Icame to R.A. years ago when I moved east from the Midwest. An eating disorder was the particular problem for which I was seeking help. Before I left, I had spent four years in an outpatient treatment program.
    As a result, I had experienced a great deal of relief from my problem. The move east had grown out of my recovery process. However, when I got to my new home, I found that I was not OK on my own. The old insanity and behaviors still made it difficult for me to live a happy, useful life.

	A friend recommended R.A. as a fellowship where it was safe to talk about God, and they had phone meetings.

    So, I went in search of support. I tried a few different Twelve Step fellowships simply because they were the only free alternatives out there. However, I had two problems: Transportation and God. It was difficult for me to travel to face-to-face meetings. I also needed help integrating my relationship with God and my recovery process.
    A friend recommended Recoveries Anonymous as a fellowship where it was safe to talk about God, and they had phone meetings. So, I started attending meetings. Very shortly, I found a sponsor at the meetings. I soon started leading meetings myself. I was off and running.
    Oddly enough, the things that brought me to R.A. were not the main reason it worked for me. The real difference was this: The eating disorder treatment program had given me a lot of tools to use on the natural level. For example, they taught me what nutrients my body needs and how to shop for myself in a sustainable way.
    In addition, they taught me techniques to deal with stress and help me to identify and address emotional and relational problems that were causing me stress. What I was able to do and change on my own willpower, I did—eliminating many problems. However, when I got to my new home and left my program, I learned that when it came down to it, I was still often powerless to act on the good information I now possessed.

(This story continues in the next section of this newsletter.)

There was a moment I remember well. It happened early in my R.A. career. I got home from work and had the urge to engage in my problems and behaviors. Then, I remembered the R.A. tenet that says to turn your thoughts to how you can help others when you are tempted.
    So, I picked up the phone and started calling everyone on the R.A. phone list offering to be of service. After a while, it was as though I had been catapulted out of my previous state of mind. I'd never experienced anything like it.
    Before joining R.A., I'd had a relationship with God, but I did not know how to let Him relieve me of my problems and behaviors. I didn't know that service was the way for me to ask. I'm not sure why this works, but it does. I've experienced it.

Being in R.A. does not mean that my life is perfect. However, it does mean that I can now live my life in peace, and in hope.

    I wish I could say that everything was smooth sailing since that day on the phone. But, it certainly has not been. R.A. teaches that the root of our problems is selfishness /self-centeredness. So, when God removes one problem, he seems to uncover another. Which, really, is a great mercy. It means my life is a process of moving forward, step by step.
    I'm very grateful for R.A. because it helps me move forward rather than being dragged back and buried by my problems. Being in R.A. does not mean that my life is perfect. However, it does mean that I can now live my life in peace and hope.

R.A.’s “How To Begin…” Guides
To find out more about our Twelve Step Fellowship, and how you can get started working the Twelve Steps of our Solution Focused Program of Recovery, we suggest that you visit our website and Download R.A.'s free "How To Begin…" guides. This includes the blue R.A.'s Newcomer Guide, and the brown "R.A.'s Meetings Guide."

R.A.’s Solution Focused Books
    Move up to the next step in your search for recovery by downloading and reading the PDF versions of R.A.'s Solution Focused Books. We do not charge for the PDF versions of our books. Instead, we give the passwords needed to open our books to thank those who support our efforts to help others. You can show your support by making a small, one time, tax-free contribution to R.A., or, if you truly cannot afford to make a contribution at this time, by filling out our Feedback Form.
    If you are reading this, you have probably spent a lot of time and energy trying things that did not work out the way you hoped they would. Doesn't it make sense to invest a little more time and energy in this time-proven method of finding the recovery you've been seeking? As the pioneers promise in the Multilith Big Book: ''It works—it really does. Try it.''

R.A. Is Self-supporting
If R.A. has helped you, please consider making a contribution in support of our efforts to help others.

Recoveries Anonymous
For more information about Recoveries Anonymous visit our website at www.R-A.org