12 STEP recovery works very well, if you are willing to immerse yourself in it and DO IT. Addicts want relief as soon as possible. Because addiction centers in the brain, feeling better requires a different way of thinking and relating to the world. Behavioral change is what changes thinking. The single most powerful “hack” to changing an addicts perspective, is to immerse him/herself, in a community of people with a singular, shared purpose (sobriety). There is no profit motive, or hidden agenda in 12 step groups; show up There are several 12-step programs designed to help individuals struggling with sexual addiction. Each group adapts the basic principles of the 12 steps, originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, to address the specific challenges and aspects of sexual addiction. Here’s an overview of some of these groups and their distinctive features:

  1. Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA):
    • SAA is one of the most well-known groups.
    • It welcomes individuals who desire to stop addictive sexual behavior.
    • SAA allows members to define their own sexual sobriety. This means that what is considered addictive or unhealthy behavior can vary from one member to another.
  2. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA):
    • This group is for those who have a pattern of being addicted to both sex and love.
    • It addresses a broader spectrum of behaviors including love addiction, where emotional attachments are formed compulsively and often destructively.
    • SLAA tends to focus more on the emotional aspects of relationships and attachment, not just sexual behavior.
  3. Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA):
    • SCA specifically targets compulsive sexual behavior.
    • It emphasizes the development of a personal recovery plan.
    • Members are encouraged to define their own sexual sobriety, similarly to SAA.
  4. Sexaholics Anonymous (SA):
    • SA is more stringent in its definition of sexual sobriety.
    • It defines sexual sobriety strictly as having no form of sex except between a man and a woman who are married.
    • This definition reflects a more conservative approach to sexual activity and sobriety.
  5. Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA):
    • SRA is another group that caters to those with sexual addiction.
    • It is similar to other 12-step programs but may have slightly different emphases or approaches, depending on the local groups.
  6. Recovering Couples Anonymous (RCA):
    • This group is unique as it is for couples where at least one member struggles with sexual addiction.
    • RCA focuses on healing the relationship and addressing issues as a couple.
    • It is beneficial for couples seeking to recover together and strengthen their relationship.

Each group has its own culture, focus, and interpretation of the 12 steps, and the choice of which group to join often depends on individual beliefs, needs, and the specific nature of their addiction. It’s important for individuals to explore different groups to find the one that best suits their recovery journey. Most clinicians in the addiction field would recommend trying many different meetings, in a variety of the listed fellowships, to which one might “feel right.”