Sexual Addictions Anonymous and Sexaholics Anonymous:
Description, Purpose, Locations, Publications and News
Sexual addiction has been a controversial term which has led some to try to better define the term. -This problem is far more than simply engaging in a great deal of sex. -It involves emotions like shame, guilt, anxiety and depression and represents a pattern of sexual behavior driven by increasingly strong urges that can negatively affect the individual, their family and friends. People with this problem become pre-occupied with their preferred sexual behavior whether it’s constantly searching the internet for porn, engaging in sexual encounters with prostitutes or going from one sexual partner to the other very quickly. The intense pain caused by the behavior, which the individual feels unable to stop, leads to them seeking help. It often takes a crisis, however, before they follow through with connecting with a provider or network.
Sexual Addicts Anonymous believes in an abstinence and sobriety model as do the other 12 Step Models. However, this group says that abstinence and sobriety are defined by each member based on the areas they have specific difficulties with. SAA does not require that members are committed to complete sexual abstinence or a common goal such as not engaging in any sexual activity outside a specifically defined relationship.
Sexual Addicts Anonymous is an organization that provides support and help for those whose sexual behavior feels out of their control. The organization is modeled on the successful Alcoholics Anonymous, a program which was the inspiration for numerous self-help groups for addictions of all types as well as for family members of those with a variety of addictions. -Sexual Addicts Anonymous is open to all adult men and women, with sexual behavior they want to stop engaging in. It is group that protects the privacy of its members and those who attend must agree to keep information about the membership completely confidential. The website provides a screening questionnaire to help people decide if the sexual difficulties they are experiencing are significant enough to warrant some type of intervention or support group. They also emphasize however, that anyone who is having difficulties and experiencing pain that would be helped by the organization regardless of whether they believe the problem is severe. They understand that suffering is subjective and experienced differently by different people.
The stated purpose of the organization is to provide a fellowship of recovering addicts who are ready to confront their destructive sexual behavior and help them do so by applying the 12 steps format. Individuals are encouraged to share their successes and failures to provide hope and inspiration for others with the same experiences and to gain support from others who know how hard recovery for this problem can be.
The closest meetings to Springfield, Illinois, include one weekly meeting in Springfield, currently listed as being held on Monday nights at 7:30 PM. Members’ numbers are provided as contacts for more information including the exact location. There are other meetings within an hour of Springfield including Peoria, IL and Bloomington, IL. For those who are unable to make meetings in person, digital and internet meetings can be arranged.
The organization offers many publications for purchase including: Sex Addicts Anonymous - A Pathway to Recovery, Abstinence, Getting a Sponsor, SAA and the Lesbian / Gay / Bisexual / Transgender Sex Addict, Sexual Sobriety and the Interne, Recovery from Compulsive Sexual Avoidance - A Return to Intimacy, Getting Started In Sex Addicts Anonymous - A beginner's packet for recovering sex addicts, Tools of Recovery - A Practical Guide for New Members of SAA among others.
Some of the latest news from the organization includes stories about the SAA History Project, Announcements for the Spring Retreat in Denton Texas and a workshop in Louisville, Kentucky. The newsletter includes topical discussions of various steps in the program and ways to achieve success through the 12 steps.
Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), is a fellowship similar to Sexual Addictions Anonymous. -It is also intended for men and women who are having difficulty controlling their sexual urges and this is leading to difficulties in normal life functioning and pain. This program is also based on the 12-step model and they follow the Alcoholic Anonymous model closely. This organization strives to stay out of the public eye in order to protect the privacy of their members and state clearly that they do not seek controversy and do not endorse or oppose any specific causes. Their only aim is to provide support and services to help their members.
The primary purpose of SA is to help members become and remain “sexually sober”. In Sexaholics Anonymous the definition of sexual sobriety is refraining from all sexual activity other than that within a heterosexual marriage. They state “Sexaholics Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes other specific group that might have a specific view of sexual behavior.” The organization also states that their only criteria is that people who attend groups have a true desire in their hearts to stop lusting and to follow a path defined by abstinence and sexual sobriety. There are no fees or membership payments.
When describing a sexaholic, SA states this is someone who has completely rejected the whole concept of right and wrong. They are out of control in regards to their sexual behavior and has lost the freedom of choice as it relates to their sexual expression. They have largely abandoned a commitment to a monogamous marriage in favor of fulfilling unacceptable urges. According to SA they realize these urges are wrong but they are addicted to the drives and urges and cannot fight them. They know that their behavior is wrong but are powerless to stop.
The meetings closest to Springfield, IL are sponsored by the Central Illinois Chapter of SA. This chapter covers Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, Morton, Bloomington, Normal, Galesburg and Springfield. Similar to SAA, SA also holds online and phone/VoIP meetings.
Some of the publications which can be ordered from SA include: 90 Days of Meditations, Member Stories, Practical Guidelines for Group Recovery, Practical Recovery Tools 1994-2003, SA as a Resource for the Health & Helping Professional, SA Sponsorship, Discovering the Principles, Recovery Continues, Sexaholics Anonymous Plain Cover White Book,. Do You Have a Problem with Pornography or Lust on the Internet? Member Stories 2007, Practical Guidelines for Group Recovery, Practical Recovery Tools 1994-2003, SA Correctional Facilities Committee, SA to the Newcomer, SA Pocket Toolkit, SA as a Resource for the Health & Helping Professional. SA Service Manual, SA Sponsorship, Step into Action One Two Three, Step into Action Four Five Six Seven, Step into Action Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve, Why Stop Lusting? among others. In addition, the website has a lot of audio and video productions for sale.
Some of the latest news from SA discusses the upcoming SA convention in in Detroit, Michigan and the International convention in Portland Oregon, and the regional conferences which will be held in Chattanooga TN, Akron, OH, and Memphis, TN among other places both in the United States and in Europe.
References
Sex Addicts Anonymous. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://saa-recovery.org/
Sexaholics Anonymous. -(n.d.). -http://www.sa.org/index.php
