Sexaholic Father

I was overwhelmed, confused, depressed and angry when I discovered that my father was a sexaholic. At first I was in shock and had no idea how to deal with the issue. I was so angry and thought that he was acting this way to hurt me. At first I kept myself busy with work and I chose not to deal with the issue, but soon I became even more depressed and began to isolate myself from friends. I was unsure who to turn to or where I should look for support. I knew I could no longer continue down my current path, so I started attending S-Anon meetings. After sharing my story, I felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I shared the secret I had been keeping inside of me for years with people who understood and had been through similar circumstances. Through working the steps and relying on the tools of the program and my Higher Power, I see a difference in myself and my attitude toward my father. Instead of being angry at him, I feel compassion for him; he is sick and does not realize it. S-Anon has been the greatest gift that I could have given myself. I know that I still have a long and difficult road of recovery ahead, but as long as I keep working the program and using the tools, my story will become one that carries a message of hope for new members.

Reprinted from Working the S-Anon Program, 2nd Edition, page 79.