My name is Brad and I am a sexaholic. When I say “I am a sexaholic,” I am admitting that I belong to a class of people for whom lust has become an addiction. I have finally accepted the truth that whenever my behavior is driven by an attitude of lust, there will almost certainly be consequences, pain, and humiliation. There is no exception to this reality. In the fog of lust, I falsely believe that the next time I act on my attitude of lust, it won’t hurt me.

In recovery I have discovered that my experience of negotiating an exception for myself is a symptom of my illness common among sexaholics. The exception that works is the spiritual awakening that occurs as the result of surrendering to the process of the 12 Steps. I approach my Higher Power and lead with my weakness instead of trying to conceal it, or negotiate it away. I am learning to accept and grow within the exception — the Solution — that God has already provided.