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Retreats: A
Safe Space To Retreats, as a tool of recovery recommended by One Bite Fellowship, should be designed to help strengthen the male food addict's program of recovery by focusing on the spiritual and emotional aspects of food addiction. Retreats can also enhance one's effort to work on physical recovery because they typically take place in a setting where access to food (excess food) is limited. A word of caution: self-directed retreats and retreats led by fellow addicts should never be used as a substitute for professional treatment for medical or mental health issues. Recovery-focused retreats are most effective when the addict attending one has a support network in place made up of fellow addicts and health care professionals.
Retreats that take place somewhere other than at a retreat center could include the opportunity to attend 12 Step meetings. Connecting with other addicts while on retreat should be considered by those going on self-directed retreats. Retreats can be taken alone or with other male food addicts. Group retreats can be facilitated by fellow addicts, clergypersons and/or a group of medical and mental health professionals. Retreats definitely need structure to be helpful, but too much structure can be counter-productive. We've found it best to set aside time every day one is one retreat for relaxation and reflection. Generally speaking, we believe that retreats for food addicts are ONLY an appropriate option if:
Going on a retreat need not cost you lots of money. Indeed the single biggest investment you'll need to make will be that of setting aside an appropriate number of days to go on your retreat. The length of your retreat will depend a lot on where you are in your recovery journey. Retreats provide a safe space where the addict needs to be intensely-focused on his recovery. Employment, family obligations and other commitments will have to be put on hold in order to help make the retreat experience a success. Every retreat needs to have a structure. Persons going on a self-directed retreat will need to bring along literature to direct their efforts. Literature published by 12 Step fellowships can be an important source of direction for your retreat experience. In addiction, One Bite Fellowship charges a nominal fee ($10.00) for literature to guide your retreat experience. Another cost involved with going on a retreat is the cost of staying at a retreat facility. Many ask for a donation based on a sliding scale, while others charge a set fee. If an addict can't afford to go on a retreat at such a facility, other location options are suggested elsewhere on this page. If you are open to the possibility of taking part in a retreat to help start, re-start, or re-focus your journey of recovery from food addiction, then we would like to begin a dialogue with you, free of charge. Such a discussion would include helping you to discern whether or not a retreat might actually be appropriate for your current situation. If you would like to begin a "retreat dialogue" with One Bite Fellowship, please write: retreats@onebite.net. Please type "Retreat Dialogue" somewhere in the subject line of your message.
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Retreats typically take place in an
environment located away from life's every day distractions -- such as at a
retreat center. If, for any reason, a retreat center is not an option then
going to a quiet place (e.g., a library, church, park, motel room, etc.)
that offers as few distractions as possible would certainly provide an
appropriate setting.