April 8
THE TENTH CHARACTERISTIC
We stay enslaved to emotional dependency, romantic intrigue, or compulsive sexual activities. — SLAA Core Documents, “Characteristics of Sex and Love Addiction”
Most people come to know that they are enslaved to their addiction at some point in their lives. Nicotine addicts need to smoke even when it’s inconvenient or killing them.
Alcohol and drug addicts end up in the hospital or jail and go straight back to buying the substance when they get out. But enslaved to sex and love? You’re supposed to be emotionally dependent on the one you love, right? Most of society believes that romantic intrigue and sexual activities are the point of life. But I wasn’t happy unless I was constantly making romantic gestures or fantasizing. And if I wasn’t having sex, in some form or another, six times a day, I was miserable and full of fear or plotting to get more. When these activities become self-destructive and consume us, we hopefully realize that we are enslaved to sex and love addiction and find SLAA. The Program helps ease the need to be sickeningly dependent on one person by teaching us how to be independent and self-loving through my Higher Power and the Steps. We are able to stop spending all of our money and time on romantic intrigue. Sex becomes a by–product of sharing, commitment and trust instead of a voracious desire.
Today I will focus on the work that needs to be done and feed my soul instead of my disease.