Sex Addicts Anonymous

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is a twelve-step program designed for individuals who identify themselves as having an addiction to sexual behavior. SAA is part of a larger group of twelve-step programs that address various forms of addiction. The organization provides a supportive environment where members share experiences and work together to achieve and maintain sexual sobriety.

Overview

Sex Addicts Anonymous was founded in 1977, following the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The program is based on the concept that sexual addiction is an illness that can be managed but not cured. Members of SAA follow a set of recovery steps to achieve and maintain abstinence from compulsive sexual behaviors.

Program Structure

The foundation of SAA is the twelve steps, which are adapted from the original twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. These steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction, seeking help through a higher power, making amends for harm done, and helping others who suffer from the same addiction.

Meetings are a core component of the SAA program. They can be open or closed; open meetings allow attendance by non-addicts, while closed meetings are reserved for those who identify as sex addicts. During meetings, members share their struggles and successes with sexual sobriety, providing mutual support and encouragement.

The Twelve Steps of SAA

The twelve steps of Sex Addicts Anonymous are as follows:

1. We admitted we were powerless over addictive sexual behavior - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other sex addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

Confidentiality and anonymity are crucial in SAA meetings to create a safe space for members to share their experiences without fear of judgment or exposure. Members are encouraged to keep what they hear in meetings confidential and to use only their first names.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of SAA, like other twelve-step programs, varies among individuals. Success often depends on the level of commitment to the program and the presence of a supportive community. Many members report improvements in their personal relationships and emotional health as a result of their involvement in SAA.

Criticism and Challenges

Critics of SAA argue that the emphasis on powerlessness and the need for a higher power may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, the scientific community has debated the classification of sex addiction as a true addiction.

See Also

• Addiction
• Twelve-step program
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Sexual addiction