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Our next edition’s theme is “Rigorous Honesty.” The first words in chapter five of the Big Book tell us that recovery is not possible without the capacity to be rigorously honest. What a wonderful gift to know that we can choose honesty for today, and if we are powerless over dishonesty, we can ask God to remove our dishonesty and gain honesty by helping others. We can also seek outside help. The Steps teach me the process by which I can learn to become aware of the truth and to share that truth with others.

By webmaster|2025-10-15T06:54:40-05:00October 4, 2025|Comments Off

Editor’s Corner
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Editor’s Corner

Fear prevented me from experiencing healthy guilt. Guilt tells me I have done wrong. Fear also prevented me from feeling healthy shame. Shame is a slight embarrassment that others may see my wrongs. But fear primarily stopped me from facing toxic guilt and toxic shame.

By The Editorial Team, essay@sa.org|2025-10-20T14:24:14-05:00September 26, 2025|Comments Off

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Peter shares in his article that initial guilt is a healthy response for him. However, shame and lingering guilt were very detrimental to his long-term recovery. He needed to understand how these harmed his recovery and what he could do to move out of guilt and shame as soon as possible—so that he could continue on his journey.

By The ESSAY Editor|2025-10-14T07:03:27-05:00September 26, 2025|Comments Off

What’s Going On in SA
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What’s Going On in SA

“He will show you how to create the fellowship you crave.” My name is Levi and I’m a recovering sexaholic in central Nebraska in the USA. I have been sexually sober since July 20, 2017.

By Levi H., Nebraska, USA|2025-10-20T14:07:29-05:00September 26, 2025|Comments Off

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Dear ESSAY

Dear ESSAY

Dear ESSAY, I am an incarcerated person in California. In the past, several of my fellow incarcerated persons and I have held SA meetings on a regular basis, and I've actually had a sponsor before. However, over the years, things have kind of fizzled out, and we no longer have our meetings, mainly due to members being dispersed throughout the system and some of the participants having been paroled.

By Anonymous, California - Nathalie V., Belgium|2025-10-20T14:19:13-05:00September 26, 2025|Comments Off

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SA CFC

How the semicolon etched into his skin saved him from ending his life. Bang! Bang! Bang! “Police! We have a search warrant!” It happened when I was 52, in the third decade of my marriage and teaching career. I carried with me lies and a lust-filled lens on life. Throughout my life, I had crossed so many lines that I had fried my moral compass, which led to a continuation of my sick habits. However, the moment I heard the banging on my door at 6:00 a.m., and an officer announcing “search warrant,” I knew that my fried moral compass had just exploded in my face. I wasn’t surprised, but I was devastated and relieved.

By Art T., Pennsylvania, USA|2025-10-13T06:08:43-05:00September 26, 2025|Comments Off

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The author of the article “The Availability to Dive” brings to light how beneficial it can be to live single while recovering. While it can also be challenging, the single life can give us the time needed to learn how to live without our drug and relate to others. This prepares those who plan to sober date at some point.

By The ESSAY Editor|2025-09-08T11:31:33-05:00August 11, 2025|Comments Off

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This period in his life has given him time to grow. Hi, I'm James D., and I’ve been incarcerated since January 28, 2022. I’ve been sexually sober since November 29, 2023—one year, ten months, and one day from the worst day of my life. That day, I experienced the first of many of the best days of my life: the day I entered sobriety.

By James D., Virginia State Prison, USA|2025-09-05T12:44:17-05:00August 11, 2025|Comments Off

Coming Next
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Coming Next

Coming Next

Our next edition’s theme is “Surrendering Fear, Guilt, and Shame.” Coming into the Program, many of us experience fear of facing the guilt and shame that the addiction of sexaholism brings to those powerless over lust. The Fellowship helps us overcome this fear by walking with us through the process of finding a sponsor and working the Steps. In doing so, we discover that we are not the things the addiction said we were.

By webmaster|2025-10-20T14:42:08-05:00August 11, 2025|Comments Off

Editor’s Corner
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Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner

It can seem that being happy and single are two ideas that don’t fit together. What a great discovery to learn that our joy does not rely on a relationship or even marriage! It relies on following the will of God through working the Steps.

By Laura W., ESSAY Editor, essay@sa.org|2025-09-18T13:43:55-05:00August 11, 2025|Comments Off

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