Hope And Recovery The Workbook

Introduction

The first time many of us saw the Twelve Steps, we thought they were much too simplistic to help us recover from something as destructive and complex as sex addiction. But the longer we studied the Twelve Steps, the more we understood that our first impression of them was limited, and therefore incorrect.

The Twelve Steps are, indeed, filled with healing insights and support—if we are willing to put time and effort into applying them to our lives. This workbook is designed to help recovering sex addicts and codependents to sex addicts personalize and apply the Twelve Steps, thereby making each of the steps useful in their daily lives—for all stages of recovery.

The questions in this workbook rather closely follow the text of Hope and Recovery. They are designed in such a way that they can be worked on alone and in private, or as an integral part of group discussion. But regardless of the circumstances in which you use this workbook, it will prove most helpful and meaningful to you if you do the following: prior to responding to each set of questions, read the portion of text that corresponds to the questions (page numbers referring to the Hope and Recovery text are in parentheses at the beginning of each section of questions.) And remember, recovery is a process. Resist any tendency you might have to hurry through the material. This workbook will be most valuable to you if you study the text and respond to the questions after taking time for some personal reflection.

The questions in this guide were developed by the coordinating author of Hope and Recovery as an outgrowth of sponsorship and other Twelve Step work with addicted people.

I. The Twelve Steps as a

Program of Recovery

Before beginning the first section of the workbook, take a few minutes to read the introduction to the Hope and Recovery text entitled The Twelve Steps as a Program of Recovery. It describes a newcomer to the Twelve Step Program—how he was compulsive about sex and was, at first, compulsive about recovery as well. Have you been impatient with yourself or compulsive in your recovery? If so, in what ways?

The authors encourage you to work the Twelve Steps in order. As you read through each of the Twelve Steps, ask yourself if you have made conscious efforts to apply them to your daily life. After some reflection, which of the Twelve Steps would you say you have made the most effective use of in your life?

After some reflection, which of the Steps would you say you have neglected to make use of in your life?

You can begin to use this workbook by reading pages 1-10 of Hope and Recovery and then answering the questions about Step One, starting on page 4 of this workbook.

Am I Really Out of Control?

(pages 1-10)

1. How did you respond the first time you heard the words sex addict?

2. Is your current response to the words sex addict different than your response to these words the first time you heard them? If so, how has your response changed over time?