The power of MANY is greater than ONE

[truetome]

Hello TTF community - I am a recovering SA/PA with 19 months of sobriety (according to SA standards) but new to this community. My initial reason for joining was to find out about any accountability software for my new blackberry. But as I write this I recognize the value of being part of a community where people that strruggle with addiction make you feel "not alone". I have learned and continue to learn through SA 12 step meetings and almost a year of therapy that being free of secrets and experiencing intimacy is so much more rewarding than the pull of porn and that next "fix" or reason to medicate my own insecurities. I was living 2 separate lives when my addiction was controlling me. Realizing I no longer have to hide or escape from my problems has given me freedom to experience true happiness with myself and the courage to explore my personal defects of character. I hope by my joining this forum I can learn from others and share my experiences of personal growth in recovery from PA. I can tell people who suffer that there is hope. I have been blessed enough to be exposed for my PA because now there are no secrets, no shame and a positive outlook for myself. But make no mistake I am by no means immune to triggers and have had to rely on understanding consequences to keep from falling at times. Life as an addict can be a struggle for anyone who gets wrapped up in SA or PA and the effects on relationships can be devastating. I continue to rebuild my relationship with my wife and it has been tested. But with her love and support I have been able to join groups and have experienced that the power of many is much greater than the power of one.
Glad to be here!

[metalfossil]

Hello truetome,

Welcome to the greatest litle forum on Earth. I am also a newbie here and I have found its support and the wonderful people here an inspiration. Congrats on your path of nineteen months...

Hello TTF community - I am a recovering SA/PA with 19 months of sobriety (according to SA standards) but new to this community. My initial reason for joining was to find out about any accountability software for my new blackberry. But as I write this I recognize the value of being part of a community where people that strruggle with addiction make you feel "not alone". I have learned and continue to learn through SA 12 step meetings and almost a year of therapy that being free of secrets and experiencing intimacy is so much more rewarding than the pull of porn and that next "fix" or reason to medicate my own insecurities. I was living 2 separate lives when my addiction was controlling me. Realizing I no longer have to hide or escape from my problems has given me freedom to experience true happiness with myself and the courage to explore my personal defects of character. I hope by my joining this forum I can learn from others and share my experiences of personal growth in recovery from PA. I can tell people who suffer that there is hope. I have been blessed enough to be exposed for my PA because now there are no secrets, no shame and a positive outlook for myself. But make no mistake I am by no means immune to triggers and have had to rely on understanding consequences to keep from falling at times. Life as an addict can be a struggle for anyone who gets wrapped up in SA or PA and the effects on relationships can be devastating. I continue to rebuild my relationship with my wife and it has been tested. But with her love and support I have been able to join groups and have experienced that the power of many is much greater than the power of one.
Glad to be here!

[IN NEED OF HELP]

Hey truetome
I welcome you to TTF. I am so happy that you are here. Wow, 19 months of freedom from this addiction that is wonderful to hear. I am glad that you are here, so now maybe we can learn a few things from you, to help us in staying free from this crap

You are so right in saying that the power of many is greater than one. We can not in any way, do this on our own. I know, that if it was not for this wonderful site here, and my SAA meetings, there is just no way, I would be able to say, I am 11 months clean. We may have been able to become Addicts on our own, but it is not the same, in trying to get this out of our lives.

You have touched on some good points here in your writing. When you talked about the living of two lives, with this addiction is so true. Even though we had two lives, only one of them was really in control, and that was the life of the addict. The power of this addiction is strong, and when it has a hold on us, it just does not want to let go. This addiction will fight all it can with us, to stay in our lives.


It is a very wonderful feeling, when we are no longer in control of this crap. Not having anything to hide, or the worry of being caught, is truly a very wonderful feeling. I never wanted to be found out, but in all honesty, I am glad that I was. By it being revealed, that I was living a life as a PA/SA, I was able to see that I can no longer live like this. I just don’t like, that it ripped my SO’s heart out, because of my actions. Even though I have destroyed my beautiful Lady, I am just happy, that even though we still have some major problems in our relationship, she is still by my side, trying, to fix what we have in our lives together as a couple.


Please my friend, start a journal here, and let us know, what it is, that helped you in doing so good in your recovery. I feel that we can all learn from you. Also by you being here, and writing, it will help you in staying even more focused in your life, to keep this crap out of it. You will see, that coming here, for extra help in recovery, is one of the best things you could have done.
This communality is very loving, and supportive. I am so happy that you are a part of our family here.
I have 42 years of addiction in me, and I am happy to be in recovery

Your fellow addict
Gerald

[JenMac]

Hey truetome! Welcome, FINALLY, to TTF. I know it was a long process to get here, so thank you for your patience!
Truetome, your journey must have started about the same time as Mac and mine. Mac has been free from P since March 2010. Our friends Hopefuls Rock and Hopeful have the same recovery date also.
I am glad that you have joined us, and your wife, here at TTF. I feel there are many benefits in keeping this in the forefront of our lives. By being here that is exactly what we are doing and learning from others at the same time. There is so much wisdom here at TTF. Seems to me everyone benefits both by giving and receiving!
HOpe to read much more from you as time goes on!
So a warm welcome! We are glad you are here!
Jenn

[truetome]

Thank you Jenn and THANK YOU for your help! I am happy to be here as well as I find you only get out of recovery what you put into it. And that is truth. I look forward to many more posts and hoping the give and take benefits all as Ihave found it has in SA.

[Devastated2]

Well I am certainly glad you are here, more than anyone else. I do hope youstay. This is a great place and you will get so much out of it.

[HopefulsRock]

Welcome Truetome... or should I say True to you because it certainly sounds like that's what you've learned to be in your 19 months of sobriety. I know how much diligence and effort that takes to make happen and I for one appreciate you joining the membership here and sharing your journey and experience with us all.

Continued strength in your journey my friend...