Tuesday, March 25th
Sometimes, I felt that if I did not have sex, I would die.
Our lives often seemed empty, except when we thought about, sought out, or had sex. We received instant gratification when we resorted to sex that masked what we believed was lacking in our lives. Subconsciously, we knew that these behaviors were increasing our core of shame and unworthiness. Sex gave us a temporary euphoria, a false sense of satisfaction.
Our search for someone who would validate us and make us whole became increasingly desperate.
“Sexual compulsion and love addiction had taken over my life. They had become my survival tools.”
We had trapped ourselves into a seemingly endless acting-out cycle. Eventually, we realized that no amount of sex could fill the emptiness we felt or make our lives magically free from our needs and anxieties.
In recovery, we admit our powerlessness over our compulsion and look to the SCA program for solutions. By working the Steps and using the Tools, we can gradually change our behaviors and replace them with affirming activities, including healthy sexuality as we define it. When we stop obsessing about sex or romance, we realize that our lives have changed.
We will learn to recognize the difference between sex, love, and affection.