Sunday, September 20th
I have low self-esteem and very few boundaries. I crave connection but fear intimacy.
Many of us used compulsive sex to find short-term validation and connection. We may have engaged in sex with strangers to escape feelings of anxiety, fear, and low self-esteem. But we may also have felt a growing emptiness and isolation that blocked feelings of fulfillment and intimacy.
We may have masked negative feelings behind our compulsive behaviors, refusing to believe that others might accept us. “I don’t love myself, so how can anyone else possibly care about me?” We may have wanted to experience care and intimacy with another person, but we pushed people away, fearing we might reveal our desire for a real connection.
“To develop intimacy, I had to feel my emotions and find healthier ways of coping with them. At first, it was a huge undertaking, which felt scary.”
By using the Steps and Tools of Recovery, we open ourselves to the opportunity for spiritual change. When we practice honesty and openness, we can experience freedom from the fears that hold us back from healthy interactions with others. We become able to incorporate healthy sex and intimacy into our lives.
We will lose our fear of other people and build healthy relationships.