i was a christian when i started struggling. was even a sunday school teacher, very dedicated to teaching the youth group, involved in many areas of ministry.

I was a christian for 19 yrs I knew there was something wrong but I conviced myself that all men where like this, I was about to lose my marriage when I discovered an artical about it in a mag and joined a 12 step program. but it has thrown everything I believed originally and everything I thought to be true. I know more today that is God that stops me today but do I influence that in anyway do I have any Control/say over my life now or to do that will I go back to what I was.

I was raised Roman Catholic, even went to parochial schools through eighth grade. I didn't become a Christian until I was 20-years-old and in college. Almost immediately, the addiction got much worse. I didn't get into recovery until I was 37-years-old, and that was actually by accident, or more precisely by coincidence.

I was at home watch the old "Phil Donahue" show on TV one morning, and Dr. Patrick J. Carnes happened to be the guest. He was talking about a new book he had written that had just been published. The book was titled "Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction". Pat was a clinical psychologist who's research led him to the conclusion that people could become addicted to sex, and his book was all about his research findings.

At the end of the program, they gave a phone number you could call for more information on sexual addiction. Well, I called and was referred to a psychotherapist here in town. She and I got together later that week, and she gave me the name and phone number of her contact in the sexual addiction community. I called this guy, and he told me about the local Sexaholics Anonymous (S.A.) group. The following Saturday afternoon, I went to my first Twelve Step group for sexual addiction. The rest, as they say, is history.

It has been said that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous!!