Thursday, November 5th
At my first meeting, I sat in a room surrounded by strangers. Many of them soon became my friends.
Many of us feel anxious when we attend our first SCA meeting. Our sense of shame and low self-worth might make us doubt that we belong here and that others will welcome us.
Often, our first instinct is to self-isolate, to feel separate from the group. I’m not like them, we might think. But of course, we are.
We may begin to recognize we are in the right place when we hear the Characteristics read aloud at a meeting. Most sexual compulsives will identify with some, perhaps most of them. We might also recognize a message of hope when reading the Steps — that there is help.
When we keep coming back, we begin to see how mutual support helps strengthen the group and can help our recovery. In addition to attending meetings, we make phone calls to share our issues with other members. Our self-isolation begins to fade.
We often hear that the newcomer is the most important person in the room. This statement tells us that other members are ready and willing to help nourish our recovery if we ask for their assistance.
As our trust grows, we begin to see ourselves as part of this fellowship.