EA Connection - January 2017Your monthly newsletter from ISC
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News from the Executive Director, ISC

EA Recovery Tools - January

A new year – a new beginning for us all. At EA, we are starting this new year with more efforts we hope will benefit everyone involved with EA. One important goal is to increase thenumber of EA groups. We get emails and phone calls frompeople daily questioning why there is no group in their area.
Clearly there is an interest and a need. Our response is always
to suggest they consider starting their own group – and many
people have asked how to do it. We’re simplifying the information we send out, hoping that by making it easier to use,
people will make the effort to start – and maintain – newgroups.

Step 1: We admitted we wer e power less over
our emotions - that our lives had become unmanageable.

To that end, we are including the “Guide for EA Groups” withthis issue. While we are not telling any group to make changes,
we do want everyone to know what the program recommends
regarding how groups are run. The EA program was createdbased on the AA program of recovery, and the ISC and Board
encourages everyone to stay as true to the program as possible
in order to carry the message as the founders envisioned it to
be. That said, perhaps not all our members know what the suggested meeting format is. We hope this information strengthens your group and we encourage you to take time at your next
meeting to discuss whether there are changes you could makein the coming year to make your meetings as helpful as possible. If your group chooses to have this discussion, I would love
to hear from you – What did you discover? What changes
might happen? What else would be helpful? Here’s to a happy,
healthy, positive and productive 2017...Elaine, Director ISC

Promise 1: We r ealize a new fr eedom andhappiness.
Slogan 1: Let go and let God
Just for Today 1: I will tr y to live thr ough thisday only, not tackling all of my problems at once.
I can do something at this moment that would
discourage me if I had to continue it for a lifetime.
Tradition 1: Our common welfar e shouldcome first; personal recovery depends on EA
unity.
Helpful Concept 1: We come to EA to lear n
how to live a new way of life through the 12-step
program of Emotions Anonymous which consistsof 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, concepts, the Serenity
Prayer, slogans, Just for Todays, EA literature,
weekly meetings, telephone and personal contacts, and living the program one day at a time.
We do not come for another person - we come tohelp ourselves and to share our experiences,
strength, and hope with others.

Of Importance to Groups
Please make sur e your gr oup contact and meeting infor mation
is current. Email changes to: Bobbie Jo, Group Coordinator

Event Calendar
Be sure to check the Event Calendar on the EA
website for activities in your area .

Correct information on the website listing is impor tant so newcomers and members can find a meeting or someone to call/email ifthey have questions.

Notify the ISC if you are holding a special
event you would like to see on the calendar.
Send your notices to: Elaine, EA Director

Want to receive infor mation dir ectly fr om the ISC? Go Get Involved You'll get The Connection sent directly to your inbox eachmonth, as well as periodic emails about EA.

Memorials and Special Gifts
To remember or acknowledge that special person: Memorial Donations

Recovery Using the Tools of EA
STEP 1: WE ADMITTED WE
WERE POWERLESS OVER OUREMOTIONS - THAT OUR LIVESHAD BECOME UNMANAGEABLE.
Absolutely true. When I think
about the second part of the first step,
I agree, that my life has become unmanageable. To be more precise, I
think that my reactions to my emotions were what became unmanageable. This un-manageability was theresult of shame. Shame from wanting
to love my father when I was a child,but being told by my mother that he
was a monster. And in the blink of aneye I learned to reject my feelings.
Shame from my stepfather telling me
to go into the basement so he could
beat me with a 2 x 4 for a harmlessmistake I made.
Shame, shame,
shame. Even my wonderful grandmother saying to me now and then:
Shame on you when I did something
she did not approve of. How did our
culture ever allow the phrase ‘Shameon You,” to become acceptable? This
shame created the terrible confusion
in my mind about who I was, versus
what I did. I am not what I do. I am
what I feel. Or, more simply, I am.
And because of that, I feel. But because I learned to reject my emotions,
I became a mess. I had becomeashamed of my emotions. Now I desperately want to feel my emotions, toaccept them, to love them, to embrace
them, to own them, and to allow themto teach me. This, I believe, could be apath to peace. A path I am grateful tohave begun...Chris

As the new year has usher ed itself
in with efficiency, I am working hardin my recovery. Focusing on the posi-

tive, and remembering Step One, hasbeen refreshing in dealing with someof the malarkey that has been sent myway. As old as this funny little unemployment problem is, I am seeing a
new counselor and working my program. As other touched on today, depression has been an old enemy that I
have had many a battle with. Thanks
to EA, those battles have become lessfrequent, and given me more defenses
and armament to protect my self
with...Bill

In admitting that I am power lessover my emotions, I was able to findhelp. I knew I was doing some stuff
that I really didn't want to be doing.
Like getting angry and yelling. Cussing and screaming even. I was acting
out in self-destructive ways eventhough I was clean and sober. And I
was very depressed and sad. That iswhen I knew I really needed someextra help!
Luckily my then sponsor in anotherfellowship and I found EA together.
We had meetings at her home at firststudying the EA book which was adark black book at that time. We both
saw we did not want to live our lives
sober and crazy. We wanted sanity in
our lives. And EA really has helped
me with sanity. Because in Step One,
when I admitted all these things I was
powerless over, I saw how lack of
power truly was my dilemma. I was
saying and doing things I didn't want
to do and my life was unmanageable
due to that.
So EA gave me hope with the 12
steps, the Just for todays, the slogans
and the people at the meetings, that I
could get well, one day at a time. All
it took was me having a desire to bewell emotionally. Nothing more was

required. And I am so grateful I still
have that desire today. It has made mylife so much more sane than insane
and I am grateful for that...Connie

I came to EA because my panic was
kicking in, but now that I am here thepanic is calming down. I still find it
hard to meditate. When I do, I find mymind wanders off to who knows
where. I do find when I think of all
the good in the Steps, I can look forthe good and Let go and let
God...Lillian

Before program my life was allabout me, I knew everything, I knew
how to solve my problems and I
could tell you how to solve yours to!
The only problem with my opinions
was that they were full of judgementand didn't work very well. I came into
the program suffering from chronic
depression with thoughts of suicide,feeling desperate, lonely and wornout. I was in my twenty's for crying
out loud and all I wanted to do wassleep!! God in his patience, grace andwisdom has led me down a slow andsteady path of recovery. I have been
recovering from being my own worst
enemy, I have been rescued from being judgmental, and critical and I havebeen given a new life! It has not been
easy but it has been oh so worth it!
I was able to give up what was notworking for me and allow God toteach me how to live through the toolsof this program,. By letting go andletting God—trusting his wisdom, I
have been granted a new life...Jessica

Discovering the Tools of EA
Please help me to let go
I’m powerless over my emotions, other people, places and things, and so much more. It wasn't that many years ago
I felt I had no future. I was very depressed, anxious, fearful and in the end, suicidal.
I found EA and with that a lot of other workable things came that I knew I needed to do. I really had to accept mypowerlessness and basically pray to HP that each step I took, each doctor I saw, each medication, each day would
be worth going through. I had to ask HP for a bit of hope, a belief that I was moving upwards rather than sliding
deeper into the black pit. I had to let go of my false pride, my conceit, my fears, my beliefs, my do it myself attitude...and those are just a few things I had to let go of in the beginning.

I had to realize how self-centered and helpless I had made myself with my negative, brute force self-talk. I had togive up self-brutalizing, telling myself I was hopeless and therefore flawed. These things were a product of my illness and therefore not based in reality.
I had to give up my fantasy world of horror and self-hatred. I needed to hand those over to HP and ask for somehelp...which came in different ways, a person who said something to me (a nurse actually suggested that I may
have an emotional illness, of course I denied it and was furious, but after some thought I realized she was totallyright). It can come up in a book, a tv show, or some other way...I may not like what I hear, but if it moves me forward it's worth hearing. Someone suggested I was a drama queen and that much of my illness was made worse by
my own imagination, which I was feeding with total garbage and fear. But I had to let go of the idea that I could do
it all alone.
Being a victim is not a pretty thing, it helped me hide for awhile until I realized there was no white knight coming
to save me. I had to be my own white knight.. With HP's help, meetings, literature and some old fashioned truth I
started to move forward. I had to let go of the fantasy that someone would save me.
This program was a God send, the more I do it, the more I learn and the more I grow. I no longer feel like a victim,
I no longer suffer debilitation to the degree I once did physically or mentally and I like myself, remarkable but true,
all thanks to EA...PatI will try to live through this day only
I have finally been able to get some little things into my schedule, .a little exercise, a little reading of the newspaper, going to bed on time etc. Earlier, I'd make plans for a month or even 6 months in advance and fail after 2 days.
I have tried the Just for Today with my inability to stick to a schedule. When I wake up in the morning - when myanxiety is at its worst. I tell myself that just for today, no matter how I am feeling, I'll do my exercise for the next
15 minutes, then I tell myself the same thing regarding another task and move on. Before EA I'd lie in bed for twohours trying to analyze and find a reason and a cure for my anxiety all inside my head. Not giving in to my anxiety,which I still cave in at times, and making better use of my time is making me feel a little better about myself. I am
looking forward to working all the Steps. Honestly, I am very scared of facing my feelings, but I am hoping that I
will learn to look beyond my fears...PriAm unwelcome guest
I’ve been speaking to my sponsor a lot about my anxiety. The last 2 days I have started to confront that paralyzing
anxiety that wants me in bed all day. It has now been given a name and an objective. His name isn't printable- he is
not my friend. I don't accept him. . He is an unwelcome guest.
I woke up anxious this morning. I told him to stop out loud. He tried to keep the door open but I wasn't playing.
Gradually my anxiety levels started to decrease and after 20 minutes. I got out of bed and began my day. I got on
my knees and thanked my HP and asked him to stand between me and my anxiety just for today...Adam

2016—2017 EA BOARD OF TRUSTEESGus S, AZ

Scott J, MN

France B, QC, Canada

Harold F, NH

602-319-3890
schloessergus@gmail.com

507-276-0323
sdjakel@gmail.com
Vice President/Treasurer(from Region 1/GST)

819-319-9912
france.boulerice@gmail.com(from Region 6)

603-425-2141
hthnhhugs@yahoo.com(from Region 5/GST)Valerie C, NY

Tyrrel D, GA

John W, MN

585-371-4347
valcea@gmx.com
Secretary (from Region 5/GST)

706-782-2328
atdear08@gmail.com(from Region 4)

612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com(from Region 1)

President (from Region 2)

Thoughts from your Trustees : Helpful Concept 1
We come to EA to learn how to live a new way of life through the 12-step program of Emotions Anonymous
which consists of 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, concepts, the Serenity Prayer, slogans, Just for Todays, EA literature, weekly meetings, telephone and personal contacts, and living the program one day at a time. We do not come for another person - we come to REGIONS OF EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS
help ourselves and to share our experiences, strength, and hope with Region 1: Northwest
others.
CAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
I came to Emotions Anonymous br inging another per son for their suppor t
and after a few meetings found it would be helpful to me. My life has changed
for the better by using the whole program of Emotions Anonymous. When there
was a conflict event during meeting date I would choose to go to a meeting and if
possible use another date with the conflicting event...Harold
Where would I be without the tools of EA as outlined in this ver y fir st Helpful Concept? If truth be told, I’d still be on the slippery slope that brought me to
EA to begin with! Our EA toolbox is just packed to overflowing with prescriptions to keep me emotionally healthy, and that is why we have them to begin
with. EA is a “me” program. It’s about me, not another person but I can sharewhat I have with them...Gus

USA: AK, ID, MN, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY
Region 2: Southwest
USA: AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT
Region 3: Central
USA: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NE
Region 4: Southeast
USA:
Puerto RicoRegion 5: Northeast
CAN: NB, NF, NS, NT, PE,YT

Comments from a member:
A portion of Helpful Concept 1—that rattles around in my head a lot is that we
do not come to EA to help another person. We come for ourselves. I am reallyglad we use this to guide us in meetings. My interpretation of this helpful concept
is that I do not drag someone else to my program to get "fixed" by it. I comealone, and I come to work on my part of whatever is going awry in my life. Itmeans that, to the best of my ability, I don't take anyone else's inventory in what I
share, which can be a tough. But if I end up analyzing someone else, instead of
doing what I need to get well, then I am in their drama all over again. In my own
work there have indeed been times where it seemed essential for me to look at theother side of the fence—the side occupied by my son or my mom or even a member of our program. I had to do that for a long time with my mom, until I finallyfigured out how to handle my emotions around her. This is as I said, tough stuff. I
am glad that the helpful concepts are not set in stone. They are guidelines, or
principles to aim for—as much as is humanly possible...Victoria

USA: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
Region 6: French-speaking Canada

Emotions Anonymous™
Hours Monday—Thursday: 10 to 3:30
Phone 651-647-9712
Fax 651-647-1593
PO Box 4245
St Paul, MN 55104
www.EmotionsAnonymous.org
director@emotionsanonymous.org
editor@emotionsanonymous.org
groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org
info@emotionsanonymous.org
orders@emotionsanonymous.org
shipping@emotionsanonymous.org

Guidelines for EA Groups
The following suggestions have proven successful in encouraging group
unity and individual recovery within EA groups. Keep this information
available for current and new members.
What is Emotions Anonymous?
A 12-Step program adapted from AA that
supports individuals with emotional difficulties in their efforts to live a more manageable
life.
What is the purpose of EA?
To help individuals with emotional problems
cope with everyday life.
Who attends an EA group?
 Individuals who want to recover from mildor severe emotional illness People who desire to maintain their emotional health.
Who runs an EA group?
No one person is in charge of any group.
While one or two people may start a group,
once it is organized, all responsibilities should
be shared among members. Those who form
the group accept the responsibility of regularattendance and leadership until others areable to share this responsibility. Some groups
choose different people for the roles each
week, others choose multiple weeks at once.
The ’Trusted Servant’ manages the process ofthe meeting by reading the suggested format ,keeping track of the time and assuring everyone has a chance to participate if desired. The
Treasurer collects and tracks donations.
Groups decide what is best for them as long as
their decisions are based on the Twelve Traditions and do not negatively affect other EA
groups or the entire EA organization. Meetings usually last 1 to 1½ hours.
Do professionals lead EA meetings?
No. Professionals may join Emotions Anonymous just as others do – because they haveemotional problems from which they wish torecover.

What is a “Group Conscience”?
This is the understanding and agreement of theindividuals of the group when making a decision. When an issue arises, time to discuss theissue should be set. It is important those voting
are well informed and understand the issue.
After everyone has had an equal opportunity to
speak and discuss the issue, a vote should betaken. A majority vote indicates “the group conscience” and the action to be taken.
Are there EA materials to help with meetingsand deal with issues?
Yes! The Suggested Format for EA Meetings is a
useful guide for conducting meetings. When
problems arise, Handling Disruption to Maintain Group Serenity, A Key To Successful Groups ,and Group Inventory might be helpful inproviding solutions.
How is the overall EA organization managed?
Management includes the EA International
Board of Trustees, the International Service
Center (ISC), and local intergroups (if any).
The Board of Trustees: approves EA literature; sets policies guiding the EA program; authorizes the services provided to EA
groups and members; is governed by the Bylaws and approved by
the membership;
 is made up of individuals that are elected by
the membership.
The ISC: publishes and distributes EA books, literature and monthly newsletter; and maintains
the website; assists groups and members with information about the EA program; shares information with all EA groups;
 works on behalf of all EA groups to sharethe message of EA recovery.

Why is anonymity important?
It is important that people feel comfortable
sharing personal information, and anonymity
assures that this information is not shared outside of the meeting. It is each person’s own decision whether to share their name and contact
information with others. Only first names areused in order to maintain anonymity. Anonymity means we do not divulge another member’s
identity, membership in EA, or anything said byanother member at meetings.
What is the format of the meeting?
Groups may determine the format of their
meetings, although the use of EA’s Suggested
Format is encouraged. Meetings are held weekly
and generally last between 60 and 90 minutes.
Members can discuss one of the Twelve Stepsand how it applies to their daily lives, sharing
how they have received help from the EA program. As we grow in EA, we also grow in our
knowledge and understanding of the steps.
With growth, these steps are always new as we
see them from a fresh perspective. Groups may
choose to identify a topic to discuss and use material from approved EA literature.
What materials are used at EA meetings?
Only EA-approved materials are made available
at meetings. These items can be purchased directly from the ISC or sold at meetings. Any other books, magazines, workbooks, etc., are notallowed at meetings because the focus is on the
EA program and not other therapies or philosophies.

What is sponsorship?
Sponsorship is a mutual agreement between
two people who wish to sponsor and be sponsored. The purpose of sponsorship is to assist amember in recovery and in working the
Twelve Steps. Although recommended, sponsorship is voluntary and sponsors are not assigned to another member.
How can an EA group publicize meetings?
 List meetings in the community calendar of
local newspapers;
 Distribute flyers; Provide EA’s Help For A Better Life pamphlet to churches, social service agencies,
therapists, psychiatrists, and other professionals;
 Participate in health fairs or other community awareness projects;
 Hold a Public Information Meeting for thegeneral public to learn about the EA program. The Public Information Meeting
Guide pamphlet contains information on
how to plan and carry out this meeting.
What is an intergroup?
Intergroups help groups work together to promote EA unity and understanding, and enables
groups to exchange information and pool resources. Generally intergroups are formed
when there are multiple groups in one geographic location. Groups elect one or two
members to represent them and to vote on issues at intergroup meetings. All group members are welcome to attend the intergroupmeetings.

Are contributions required?
No dues or fees are required. Contributions arerequested at meetings to pay the expenses of
the group and to contribute to the ISC and the
local intergroup (if there is one). Donations areneeded to provide coordination, administration,and informational services to EA groups
throughout the world. Tradition Seven encourages self-support.
©1985 Emotions Anonymous, rev 2016 - Form 13
EA-approved literature. All rights reserved
www.EmotionsAnonymous.org