<\/p>\n
Those of us who used sex as a passport to move through the world may be slow to understand the difference between sex and intimacy.<\/b><\/p>\n
Living Clean, Chapter 4, \u201cSex\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n "Wait a minute, I mean...sex and intimacy aren't the same thing?" This is something new for many of us.<\/span><\/p>\n What is not new is the complex and often contradictory relationship that exists when it comes to our sexual behavior, our addiction, and our capacity for intimacy. For many of us, sex has been a useful tool, a means of negotiation. We have used it as a shield to ward off intimacy instead of experiencing it.<\/span><\/p>\n Sex can be so closely linked to substance use that we may need to learn how to have sex without using. Will we be able to perform? Will we even enjoy it? How can we fulfill our sexual desires without exploiting others or putting ourselves in danger?<\/span><\/p>\n Learning how to have clean sex is one thing. Being intimate with others without having sex is another matter entirely. True intimacy requires mutual honesty and willingness on the part of all involved \u2013 literally, baring our souls instead of baring our bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n How the hell do we deal with this? It weighs heavily on us, and who's to say we even want intimacy, anyway? Is this a requirement to stay clean?<\/span><\/p>\n We approach this confusing mess of human nature with patience for ourselves, no matter how long we've been clean. We approach it with some determination to understand and communicate our desires and truths. And, if possible, we approach it with the understanding that our relationship with sex and intimacy will continue to evolve as we mature in our recovery\u2014and grow.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Intimacy is complicated and it is not possible to understand it in a day. Instead, I will focus on knowing myself and showing understanding to others. I will seek to apply spiritual principles to my sexual relationships as well.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-12200","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/12200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/spad"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}