The Crisis

The journey of recovery from sex addiction often begins with a crisis.   

A person may have experienced or been threatened with the loss of:
•	Marriage or other significant relationship (Partner became aware of acting out behavior)
•	Job or career or both (Employer learned about acting out behavior that may have resulted in loss of job, sexual harassment lawsuit, or the threat of job loss or lawsuit)
•	Health (Contracting a sexually transmitted disease)
•	Freedom (Acting out behavior results in arrest, trial, and incarceration or the threat of incarceration)

 Some people become so depressed over their continued acting out behaviors that their very lives are at stake!  For others, the crisis comes when they take a good look at themselves and realize that life is out-of-control and that they are powerless to stop their acting out.

Sometimes that crisis that leads to recovery is looked back on by sex addicts and their families as being the best thing that has happened to them.  If the crisis leads a person to enter recovery  from sex addiction and they are successful in remaining in recovery and putting a permanent end to acting out behaviors, then the crisis may well be thought to be worth the pain.  For this reason, I often encourage clients by saying, “Don’t waste your crisis!”  How tragic it is for a person to experience a significant crisis due to sex addiction and not use that crisis to move them into recovery.

Has sex addiction impacted your life?  Could you be a sex addict?  Chances are that as you read these words you are in the midst of a crisis.  Don’t waste your crisis!  Recovery is a precious gift that is waiting for those who are ready to make a break with their acting out, and are prepared to give themselves completed to the recovery process.