What are S-Anon Family Groups?
A fellowship of the relatives and friends of sexaholics who share their experience, strength and hope in order to solve their common problems.
A program of recovery adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous and based on the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions.
A fellowship requiring no dues or fees for membership S-Anon is self-supporting through member contributions.
The only requirement for membership is that the person is affected by the sexual behavior of a relative or friend.
S-Anon’s primary purpose is to offer members recovery from the effects upon us of another person’s sexaholism and to help families and friends of sexaholics. S-Anon has a variety of literature, conventions and meetings to provide support for families and friends of sexaholics.
S-Anon is an anonymous program: All members are asked to respect each other’s anonymity, that is, to keep in confidence what is said and who is seen at an S-Anon meeting.
S-Anon/S-Ateen groups are not:
Counseling or therapy groups – we do not give advice but share our experience, strength and hope with one another.
Groups that discuss or endorse any specific religious point of view. S-Anon is a spiritual program, but its principles are open to all, regardless of faith or creed.
Focused on gossiping, criticizing, or staying stuck in the problem. We are here to help ourselves and other group members by focusing on solutions.
If you have a client who has been affected by someone else’s sexual behavior, they can find help in S-Anon, whether or not their sexaholic relative or friend seeks help for themselves. Here are some questions that may indicate if your client has been affected by the disease of sexaholism:
Has the person:
Felt hurt or embarrassed by someone’s sexual conduct?
Secretly searched for clues about someone’s sexual behavior?
Lied about or covered up another person’s sexual conduct?
Had money problems because of someone’s sexual behavior?
Felt betrayed or abandoned by someone he or she loved and trusted?
Been afraid to upset the sexaholic for fear that he or she will leave you?
Tried to control somebody’s sexual thoughts or behavior by doing things like throwing away pornography, dressing suggestively, or being sexual with them in order to keep them from being sexual with others?
Used sex to try to keep peace in a relationship?
Tried to convince himself or herself that someone else’s sexual thoughts and behavior shouldn’t bother him or her?
Felt that sex plays an all-consuming role in his or her relationship?
Doubted his or her attractiveness, emotions, and sanity?
Felt responsible for the sexual behavior of another person?
Felt angry and/or stupid for not knowing about someone’s sexual acting out behavior?
Engaged in uncomfortable, unwanted, or physically dangerous sexual behavior?
Ever thought about or attempted suicide because of someone’s sexual behavior?
Has his or her preoccupation with someone’s sexual thoughts and behavior affected their relationships with their children, their co-workers, and/or other friends or family members?
Neglected his or her physical and/or emotional health while in a relationship?
Helped someone get out of jail or other legal trouble, or feared legal action as a result of his or her sexual behavior?
Blamed other people, such as friends or sexual partners, society in general, his/her job, religion, or birth family for someone’s sexual behavior?
Felt confused about what is true when talking with someone about his or her sexual thoughts or behavior?
Avoided painful emotions by using drugs, alcohol, or food or by being too busy?
Ever felt that someone was inappropriately attracted to them or their children?
Felt alone or too ashamed to ask for help?
More at Web Site: www.sanon.org
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