05.03.2026 - Emotional Recovery & Spiritual Transformation - Lori D05.03.2026 - Emotional Recovery & Spiritual Transformation - Lori D
OA RISE | Recovery Inspires Shared Experiences
Lori D shares her story of compulsive overeating, body shame, and diabetes, and how OA’s spiritual tools reshaped her emotional life. The meeting blends readings, writing prompts, and group shares to question old habits and gently shift from self-will to higher power.
2:05:36•3 May 2026
From Shame Brain to Higher Power: Lori D on Emotional Recovery & Spiritual Change
Episode Overview
- Compulsive eating is described as a cycle of dieting, binging, and harsh self-talk that willpower alone cannot break.
- Lori highlights that focusing only on weight loss ignores the emotional and spiritual work needed for lasting recovery.
- Members share how their body image expectations were based on unrealistic, doll-like ideals rather than real human bodies.
- The concept of “shame brain” shows how fear-based thinking and secrecy keep people stuck until they consciously turn to a higher power.
- Writing, sharing, and simple prayers or affirmations are used as practical tools to question old habits and invite change one day at a time.
“I thought food was both the problem and the solution.”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober around food rather than alcohol? This OA RISE speaker meeting centres on emotional recovery and spiritual change, with longtime member Lori D walking through her journey from compulsive eating and strict dieting to a calmer, spiritually grounded life. Lori talks about growing up in a food-focused family, finding comfort in sweets and secrecy, and living for years in the “sad, fat cycle” of dieting, binging, and self-criticism.
She shares how diabetes and dramatic weight swings never fixed the real problem, summed up in her line: “I thought food was both the problem and the solution.” Her story is particularly helpful if you’ve ever been told, “If you’d just lose weight, everything would be better,” and quietly thought, “I already know I need to lose weight.” The meeting weaves in OA readings and group participation.
Chris reads “Better than a doll” from OA’s Body Image book, sparking honest shares about loose skin, apple-shaped bodies, muffin tops, and that stubborn belief that only an hourglass figure is acceptable. Members talk candidly about being diagnosed with diabetes, gaining and losing large amounts of weight, and learning that their bodies’ value isn’t measured only by size. Lori frames her recovery using two triangles: one of self-will and shame, the other of higher power and emotional safety.
She calls her old mindset “shame brain” and illustrates it with a funny, gentle parable about a badly driven bus that only starts to run smoothly when higher power takes the wheel.
Through short writing prompts, the group reflects on questions like, “If my habits stay the same, will I be content in five years?” and “Is this behaviour still familiar, or does it now feel absurd?” By the end, you’ll hear real people wrestling with food, body image, and spirituality, and see how small daily choices can slowly shift from chaos to calm. What label might you read more clearly if you stepped outside your own “jar” for a moment?
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