Description

Adult children who grew up with a parent who had a sexual addiction are left confused ashamed and mistrustful regarding the feelings and boundaries surrounding sex love and intimacy Due to the inappropriate sexual behavior of one parent and the subsequent impact of betrayal on the other parent these adults carry sexual secrets have divided loyalties and are often caught in the middle of their parents struggles Having witnessed or known of affairs walked in on a parent masturbating or viewing pornography received extreme or shameful messages regarding sexuality or gender experienced sexualized remarks about their bodies been neglected as a result of the addiction or were modeled extreme moral values either too permissive or shaming these adult children of sex addicts ACSAs struggle with their sexuality and longings for love

ACSAs have not had their stories told in any significant way in the recovery literature Intergenerational trauma is transmitted through the legacy of carried sexual shamethe burden of which is not theirs A Light in the Dark offers hope for unburdening ACSAs by sharing the experiences of others as well as examining the characteristics roles and recovery that point toward the freedom and joy they rightfully deserve