Paper Summary:

The paper explains the goings-on in the meetings of two support groups - Alcoholics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous. The author of the paper attended both meetings and provides a discussion on the procedures of each one. He also compares the similarities and differences between the groups and discusses the people who attend these meetings.

From the Paper:

"Again, personal vignette is the focal point of the meeting. Several people share their stories of compulsive overeating and in some cases members share with the group that they are bulimic. I suddenly become hyper-conscious that there are no cookies served here as there were in the AA meeting. My stomach growls and I hope nobody heard; eating is no longer a simple task to do without thinking. These people have turned to food as a way of coping with life's problems; it is their drug of choice. As with the AA members, compulsive overeaters find immense solace in listening to the stories of others and sharing their own. In finding that they are not alone, the members can unburden themselves, release their shame. I come to the conclusion that these self-help groups, fueled by the caring and concern of perfect strangers, are probably more helpful than psychotherapy."

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