Sex Addicts Anonymous Recovery Support for Sex Addicts

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Thousands of men and women struggle with the pain and suffering associated with an uncontrollable urge to take part in sexual behaviors such as watching pornography, excessive masturbation or having multiple sexual partners.

People with compulsive sexual behaviors recognize that they have little control over their actions, and this lack of control often leaves people feeling alone, afraid and as if there is nowhere else to turn. Sex Addicts Anonymous¹ provides recovery support for those who are struggling with compulsive sexual behaviors, offering strength, hope and support for those in need.

Are You A Sex Addict?

You can attend Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings online!

There’s a difference between an unwanted urge to take part in sexual behaviors and having a clinical pattern of compulsive sexual behavior. People who struggle with sex addiction recognize their behaviors as posing significant problems in their lives but, despite their desire to change, they continue to fall into erratic and compulsive sexual patterns. You may want to stop, you may have even tried to stop, but you continue to struggle with a lack of control over your behavior.

The following characteristics are common among people with compulsive sexual behavior:

• Feeling powerless when it comes to sexual behaviors and having a perceived inability to quit taking part in sexual activities that are disruptive to a normal lifestyle
• Inability to manage life as a result of sexual activity or involvement
• Feeling shameful or unhappy about the activities that you take part in but continuing to do so anyway
• Attempting to quit, reduce sexual activity or otherwise not take part in certain behaviors and failing
• Becoming preoccupied with sex
• Treating sex as a ritualistic behavior
• Suffering negative consequences as a result of sexual behavior and continuing to take part in activities regardless

If you have experienced any of the above and sexual behaviors continue to interrupt your life, these could be signs of sex addiction.

What is Sex Addicts Anonymous?

For those who are willing to accept that they have a problem and that they need help, there are methods of recovery that can work. Counseling and therapy are usually very effective but can leave a person in recovery from sex addiction in search of more support; that is where Sex Addicts Anonymous comes into play. The Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) fellowship is a supportive environment in which men and women who want to improve and overcome compulsive sexual behavior can meet together for peer support, guidance and integration back into society.

Once a person is willing to accept that they are struggling with their addiction and that the addictive sexual behavior requires help from outside sources, SAA groups can have many benefits. Like many other addiction support groups, Sex Addicts Anonymous is a twelve-step recovery method that encourages abstinence, sobriety, spirituality, sponsorship and service amongst members.

How Much Does Sex Addicts Anonymous Cost?

There are no fees associated with taking part in the regular support groups that are provided in SAA. The only requirement that members of Sex Addicts Anonymous must meet is that they must have a desire to stop taking part in addictive sexual behaviors. There are donations accepted at meetings and members are welcome, but not required, to donate to the organization.

Types of SAA Meetings

There are various types of Sex Addicts Anonymous¹ meetings that may be offered in your hometown. Some meetings are for men only, women only or mixed, and some are considered open or closed. A solid understanding of what types of Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings are available will help you choose the best meeting for your individual needs. The types of SAA meetings that you may hear about include:

• Gender-specific meetings such as those for men only or for women only. The majority of the time, Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings are considered mixed, which means that they allow members of all genders to attend. There are some segregated meetings in which only men or only women are welcome; SAA makes these meetings available with the understanding that some people who struggle with sexual addiction only feel comfortable taking part in recovery with members of the same gender.
• Closed meetings are only open to people who have a true desire to stop their compulsive or addictive sexual behaviors. Attendance at a closed meeting requires that the individual admit that their sexual behavior is a problem and that they want to change.
• Open meetings are open to anyone interested in learning about Sex Addicts Anonymous and sexual addiction. No admission of sexual addiction is required in order to attend an open meeting.
• Web or online meetings are open meetings that are held in real time via the internet. Anyone with an internet connection and a desire to learn more about SAA or to receive support for sexual addiction may attend online meetings.
• Telephone meetings are provided via a conference call over the telephone. These meetings are sometimes common in certain SAA groups and are typically scheduled around the busy schedules of all members of the group to provide a supportive atmosphere that is also accommodating to varied needs.