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.
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.
One of SA’s 18 committees that helps to carry the message and serve the fellowship is the Support for Institutions and Professionals Committee (SIP). Formerly, it was called the Hospitals and Institutions Committee. Our mission is still the same, to inform institutions and professionals as to how SA can help restore and maintain their clients’ mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This committee’s service is designed to take place at the intergroup and regional levels. Our International SIP Committee provides materials and guidance on how to reach local professionals and institutions. This article gives an example of how it can be done at the local level.
Greetings from India. I am Iris from India–grateful, recovering, and blessed lustaholic and sexaholic. My SA journey and sobriety began on May 25, 2021, one day at a time (ODaAT). I heard about ESSAY and its garden of recovery at the beginning of my SA journey. I was approached to be a part of ESSAY’s garden, and I blossomed through sharing 3–4 articles. ESSAY has been one of my very strong recovery tools. I am never sufficiently grateful for its birth in our SA world. I am grateful for the many articles of recovery and for ESSAY reaching many members virtually and in print.
Our next edition’s theme is “Happy, Joyous, and… Single.” We look forward to exploring the joys of recovery while single. Is that even possible? Absolutely. Numerous members who are single for some time or for the rest of their lives live “happy, joyous, and free.” However, ESSAY is your magazine and it is your experience, strength, and hope that carries the message of recovery to the still suffering sexaholic. Please consider sharing your experience with the fellowship by submitting an article to essay@sa.org.
Sponsorship in Prison My name is Blue, and I am an incarcerated person serving a life sentence in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the crimes of sexual assault. This is the bad news. The good news is that coming to prison was the best thing that could have happened for me, because it forced me to take an honest look at myself and what I needed to do to transform and be healed.
Have you sought support to help you find the good in grief? Jack’s in-depth article describes how unprocessed grief can greatly contribute to the addictive process. He explains how support in SA, especially from an understanding sponsor, helped him discuss the losses in his life and cultivate gratitude.
Dear ESSAY, Thank you for this topic on Grieving In Recovery. It has helped me reflect on how I cope with grief since being in recovery, compared to before.
SA has a set of Trustee Committees (see Concept 11) that provide advice and perform tasks on behalf of the Trustees. The Information Technology (IT) Committee is commissioned to develop and maintain the sa.org website. This website is often the first contact newcomers have with our fellowship and serves as a hub for providing information, literature, and services to all SA members. We would like to keep it in tip-top shape.
While every ESSAY edition is special, carefully thought out, and filled with SA recovery, we would like to describe this edition as unique. The Fellowship has had many losses in the past year. Some experienced loss in recovery for the first time. Can the Twelve Steps and the Fellowship of SA aid those grieving?
