“After reading a recent ‘Dear Abby’ column, I was stunned to realize that the ‘sex addict’ portrayed almost chronicled my own troubled existence. Although married and a father, I find myself constantly struggling to come to grips with my almost insatiable desire—achieving masturbatorial release with all forms of pornography—video, pictorial and the written word.… Please consider this perverse preamble as my cry for help to forever wipe myself clean of these unnatural yearnings.”
Richardson, TX: “Like many others (I’m sure) I got this info from ‘Dear Abby.’ I’ve suffered far too many years from the guilt and burdens due to ‘lust’ and, sadly, have not been able to totally share this with anyone. If this organization can help, I would be ever grateful.… Thanks, and I praise you for your efforts. I am 45, a relatively successful businessman and married with two wonderful children.”
Oakland, CA: “I just read about your organization in ‘Dear Abby.’ Thank GOD someone like you exists!”
Cincinnati, OH: “I need the help of SA very much. Please let me know if you have a chapter in Cincinnati. Needless to say—but I will admit—I need the assistance as I’m in trouble with my habit. I realize you will be very busy after having national exposure to your address, but I’m writing because I really want the help and I’ve been seeking you for some time.”
Los Angeles, CA: “I am 77 years old, still sexually active, and married to the same lady for 53 years; we are great-grandparents. I wish there was a program like SA years ago. Although I believe I have control of my sexual activity at the present time, there are many questions in the ‘Test Yourself’ test that I did relate to. Also I wish I had the answers to those questions. And maybe I have some input that might be beneficial to others.”
ETSU, TN: “Thank God! My name is T.A. and I contacted SA over a year ago for help. I bought a big white book and was sent the name of a sponsor. The sponsor and I were never able to make contact. We are several hundred miles apart. There is no SA organization here in my immediate area. I was so inspired by your literature that I started on a recovery program depending on myself. For seven wonderful months, I was sober. I avoided television like it was the plague. I memorized a hymn, All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name, and experienced a glorious time of sobriety. I was delivered and felt really good about myself. I made the Dean’s List in school. I started teaching Sunday school. I spread myself very thin and the pressure started; things, people, and places started closing in on me.
“The start of my fall began when I made the Dean’s List and everything was going great. I still remember that day. I had a tremendous exuberant feeling. School was out. I had paid the price and won my reward. I decided I deserved a break so I got a bag of popcorn and went down to the TV room in the facility where I used to live. They have the HBO channel there but what the heck, I’ve been clean for 7 months. I mean, I deserve a break, I can handle it. Since then I have realized highs for me can be just as dangerous as the lows.
“I started back into my old habits and just now came to my senses upon reading ‘Dear Abby.’ I had been withdrawing into my world with rental movies, jeopardizing everything I have worked so hard for in the past four years. In the past month I have probably spent at least $100.00 on rental movies. I was becoming entirely absorbed in the fantasy world at the expense of my physical health, mental health, and my academic life.… I don’t see how I have any other choice but to try. I must get involved for purely selfish reasons of to stay sober, to stay sane.…”
New York, NY: “I am addicted to anonymous sexual activity. I cannot control myself and need help.”
Newark, DE: “I saw an article in the ‘Dear Abby’ column about your program. I’m a married 30-year-old man with more than a preoccupation with sex. I’m obsessed with it. I need sex constantly. I’m told that I’m a cold person who doesn’t care where I get it or whose feelings I hurt. I must have had a thousand women and I’m working on my second. Can you help me?”
