"When you opened up your blog about your struggles, did you receive emails or messages from others that were dealing with similar things?"
Kindly, I responded, "No."
Then I began to describe why I think that is.
The issues I began my blog about tend to be a sensitive subject for most. It is not like many other things that seem to be as publicly known or accepted. But all the same, it is a topic as I have described before, and I believe more people deal with on a regular basis than they know.
When I first searched out for someone to talk to about this, the first thing I looked into was a program that would be somewhat like Alcoholics Anonymous. It only made sense that this would be the right step to go in. So I began a search on the internet only to come up with short supply. There were two meetings listed in my area. One was located an hour and forty five minutes south of me. The other, twenty five minuted north. There was also a listing for a meeting in the city where I currently live, but the page had not been updated in a while and those meetings had since ended.
After attending a meeting and seeing the environment, I did not believe that it was the way I was going to overcome. So I began to try and search for a personal council. After a day or two worth of searching around online, I found a site that listed three councils familiar with my issues in my area. But having the same Faith I did was important to me. So I searched more. I found one, and it took me almost two days to do it. Why that long?
The issues I began my blog about tend to be a sensitive subject for most. It is not like many other things that seem to be as publicly known or accepted. But all the same, it is a topic as I have described before, and I believe more people deal with on a regular basis than they know.
When I first searched out for someone to talk to about this, the first thing I looked into was a program that would be somewhat like Alcoholics Anonymous. It only made sense that this would be the right step to go in. So I began a search on the internet only to come up with short supply. There were two meetings listed in my area. One was located an hour and forty five minutes south of me. The other, twenty five minuted north. There was also a listing for a meeting in the city where I currently live, but the page had not been updated in a while and those meetings had since ended.
After attending a meeting and seeing the environment, I did not believe that it was the way I was going to overcome. So I began to try and search for a personal council. After a day or two worth of searching around online, I found a site that listed three councils familiar with my issues in my area. But having the same Faith I did was important to me. So I searched more. I found one, and it took me almost two days to do it. Why that long?
Sexual Addiction is not something most councils deal with I guess. Not to say some won't be able to help, but why settle for that and not just get someone who knows and studies the certain subjects, and can help your on a personal level? Especially when they are of the same Faith, and can teach you to be strong in that as well. It will help overcome.
Sending out something like emails or messages to anyone saying that you struggle with addiction is tough. Type the words council for addiction into any search engine, and your zip code, and most likely the links will send you in directions for narcotics, alcohol, eating, shopping and gambling. But not too many others. If you were to type in Sexual Addiction, you may get a page or two that will guide you somewhere. No guarantee though that it will be somewhere close to you, or even in driving range.
So what is the point of this all?
The reason to the answer I gave above: I do not believe I get much email or messages on this topic is because people may not know how to approach someone when they are struggling with these types of problems. They may not even know they have a problem. It takes a lot, (sometimes losing everything,) to message someone, text someone, call someone, or even just verbally say "I think I need help." In doing so one puts them self out there in the open, and who knows the return they will get. That is Vulnerability, and it is very uncomfortable.
As brothers and sisters, we should be able to talk to one another anytime. Especially when we may need help with something. No matter how large or small it may be. Someone close to each of us could feel so far away, and it could all be as simple as asking them how they are, and actually listening.
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