How it Works

We admitted we were powerless over addictive sexual behavior – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
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.
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 our lives.

Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon SAA unity.
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as expressed in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
The only requirement for SAA membership is a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior.
Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or SAA as a whole.
Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the sex addict who still suffers.
An SAA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the SAA name to any related facility or outside enterprise lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Every SAA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Sex Addicts Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
SAA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
Sex Addicts Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the SAA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV, and films.
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

What to expect at your first meeting

You’re looking for help, but you’re afraid there isn’t anyone out there who could possibly do what you’ve done, much less understand and accept you for who you are. Take a breath, and know that your first SAA meeting will be an experience of acceptance and understanding.

As you work up the courage and come through the door, you’ll see the faces of men and women who know your troubles: they’ve all been there too.

You will probably be asked by at least one person if this is your first meeting, and asked to introduce yourself to the group with just your first name. The leader of the meeting may then explain to you how that meeting will introduce you to the SAA 12 step program. Your first meeting will likely be an opportunity for you to listen to others’ stories, learn how the program works for them, and ask questions, or share as much or as little as you’re comfortable doing.

You WON’T be required to do anything — you never will be. SAA, as with most 12 step programs, participation is voluntary. Your recovery is your own, we’re here to help you, however you want it.

Read the Newcomer Packet as soon as possible.
Make your recovery your top priority.
Make a commitment to attend at least 6 meetings during the next 2 weeks.
Find a sponsor or temporary sponsor as soon as possible (A sponsor is someone who guides you through the 12 Steps).
Begin to work The Steps.
Get in the habit of calling your points of contact every day. Calling other members of the fellowship will benefit you as well as them. Calls are supportive of your recovery and are welcomed by other members of the group.
Put the same amount of effort into your recovery as you did acting out.
Your addiction never takes a day off. Your recovery shouldn’t, either.

Article: “Why We Need Sponsors”

What to expect at your first meeting

Dear Grace,

What is a sponsor? How do I get one? Why do I need one?

Signed: New Member

Dear New Member,

A sponsor is an SAA member who is willing to guide you through working the Twelve Steps. The sponsor’s role is simply to be an example of recovery in action and to support you in your journey of self-discovery.

It’s a good idea to choose someone to sponsor you who has worked the Twelve Steps of SAA with a sponsor of their own, and who has the kind of recovery you want. It is important to listen to the other people in your meeting share about their own experience, strength, and hope. By actively listening, you are not only supporting the other person, but are also supporting yourself. This listening tool will help you in choosing a sponsor.

You may also ask another member to help you find a sponsor, but the choice to ask someone is yours alone. As addicts, we have relied upon ourselves and have lived our lives afraid or unwilling to ask for help. Thus, asking someone to sponsor you may be uncomfortable – and that is okay.

Potential sponsors are often open about their recovery process and will talk to you about their sponsorship guidelines. Sponsors are volunteers who give from their heart and will support you as long as you are open, honest, and willing to work the Twelve Steps. Inviting someone to help you in your search for a life filled with love, joy, peace, and security is a great start to an unforgettable relationship and an amazing journey.

Once someone agrees to be your sponsor, together you will create an agreement as a foundation for your recovery process. This agreement will include availability, boundaries, education on addiction, and goal-setting. A sponsor is a volunteer and the sponsor/ sponsee relationship can be terminated at any time.

It is important to feel safe with the SAA member who agrees to be your sponsor. Your sponsor will be your recovery guide, helping you work the Twelve Steps of SAA. Your sponsor will give you as much time and support as they are available to give. Sponsors have their own sponsors and recovery program to help them on their own spiritual journey. Therefore, it is important that the sponsorship relationship needs to be respected by both the sponsor and sponsee.

Sponsors are not lifelines, parents, or potential romantic partners. Sponsors are simply guides who help sponsees work the Twelve Steps of SAA, so sponsees can discover how to live a spiritual life filled with hope, facing challenges and disappointments with serenity and support, and one day, thankfully giving back by sponsoring someone else.

For more information on sponsorship, there is a pamphlet called, “Getting a Sponsor” which can be found at meetings, read online by visiting saa-recovery. org, or ordered online or by calling the ISO of SAA.

In Service,

Grace

From: The Outer Circle Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 5, November – December 2019

SAA Charleston

Struggle with Porn, Lust, or Infidelity? You are not alone in this!

How it Works

What to expect at your first meeting

What to expect at your first meeting

What to expect at your first meeting

Article: “Why We Need Sponsors”

What to expect at your first meeting

What to expect at your first meeting

SAA Charleston

Struggle with Porn, Lust, or Infidelity? You are not alone in this!

How it Works

What to expect at your first meeting

What to expect at your first meeting

What to expect at your first meeting

Article: “Why We Need Sponsors”

What to expect at your first meeting

What to expect at your first meeting

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