MESSAGE TO NEWCOMERS
If you a new to Sex Addicts Anonymous or to r/sexAA we believe it is in your best interest to read this post in its entirety.
Don't believe everything you read. Here are some common SAA Myths.
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The Fellowship of r/sexAA is made up men and women who interact on this sub to share our experience, strength, and hope with each other. We welcome all people and do not discriminate based on color, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation. Our primary purpose is to carry the message of the Twelve Steps to the sex addict who still suffers.
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The only requirement for SAA membership or to subscribe to r/sexAA is a desire to stop your addictive sexual behavior.
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r/sexAA is not a place to meet sexual acting out partners, nor is it group therapy. We try not to use offensive language, or descriptions that are too explicit. We avoid explicit sexual language, names, places, and websites we associated with our acting-out behavior. Because of the nature of our addiction, we take great care when sharing and we strive NOT to share any material that could be triggering to another member. Our focus remains on the SOLUTION rather than the problem. If you have any questions please message the mods.
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If you look around here and like what you see we highly recommend you attend a real life meeting of Sex Addicts Anonymous as soon as possible. We have found that the path to permanent recovery begins with meetings. You may attend as many meetings as you like, and they are free of charge. The only requirement is a desire to stop your addictive sexual behavior. You may find a list of meetings here.
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If you are new to the sub we recommend you read some of the posts in our WEEKLY CHECK IN THREAD and then post a comment and share about your week and the challenges you have faced. The presence of others when sharing can help us break down our denial and overcome our fear of rejection. We find that we can share our shameful secrets and receive acceptance, love, and support in return. Although we encourage open sharing, please do not share sexually explicit details as this can compromise the recovery of others. PM me u/filmdude or one of the other mods if there is something graphic that you feel compelled to talk about and we can figure out a solution.
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One of the first steps we took when we entered SAA was picking up a WHITE CHIP. Click here to read about the chips and to claim a digital WHITE CHIP for yourself.
NEWCOMER 90 DAY SURVIVAL KIT
Here are some tips for people who are new to the program that have proven helpful at getting members through those challenging first 90 days of recovery.
MEETINGS - Most experienced sponsors will recommend a minimum of 2-3 meetings per week for at least the first 90 days. You can't get it if you don't show up! Some people require 7 meetings every 7 days -- or as some say 90 meetings in 90 days. When this is done, newcomers get their first moments of clarity.
FIND A SPONSOR - Nothing of lasting value to recovery will happen until this action is taken. Find someone who has what you want and ask them.
READ SAA AND AA LITERATURE - At a minimum buy the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, SAA Green Book and Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book. As soon as possible add a spiritual daily Meditation/Devotional Book to your arsenal. The SAA Green Book is also available online for free at this link.
START WORKING THE STEPS - ASAP with your sponsor's help start doing written step work, in order, beginning with number one!
START PRAYING - This is a spiritual program and it is imperative we begin the process of bringing our concept of a higher power into our lives right away. Most of us who come in to the program do not have experience in prayer. Even if you don't yet have faith, the simple act of getting on your knees at the end of the day and accepting and admitting that you do not have all the answers can be a powerful way to break through your delusional addictive thinking.
The Newcomer Do's and Dont's may also be helpful to you.
For potential SAA members who identify as atheist or agnostic...
Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they might mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him [or Her]. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which had seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth. But if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So at first we used our own conceptions of God, however limited they were.
We need to ask ourselves but one short question: "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man [or woman] can say that he does believe, even in this small degree, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.
Alcoholics Anonymous, P. 47
To our atheist and agnostic brothers and sisters, please do not let the spiritual nature of the program deter you from giving it an honest chance. Almost half of the original one hundred members who wrote Alcoholics Anonymous identified as atheist or agnostic. Many of us who have entered the program were not spiritual people and yet we have found a lasting sense of peace and serenity through working the Steps.
Link to the article The Dilemma of No Faith (From AA Grapevine, April 1961) authored by the co-founder of AA; Bill Wilson.
If you believe you may be suffering from sex addiction or compulsive sexual behavior, you have come to the right place. We provide information and resources in support of your recovery. Sex addiction is NOT a hopeless or unrecoverable condition. Many sex addicts achieve life-long recovery with the help of this program. SAA is grounded in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. It is through the application of these fundamental tools that we sex addicts open ourselves to the reality of recovery in our lives… one day at a time.
Posted Dec 29, 2015, 4:49 PM UTC · edited