Episode 8: 12 Steps, Many Paths: Finding What Works for YOU in Recovery

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, your hosts, Molly Painschab, Molly Carmel, and Clarissa Kennedy, dive into the topic of 12-step programs and their role in food addiction recovery. This conversation explores their diverse experiences with 12-step recovery, its benefits, challenges, and alternatives, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating their own path to healing.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

🩷Personal Experiences with 12-Step: Molly Carmel shares her transformative journey through OA (Overeaters Anonymous), from initial skepticism to finding a foundation for her spirituality and emotional recovery. Meanwhile, Clarissa Kennedy reflects on how her experience with AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) differed, highlighting challenges like shame and fear-mongering but also discussing how she found support in alternative recovery programs like Women for Sobriety and Monument.

🩷The Power of Community: All three hosts agree on the vital importance of community in recovery, whether through 12-step programs or other support networks. They emphasize the value of finding what works best for each individual.

🩷Trusting Yourself in Recovery: This episode tackles balancing outside advice with self-trust. The hosts discuss the importance of listening to your inner wisdom while navigating the complexities of recovery programs.

🩷Finding the Right Fit: Whether exploring different meetings, seeking out supportive sponsors, or finding alternative programs, the hosts encourage listeners to stay curious and keep searching until they find the right recovery environment.

🩷Practical Advice for Recovery: From learning tolerance and humility to understanding the neurobiology of addiction, this episode is packed with actionable advice for those in any stage of their recovery journey.

Episode Highlights

🩷Molly Carmel’s candid story of reluctantly joining OA and how it became the foundation for her spiritual and emotional recovery.

🩷Clarissa’s experience of leaving AA and finding healing in alternative programs felt more compassionate and empowering.

🩷The hosts’ discussion on the pitfalls of diet culture infiltrating food-based recovery groups and the importance of rejecting shame-based approaches.

🩷Practical advice for interviewing sponsors, navigating challenging recovery environments, and staying open to new possibilities.

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on this episode, and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover next. 

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Resources Mentioned
🩷Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
🩷Women for Sobriety
🩷Monument: An online recovery community for alcohol addiction
🩷Sweet Sobriety: A supportive community for food addiction recovery

Tune in, stay curious, and remember—you’re not alone on this journey. Let’s recover together!

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The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified ment