Mary Ann writes:

Subject: Addiction - Deficit of the Spirit

Hi Pat,

I enjoyed your article on addiction. I never realized what this word would mean to me until I realized I was a food addict. For years, I battled with weight gain and weight loss over and over again. I never understood why? I couldn't keep the weight off. It baffled me for years. I suffered so much and yet could not express this feeling to any one for fear "they would think of me as weak - and yet I walked around with a smile on my face like nothing ever bothered me and like I had it all together. When I was thinner, I felt great about myself; when I gained the weight back, I tried to act as if nothing changed but I could tell what people were thinking. Two and 1/2 years ago I found a group, Food Addicts in Recovery, and I can't tell you how great I feel now. I now know that I cannot have flour or sugar in my diet. I have lost 62 lbs. and have kept it off for 2 years. I am so grateful to the founders of the AA program. They were definitely called to do this work and what would life be today for the hundreds of thousands of people if they didn't listen to their Higher Power. Thank you God. Peace and Love, Mary Ann C.