Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired

Being too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, are conditions that leave us more vulnerable to the temptations that lead us away from our program of  recovery. Part of recovery is learning to pay attention to these inner signals and practice appropriate ways to meet our needs and resolve issues in a manner that will enhance our serenity and strengthen our healing processes.

For compulsive overeaters, letting ourselves get too hungry can be as dangerous for our well-being and health as a newly sober alcoholic going to a bar just to visit old friends. It will almost assuredly cause powerful cravings we may not have the capacity to resist.

Many of us overate in response to powerful emotions like anger and resentments or to anesthetize ourselves from them. Learning constructive ways to cope with these feelings so they don't build up is an important part of the recovery process.

Loneliness is a big problem for many of us. It can be hard to admit this to even ourselves. The friendly fellowship found in most meetings and being of service to other recovering persons is a powerful way to alleviate feelings of loneliness.

Fatigue is usually a sign that we have not given ourselves the time to physically and emotionally rest and recuperate. We may eat compulsively in a vain attempt to gain just a little more energy or not feel the tiredness. Getting adequate rest and finding balance in our lives is part of a healthy recovery.