 | This article may lack focus or may be about more than one topic. (September 2024) |
Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), founded in 1979, is one of several twelve-step programs for compulsive sexual behavior, based on the original twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. SA is part of a group of twelve-step organization addressing sexual addiction: Sex Addicts Anonymous(SAA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous(SLAA), Sexual Compulsives Anonymous(SCA) and Sexual Recovery Anonymous(SRA). Collectively, these groups are known as "S" groups due to their acronyms Starting with "S": SA, SAA, SLAA, SCA, and SRA.
SA supports individuals who identify as "sexaholics." According to the group, a sexaholic is someone for whom "lust has become an addiction."[1] SA distinguishes itself from other "S" groups by defining sexual sobriety as no sex with self or with partners other than with one's spouse "in a marriage between a man and a woman,"[2] and progressive victory over lust.
"In defining sobriety, we do not speak for those outside Sexaholics Anonymous. We can only speak for ourselves. Thus, for the married sexaholic, sexual sobriety means having no form of sex with self or with persons other than the spouse. For the unmarried sexaholic, sexual sobriety means freedom from sex of any kind. And for all of us, single and married alike, sexual sobriety also includes progressive victory over lust."[3]
The group uses the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and the book Sexaholics Anonymous (often referred to as The White Book) as guide. The White Book explains that "the sexaholic has taken himself or herself out of the whole context of what is right or wrong. He or she has lost control, no longer has the power of choice, and is not free to stop."[1]
- ^ a b Sexaholics Anonymous. SA Literature. 1989. p. 4. ISBN 0-9622887-0-5.
- ^ "What is Sexaholics Anonymous?". Sexaholics Anonymous.
- ^ Sexaholics Anonymous. SA Literature. 1989. pp. 191–192. ISBN 0-9622887-0-5.