Brian joins The Recovery Show to talk about his experience in S-Anon. What is S-Anon? It is a 12-step program, similar to Al-Anon, for those who have been affected by another person's sexual addiction.
Brian introduces the S-Anon program, and talks about his personal experience of finding recovery in that program. We look at ways in which his experience parallels mine in the Al-Anon program, and how it is different. (Spoiler: it's probably more alike than different, but it takes us a while to get there.)
Readings and Links
Brian read “The S-Anon Problem“.
If you want to know more about S-Anon, or to find a meeting, visit www.sanon.org.
These books were mentioned: Intimacy in Alcoholic Relationships, From Survival to Recovery, and Hope for Today.
Upcoming
Upcoming topics for next week include acronyms and alliterations. What's your favorite Al-Anon acronym? An alliteration that is meaningful to you? (3 C's, 4 M's?) Share what and, most importantly, why. Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecoveryshow.com with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.
Music from the show
Brandi Carlile: Every Time I Hear That Song
The Avett Brothers: Ain't No Man
The Avett Brothers: True Sadness
Thank you for representing s-anon on your program! I’ve listened to your program for several years as an adjunct to my s-anon program. I’m grateful to have multiple sources of recovery available. Blessings.
Thank you for exploring the s-anon fellowship and all it has to offer those who suffer. I recently started listening to you podcast in addition to my S-anon work and find it fulfilling.
Grateful for the topic Spencer and Brian.
Mentioned during the show was how S Anon and Al Anon differ, and I appreciate Brian’s process addiction definition. What I’ve come to understand is, although one is a substance addiction and one a process addiction, they are both rooted in the pain of a spiritual and emotional fracture early, and for some ongoing, in our lives. As a member of both Anon groups, I can apply cunning, baffling and powerful to both. Just as the alcoholic states they didn’t intend to become an alcoholic, so states the sexoholic, yet unmanageablilty is where those affected by either find themselves.
The betrayal that often goes along with sexoholism adds another facet to this particular disease, yet I can say intimacy is impacted in both.
For my qualifier and I, we have our own 12 programs to work on ourselves independently and we also attend RCA – Recovering Couples Anonymous to work the 12 Steps together with other couples from other 12 step groups; AA, AL ANON, NA, SA, SANON, etc. This program has given my qualifier and I a place to safely work on our coupleship with others couples using the principles of the program. We are couples committed to restoring healthy communication, caring and greater intimacy to our coupleships.
https://recovering-couples.org/
A grateful member of the 12 Steps
Hi im Maggie, I have a couples groups also I’ve so gratefully discovered and I believe it’s the most stunning of all couples groups. You can find out more info at Cosa-recovery.org it is a 12 step program that follows s-anon and the anons program, but they also focus on different things that are faced within a relationship affected by sex addiction and the recovery from the affects of compulsive sexual behaviours on both sides the partners of and the addicts. They have couples groups three times a week call HEALTHY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP MEETINGS in short called H.I.R. that focus on rebuilding or building for the first time intimacy and the discussion of the issues within the relationship while heal together growing together and building the relationship up again and how to navigate the issue and tools that work. There is a different focus every week and its amazing you can attend with or without plus another one that Is working the steps together building intimacy. These are amazing meeting and I so highly recommend them. I attend the Thursday and Saturday ones the Tuesday is to early with work