PJ

Hi Susie I hear the sound of desperation in your post. Sounds like a very testing situation. Can I ask, other than coming on this Forum, are you getting any support? That would be my first piece of advice? Whether from friends or counsellors. Going through such times alone makes things so much more difficult to bear. I have this addiction, and my only other piece of advice is that it thrives on deceit, collusion and secrecy. I would encourage you to pursue truth and openness, that way you might both come through this with a stronger marriage. There is lots of help here - Laurel counsellors are helpful and Paula has written an excellent book for partners of sex addicts - well worth a read. Let us know how things develop?

Hi Antnick I you can't stop, then that is a sure sign you have an addiction, and the only way to stop is to get specialist treatment. Having been on Paula's recovery courses, I would highly recommend them, but you could also try a local 12 step programme. I think there are 3 main ones - SA, SAA and SLAA - google them and see how they differ and whether any have meetings near you. I would commend Paula's book on sex addiction too - it will help you understand a little more what you are dealing with. Please come back and tell us how it is going.

Hi Ruby I am sorry to hear about all you are going through - being a partner of a SA is grim, and sometimes worse than grim! You can find a lot of really helpful information about the impact of a caution (any criminal history) on www.unlock.org.uk - they are excellent.

Hi Kate I am so sorry to hear how your husband is treating you and caught up in this wretched stuff. I write as someone who has been on the other side - got heavily into porn, visited sex workers, but have been free of all that for 3 1/2 years and still married having confessed everything to my wife. There is hope...... You are sounding devastated and understandably so. A few thoughts if I may. 1. This isn't about you, the health of your marriage or your sex life. There is no excuse for what he has done or is doing. So don't blame yourself, don't take on the responsibility of it one iota. It isn't about your looks, your age or anything else. It is all about his shit. 2. Addicts are unhappy and many, perhaps all, hate what they are doing but they are caught in a vicious circle. They are in pain but habitually turn to their addictive behaviour to escape their pain. It is a shitty place to be. 3. Addicts usually need to hit rock-bottom before they come to their senses and realise they need help. Until they come to the realisation they need help, they won't change. 4. They need people who will not allow them to deceive themselves, minimise or excuse their behaviour. If you stay with him, you will need to help him in this. 5. You are a precious and beautiful person in your own right, who deserves kindness, goodness, love and honesty. Don't believe or tell yourself anything else. 6. You therefore have a primary responsibility to yourself. Do whatever it takes to look after yourself. I would really encourage you to confide in a friend. You will need people to help you through this very dark time for you. You will probably be surprised at how friends will love you and support you if you reach out to them. 7. Finally, I would encourage your husband to find a specialist sex addiction therapist, rather than just a sex therapist. His problem isn't sex, as strange as that might seem, it is addiction. Hopefully the sex therapist will recognise that very quickly. I saw a counsellor who wasn't qualified in sex addiction stuff and wasted some years because they weren't knowledgeable or expert in this specialist area. You will find a load of help for a person in your position by reading Paula's book "Sex Addiction: The Partners Perspective". The Laurel Centre also has specialist counsellors for partners, you might do well to contact one of them. I hope this helps. Keep coming back, let us know how you are getting on.

Hi Pippa I am so sorry you have had this devastating news. Yes, that is very hard to believe. Not sure what more I can say - have you challenged him any more on this?

Hi Outofwishes Sorry, glad you came back. What a story you have. The good news is that despite a very difficult time, you have risen to the challenge and you are sorting your life out. Whilst you now have a criminal history and excluded from certain areas of employment and voluntary work, the truth is that you can still live a full life. I hope you find your niche, something that gives you real satisfaction in life, enough income and total recovery from your addiction. Keep coming back from time to time, we would love to hear how you are getting on.

Hi Outofwishes Thanks for this, very helpful. It seems to me that being found out can, perhaps often, comes as a great relief. For me, I couldn't live with the deception any longer - so when things come into the light, I felt like I became more integrated. At SAA, most, perhaps all, often find it a relief even when the police have caught them and are facing trial. It demonstrates what a terrible affliction this addiction is - when we are relieved to be caught. Do tell us what the outcome was - please give us an update. Best wishes

Have you looked here: https://www.nacro.org.uk/resettlement-advice-service/support-for-individuals/advice-prisoners-people-licence-sex-offenders-mappa/advice-people-convicted-sex-offences/ or http://hub.unlock.org.uk?

Hi Matt That's great. I would recommend you read Paula's book too. There is also a post here [http://paulahall.co.uk/forum/index.php?/topic/505-online-resources-for-addicts-wanting-help/] with lots of good resources. Read up as much as possible and feed your motivation to get out of this addiction.

Hi Confused.com I suppose I would want to ask whether your addiction life makes you happy and builds your self-esteem. And where is it going? If it doesn't make you happy etc I would do everything you can to escape from it. I would recommend Paula's course - it enabled me to escape and get into recovery. Well worth the money.

Hi Kat Wow - that does sound absolutely terrifying. My only comment is that it doesn't feel right that you feel you can't go to the police to bring a degree of safety to your children, home and work because he might get into trouble.......... When in addiction we are selfish, in denial and manipulative. Hence him turning on you. Those in addiction usually have to hit rock bottom before they go into long term recovery, maybe, maybe, this is what he needs. The loving thing is to hold your ground, assert your boundaries, and don't take on board his accusations. All strength to you.

Hi Cowslip. This is a journey - it will be right sometime to leave this forum......

Hi Rena Just read your post. He sounds like he is in denial and that he doesn't understand how mired he is in his addiction. If he doesn't know he needs help, it is very unlikely he will recover - addicts can't do this on their own. You aren't going crazy - it sounds more like he is manipulating you by blaming you for the situation. He is clearly not taking responsibility. Put your boundaries in place and don't take on his crap. Have you read Paula's book for partners? I would highly recommend it. Best wishes.

Hi Cheesecake. Addicts can be deep in denial, can be very manipulative and deceitful. I am sorry for your sad experience. Life can be crap at times. I don't have much to say, except that I hope you find the answers to your questions. There are men out there who aren't addicted to sex, or are in long-term recovery. I hope you find one that loves you and whom you fall in love with too.

Hi Jem Sorry for the slow reply, I have been off-line for a few weeks. Guilt - gosh, there is a big subject. Guilt is a very complex area and raises some really interesting questions. I suppose I would want to dig into what sort of guilt your husband feels. Guilt is very closely allied to shame and I am persuaded is as much a spiritual issue as it is a psychological one. Off the top of my head (I think it needs longer!), I think there are 3 components of resolving guilt. 1. Repentance. This concept is often used in religious/christian circles but one doesn't have to be spiritual to take advantage of it. Repentance means, not just remorse but changing one's attitude and behaviour. I wonder if, pointing this out to him and 'accepting' his repentance, might give him some relief from his guilt? 2. Forgiveness. Forgiveness benefits the forgiver the most. You may have heard the maxim 'unforgiveness is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die'. Whenever a wrong is committed, a debt is created which cannot be repaid/undone. We use the concept when we use such phrases as "I will make x pay for this" or "she owes me". Interesting the original Lord's Prayer in the gospels of Matthew and Luke use 'debt' as a metaphor for wrong doing/sin. If you think about it, when someone does wrong against you, they take something from you - be it money, self-esteem, health etc. Such 'debts' cannot be undone, they cannot be paid back. Revenge doesn't give you your health back, doesn't heal your self-esteem etc. Forgiveness is then like cancelling the debt - striking it out. Tearing up the IOU. Forgiveness is a process and takes a long time. I wonder, if you are in the (long) process of forgiving him, telling him that might help - using the language of forgiveness. It might well cause him to cry, but it might help his guilt. The next step, once you have forgiven him, maybe for him to forgive himself. 3. Making amends. In SAA - one works to make amends. I find this very helpful. Whilst wrongdoing can't be undone and the debt can never be repaid, yet one can demonstrate a desire to put things right, acknowledge a debt to someone or society, and make contributions back. I suspect the best amend your husband can make to you is to actually put his life back together again, become healthy - to recover from his addiction. The second best amend (I suspect) is to help re-build your self-esteem and your marriage. I would encourage him to channel his guilt into making amends for the damage he has caused you and numerous others. I would be surprised if the above sorted it all completely but I hope it might help. It is a long journey.....