Sex didn’t fill the need for intimacy

I never understood why nearly every boy I had slept with could just toss me aside, but when I went to my first Al‑Anon adult children meeting, I read about the common character traits of those who grew up with alcoholism. Something beautiful happened when I read that adult children of alcoholics often confuse sex with intimacy.

Immediately, tears began to stream down my face as my past suddenly made sense. The only way I knew to get close to anyone was physically. I was desperate for intimacy, but all I got was sex. This was when Al‑Anon helped me to start changing my attitude—and therefore my life—for the better. My pattern of promiscuity suddenly made sense, and the guilt I carried was released. I promised myself that I would never again abuse my body and let others take advantage of my vulnerability. I started learning how to respect myself, regaining the self‑confidence that I had lost through years of promiscuity.