greatly benefit from b/p subtypes of anorexia) as addictive point others to the OA way.” the combination of treatment and ongo- illnesses, much like alcoholism, drug ing OA attendance. addiction, and compulsive gambling. All —N. J., R.N., M.H.S As the founder and director of an have in common a physical and emo- eating disorder clinic in Florida, I find it tional constellation of factors that need helpful to distill a recovery program into A publication of: to be addressed. For those utilizing a Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. a simple formula. Independent of the twelve-step program like OA, spirituality P.O. Box 44727 flavor of disordered eating, here are the becomes the “third leg of the stool” and Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727 USA basics we proffer: (1) following a reason- Phone: 1-505-891-2664 provides impetus to expand recovery Fax: 1-505-891-4320 able and healthy food plan, preferably beyond an obsessive focus on self. (To Email: [email protected] prescribed by an experienced dietitian or Website: oa.org eating disorder professional, (2) adher- continued on page 2 You are welcome to duplicate and distribute the Courier without written permission from Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. continued from page 1 Article: Integrating OA Within a Clinical Setting be clear, identifying the specific emotional and physical aspects of an eating disorder is beyond the scope of this article, and, in fact, remains a topic of considerable controversy.) At this juncture, I would refer the professional to read the food plans described in Dignity of Choice (#140 at bookstore.oa.org) to see what OA offers as a suggest- ed path to the food piece in recovery. It’s not so much “one size fits all” for crafting a recovery food plan or a matter of practicing the twelve steps of OA on a fixed schedule. OA is not a diet support group; it offers participants a comprehensive prescription for physical, emotional, and spiritual change. It begins and never Free: Awareness and Self-Evaluation ends with self-honesty and the humility of accepting the helping hand of OA. Posters for Treatment and Waiting Areas OA offers free, downloadable 8.5” x 11” posters that can help patients and clients recognize their OA Preamble compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and find a solution in the fellowship of Overeaters Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through Anonymous. Go to oa.org/document-library and shared experience, strength, and hope, are recovering from select the “PI Posters” category to download. compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are Some designs direct patients and clients to OA’s self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting Fifteen Questions, a self-evaluation tool found via nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public oaquiz.org, and all posters can be customized to or private organization, political movement, ideology, or religious include local or online OA contact information. doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors Professionally printed, full-color posters are also and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA available for purchase. Search item number 759 at to those who still suffer. bookstore.oa.org.

A Certified Nurse Midwife Speaks in OA, which add up to a pattern and example of how to live life.” ecause we deal with pregnan- Occasionally, she mentions to a Laura sees many ways that clinic Bcies, we weigh and measure patient that she has found support staff can incorporate OA referrals our patients each time they visit,” herself through OA. into their practice. says Laura H., a certified nurse “I try to let them see that they are “In my clinic, the nurse and nurse midwife. “We discuss weight with not alone; I struggle with this too.” practitioner see patients during them and its effect on pregnancy. Laura first learned about OA weigh-and-measure times. If they Many of our patients come from through a newspaper advice col- know about the OA program, these poverty and are overweight. They umn. She has attended OA meetings staff members can suggest it to have very difficult lives and no role and feels strongly that many of her patients in a casual setting. Office models. They could really benefit patients would benefit from adopt- staff and medical residents are also from a program like OA.” ing a twelve-step way of living, good candidates to observe open When considering making a which addresses more than weight. OA meetings to get useful infor- referral to OA, however, Laura “My patients make the same mation. They can get a real sense admits to having to walk a careful life mistakes over and over, and of what our patients sometimes go line with patients because she acts one goal of my provider group is through—their thoughts, feelings, as their primary caregiver only to empower them. They have no and struggles—and see the solu- during pregnancy. patterns and no direction to solve tions OA offers. “It can be hard to recommend spe- problems, so they use food as a “OA has made a huge contribution cific programs, so I often talk instead solution. My patients could benefit to my everyday life and professional about eating more fruits and vegeta- from the structure of the twelve success,” she says. “I know it can bles and making better choices.” steps and the group support offered help others.”

2 A Chiropractor’s Testimonial: Back-to-Back Healing —Dr. Julia M.

am a chiropractor, and I personal and professional lives. This means we have to take care of people of all walk the talk, so during my patient discussions, I tell Iages; my primary focus is them my story: how I found peace with my food choic- musculoskeletal complaints es through working the twelve steps of OA. I tell them like pain in the lower back, how OA restored my body from swelling and pain to neck, and joints. ease and health. OA has given me emotional and spiri- I use a holistic approach tual support to lose the compulsion to overeat, to lose with my patients, combin- weight without dieting or gimmicks, and to maintain ing chiropractic adjustments my weight loss with confidence and peace. I speak to with nutritional counseling, them about hope and the promise that if they decide because people have pain to become open to healing physically, emotionally, and for many reasons—stress, spiritually, OA can teach them how, just one step at a chaos, being overweight— time. I keep OA’s Where Do I Start? pamphlet (#705 at and sometimes pain is bookstore.oa.org) in my office to give them if they ask caused by the foods they for more information, and I offer them a list of all local choose to eat. I educate my meetings in their area. Feedback has been amazing, patients about how food and my patients come back and thank me for sharing choices can be contributing factors to inflammation my story with them. and how inflammation causes pain. Most of my pa- I have been in OA for a year now and it has changed tients are addicted to sugar and starchy carbohydrates, my life completely. I am grateful that I was invited to and I hear about their struggles and failures when try- my first meeting, so I talk about my experience to as ing to cut back or quit or trying a new diet. They gain many of my patients as possible. I want for them what the weight back and can’t seem to keep it off. OA has done for me. There is hope. OA is the answer. Chiropractors believe in congruence between our

Interview with Omega “Meg” J. Galliano, MFT, LADC, LP

As a specialist in addiction, thera- an easier time staying focused pist Meg Galliano recommends OA on the task at hand when they to appropriate clients. We asked her have additional accountability, to share her experience. and they gain a belief in their individual ability to achieve How did you first learn about OA? success as they define it. I have worked with addictions since 1978, when I did my psychol- What do you think would be ogy internship, and I was first intro- the best way for OA members to duced to OA through my education- reach other health care profes- al experiences. sionals? A couple of times a year, Do you refer clients to OA? each OA member should take I do because it is a solid program. materials to their providers, Throughout my professional career including a list of local, tele- it always made sense to me that How have you seen OA benefit your phone, and virtual meetings. Most people benefit not only from coun- clients who are in the program? providers have a referral book and seling but also from like-minded Clients feel empowered to take could place this information in their support networks. Throughout the charge of their lives by having a books to benefit future clients. years this has proven to be factual. support network readily available Many of my clients have been suc- to them. Self-esteem and confidence Thank you, Meg. cessful using the OA program, and rise whether or not weight loss hap- Thanks for being there for the I have learned a lot from their pens—and it is not all about weight clients I send your way! experiences. loss, as we all know. People have

World Service Office • P.O. Box 44727 • Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727 Phone: 1-505-891-2664; Fax: 1-505-891-4320; Email: [email protected]; Website: oa.org 3 Client Counseling and OA: A Talk with Jeffrey N. Blaine, LCSW, LLC

y work as a therapist is food at least three times each day,” easier when a client is in Blaine says. Ma twelve-step program. He could relate because a mem- Clients are more willing to ex- ber of his family had overeating plore hard issues or bring them issues. Though Blaine once used a up themselves when they wouldn’t popular weight-reduction program otherwise,” says Jeffrey N. Blaine, a to lose a few pounds himself, it has licensed clinical social worker and long been clear to him that a diet addiction counselor who has been program is different from a twelve- in practice since 1974. He now has step program. Through personal his own private practice in Chicago. investigation, conversation with Blaine is highly enthusiastic about colleagues, and continued train- Overeaters Anonymous, having seen ing, Blaine researched OA, learn- it work for his patients who have an ing more about how members put eating compulsion or addiction. parameters on their food and about “I do refer clients to OA,” says enable them to walk without . other aspects of the program, which Blaine, “even to the point of sound- I emphasize that I am excited about has benefitted him personally and ing like a broken record. Client con- extending a gift. I tell them, ‘You professionally. cern about weight and appearance won’t understand now, but you will “My job as a therapist is to make is very common, but many times cli- receive benefits you can’t imagine.’” myself obsolete by giving my clients ents also need structure. They often Having observed open twelve- the skills to deal with life on life’s have trouble relating to themselves, step meetings, Blaine knew what terms. At times, when clients ad- to others, and to a higher power, clients could expect there, but when dress an issue, I ask if they have and they have a relationship with he first learned about OA, he was discussed it at a meeting, and I food that is out of control. Their confused about its concept of “ab- encourage them to bring it up to problems are bigger—about living stinence.” OA defines abstinence as get input from members of their OA and not just about food—but de- “refraining from compulsive eating group. I recommend that everyone, spite obvious adverse consequenc- and compulsive food behaviors including medical professionals, es, they continue their behaviors. while working towards or maintain- students in health care, and coun- I explain that OA can change their ing a healthy body weight.” seling professionals, observe open quality of life, improve their rela- “People with compulsive food OA meetings in order to learn how tionships with self and others, and behaviors still have to eat and face the program works.”

Downloadable Pamphlets for Professionals Read more about how OA supports patient recovery from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. Visit oa.org and click “Professionals” at the bottom of the page for these free downloadable materials:

• 2017 Membership Survey Report—Aggregated self-reporting from a random sample of OA’s membership that summarizes the types of problems OA members have with food; weight-loss and healthy body weight outcomes in recovery; and overall experience finding physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. • Compulsive Overeating: An Inside View—“Our true insanity could be seen in the fact that we kept right on trying to find comfort in excess food, long after it began to cause us misery.” This pamphlet details the behaviors our members have reported using to both conceal and cope with their compulsive eating. More materials for professionals are also available for purchase at bookstore.oa.org.

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