Addiction

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dsully

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Christian Family,

I am coming to the painful conclusion that I may be a sex addict. Despite this heavy news, God has been very gracious to me. Things have gotten better over the years–I am no longer looking at pornography, going to escort services or massage parlors or strip clubs, or using phone services-- but I still am struggling nearly every day with extremely strong temptations to self-stimulation. You might even call them compulsions. There have been periods of temporary of relief (including am amazing year when I was free of self-stimulation), but the issue keeps coming back in one form or another.

I have a great doctor who is a Byzantine Rite Catholic. I am hesitant to bring up the sex addiction issue with her. But I suppose I shouldn’t feel the need to be cautious. She is a doctor, right? In other news, my doctor has prescribed some medication to me, but I am afraid to try it. I keep thinking that perhaps my suffering is redemptive, and if I take the medication, that I will lose the effects of my suffering. Is this wrong thinking?

I would appreciate prayers for guidance and clarity. I need to know if I can trust this doctor and if working with her will be a good thing for my healing.

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Dan
 
May the Holy Spirit guide you in making decisions and increase the gifts and fruits of the Spirit which will help you on your way.

Hail Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen!
 
Try to avoid medication.

I will pray for you now, what helps this is if you say the Rosary and Fasting.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you as my Lord and savior and my deliverer. I repent of all my sins – known and unknown – I’m sorry for them all – I renounce them all. I ask you now to forgive me of all my sins. I forgive all others as I would like for you to forgive me. Wash me now, and cleanse me in your blood! I thank you now, Lord Jesus that through your finish work on the cross – I can be set free from masturbation and pornography addiction!

Through prayer God can work miracles.
 
dsully said:
I may be a sex addict. …but the issue keeps coming back in one form or another.

I have a great doctor who is a Byzantine Rite Catholic. I am hesitant to bring up the sex addiction issue with her. But I suppose I shouldn’t feel the need to be cautious. She is a doctor, right? In other news, my doctor has prescribed some medication to me, but I am afraid to try it. I keep thinking that perhaps my suffering is redemptive, and if I take the medication, that I will lose the effects of my suffering. Is this wrong thinking?

I would appreciate prayers for guidance and clarity. I need to know if I can trust this doctor and if working with her will be a good thing for my healing.

Dan
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Dan, we can not know if your specific doctor can help you, but addictions can be made under control with the help of others - doctors, therapist, spiritual direction…etc.

You would be wise to seek help for an addiction.

Any questions you have with Rx from your doctor needs to be discussed with the doctor, as we can not help you to know why you should or should not use any Rx.

God does not ask us to forgo medical help in order to have suffering. You should make an appointment with your priest to help you understand this and he may also have spiritual advice to help with your sexual addiction.

Please seek the Sacrament of Confession as you fight this sexual addiction.

May you feel God’s peace in your journey to overcome this addiction.
 
endaman said:
Try to avoid medication.

I will pray for you now, what helps this is if you say the Rosary and Fasting.

Through prayer God can work miracles.
Click to expand...
I disagree with endaman in the suggestion to “try to avoid medication”… that is a matter to be discussed between you and your doctor(s). Second and third opinions from other doctors may help - but advice on the internet to “try to avoid medication” can cause serious health issues.
 
It is true that I haven’t been praying the Rosary. I did for a while, and I think it helped. As for fasting, I have been eating too much and not fasting at all. This is embarrassing.
 
RoseMary131 said:
I disagree with endaman in the suggestion to “try to avoid medication”… that is a matter to be discussed between you and your doctor(s). Second and third opinions from other doctors may help - but advice on the internet to “try to avoid medication” can cause serious health issues.
Click to expand...
I think it’s kind of a tossup over whether meds would help me. They might. They might not. Anti-depressants have been shown in some cases to help with sex addiction. Sometimes they help bring to light whatever the underlying issues are so that they can be worked through. On the other hand, there are side effects. It is a tough judgment call.
 
RoseMary131 said:
Dan, we can not know if your specific doctor can help you, but addictions can be made under control with the help of others - doctors, therapist, spiritual direction…etc.

You would be wise to seek help for an addiction.

Any questions you have with Rx from your doctor needs to be discussed with the doctor, as we can not help you to know why you should or should not use any Rx.

God does not ask us to forgo medical help in order to have suffering. You should make an appointment with your priest to help you understand this and he may also have spiritual advice to help with your sexual addiction.

Please seek the Sacrament of Confession as you fight this sexual addiction.

May you feel God’s peace in your journey to overcome this addiction.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for this encouraging reply. I almost became Catholic but backed out at the last minute. I do not have a confessor but I am open to seeking help in any form.
 
dsully said:
I think it’s kind of a tossup over whether meds would help me. They might. They might not. Anti-depressants have been shown in some cases to help with sex addiction. Sometimes they help bring to light whatever the underlying issues are so that they can be worked through. On the other hand, there are side effects. It is a tough judgment call.
Click to expand...
Is the medication prescribed from your doctor for sexual addiction or for another issue?
 
dsully said:
Thank you very much for this encouraging reply. I almost became Catholic but backed out at the last minute. I do not have a confessor but I am open to seeking help in any form.
Click to expand...
Maybe you can seek spiritual help from the priest where you were enrolled in RCIA? You can ask for an appointment to discuss suffering, redemptive suffering, and accepting medical help.

Have you thought about entering the RCIA program and attempting once more to enter the Church?
 
RoseMary131 said:
Is the medication prescribed from your doctor for sexual addiction or for another issue?
Click to expand...
Other issue. I have some anxiety and depression. The sexual addiction, which has improved greatly, is probably just a symptom of that, though.
 
RoseMary131 said:
Maybe you can seek spiritual help from the priest where you were enrolled in RCIA? You can ask for an appointment to discuss suffering, redemptive suffering, and accepting medical help.

Have you thought about entering the RCIA program and attempting once more to enter the Church?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have thought about it. It’s a long story. It would be easier if my family and friends were also Catholic.
 
DSully,
You are in my prayers. Remember that it is by recognizing, embracing, and as Francis De Sales said, (my favorite, obviously,) “loving the abjection,” that we come closer to Christ. May you remain humble in your cross and stay strong in your fight against this particular tempation.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
DeSalesDisciple said:
DSully,
You are in my prayers. Remember that it is by recognizing, embracing, and as Francis De Sales said, (my favorite, obviously,) “loving the abjection,” that we come closer to Christ. May you remain humble in your cross and stay strong in your fight against this particular tempation.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
Share your concerns with your doctor, and follow her recommendations including medications.

There are specialized therapists who help sex addicts, they are called CSAT’s (Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist). They are all licensed mental health professionals. Just do a “Google” search to find one in your area.

God bless you.
 
:gopray:

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now ever shall be world without end
Amen.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen

:signofcross:
 
FYI. I have started taking the mediation. Things seem to be going pretty well. Thanks for your responses and prayers.

In Christ,

Dan
 
Infant Jesus, please grant this person the courage to fight this addiction. Most pure, please unite your heart with his

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless
and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible,
look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us,
that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent,
but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will,
which is Love and Mercy itself.
 
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