Truths My Higher Power Tells Me
(A line-by-line response to “The Lies Our Disease Tries to Tell Us”)
By Dassi Z.
Food as reward
Lie: You’ve been exercising—you’ve earned this
Truth: Movement is care for my body, not permission to harm it
Lie: You need this
Truth: What I need is peace, not this food
Lie: You’ve had a hard day—you deserve this
Truth: I deserve true care, not temporary escape
Lie: You need comfort now
Truth: Comfort that hurts me is not true comfort
Lie: I’m tired
Truth: Then I need rest, not food
Food as soothing
Lie: I need the comfort
Truth: I need connection, honesty, and gentleness
Lie: I need to manage the pain
Truth: I can feel this without escaping it
Lie: Food will make it better
Truth: Food will only delay what I need to face
Lie: It will make me feel better
Truth: It will make me feel worse after
Lie: I just need something to take the edge off
Truth: I can sit through this edge—it will pass
Lie: I’ll get the ease and comfort of the first bite
Truth: That ease is fleeting— only freedom lasts
Lie: Food helped me survive
Truth: I don’t need to survive anymore—I’m learning to live
Food as companionship
Lie: Food is my only friend
Truth: Food cannot love me—real connection can
Lie: No one is interested in me
Truth: That feeling is not a fact
Lie: No one loves me
Truth: I am worthy of love and I am never alone
Lie: No one will care
Truth: My Higher Power always cares
Pure defiance
Lie: F**k it
Truth: I don’t have to abandon myself
Lie: I don’t want to
Truth: I don’t have to want to—I just have to stay willing
Lie: I’m entitled
Truth: I’m entitled to freedom, not self-harm
Lie: It’s only food
Truth: For me, this is not “just food,” it’s poison
Lie: It’s nobody’s business
Truth: My recovery is my responsibility
Lie: Nothing is wrong with me
Truth: I honor the truth of what I live with
Lie: I have a right to eat this
Truth: I have a right to protect my peace
Lie: I just want it
Truth: Wanting is not the same as needing
Comparison
Lie: It’s not fair
Truth: My path is my path
Lie: They can eat it—why can’t I?
Truth: I don’t compare my recovery to others
Lie: I’m not as bad as I used to be
Truth: Progress doesn’t mean I’m cured
Lie: I don’t binge like I used to
Truth: Any return to old patterns matters
Rebellion
Lie: I don’t have to tell my sponsor
Truth: Secrets keep me sick
Lie: It’s not sugar or flour, so it’s fine
Truth: I know what behaviors harm me
Lie: No one will see me
Truth: I will see me
Lie: This isn’t a big deal
Truth: Small choices matter
Lie: I can eyeball it
Truth: Structure protects me
Lie: Just a little extra
Truth: Slipping starts small
Boredom / excitement
Lie: I’m bored
Truth: Boredom is not an emergency
Lie: It’s the holidays
Truth: My recovery doesn’t take breaks
Lie: Eating gives me something to do
Truth: I can choose something that actually nourishes me
Hopelessness
Lie: I already screwed up
Truth: I can stop right now
Lie: I’m going to fail anyway
Truth: I don’t know the future
Lie: I might as well go all in
Truth: I can choose differently at any moment
Lie: I can’t do this
Truth: I can do this one moment at a time
Failing to plan
Lie: I waited too long
Truth: I can pause and reset
Lie: It’s probably fine
Truth: If I don’t know, I don’t eat it
Lie: I skipped a meal
Truth: Skipping meals harms me
Lie: This is all that’s available
Truth: I can choose to wait or find another option
Lie: I’m too tired
Truth: My recovery is worth the effort
Inner miser
Lie: Don’t waste it
Truth: I don’t have to waste myself
Lie: I already bought it
Truth: Money is fleeting—my well-being matters more
Lie: Just finish it
Truth: I can stop when I’ve had enough
Lie: It was on sale
Truth: A deal is not a need
Lie: I paid for it
Truth: I don’t need to “get my money’s worth” by hurting myself
People pleasing
Lie: They’ll be hurt
Truth: I can care about others without harming myself
Lie: I’ll be annoying
Truth: My needs are valid
Lie: Everyone else is eating it
Truth: I don’t follow the crowd—I follow my recovery
Lie: I’m not worth it
Truth: I am absolutely worth it
Lie: I need to punish myself
Truth: I deserve compassion, not punishment
Jaywalking
Lie: I’ll start tomorrow
Truth: I start now
Lie: One bite won’t hurt
Truth: One choice matters
Lie: Just this once
Truth: That’s how it always starts
Lie: I can handle it now
Truth: I don’t need to test myself
Lie: This time will be different
Truth: Only different choices = different outcomes
Rationalizing (“whiskey in the milk”)
Lie: It’s sugar-free / healthy
Truth: Fancy labels don’t change my truth
Lie: I’m so hungry
Truth: I nourish myself with what works
Lie: I haven’t had it in a long time
Truth: Time doesn’t make it safe
Lie: Everyone eats like this
Truth: I don’t base my recovery on others
Lie: It’s just food
Truth: This affects my body, mind, and spirit
Lie: It tastes so good
Truth: Taste is not worth losing freedom
Lie: Don’t be so hard on yourself
Truth: Caring for myself is not being hard—it’s being loving
Exercise bulimia
Lie: I worked out—I can eat more
Truth: Movement is not a bargaining tool
Lie: I’ll work it off
Truth: I don’t trade harm for harm
Closing truths (for anytime)
● I can pause
● I can choose differently
● I am not alone
● I am not my disease
● I am being guided