Famous Sex Addicts in History

I'm one as far as I'm concerned. Maybe you are too.

I just got done watching part of a Larry King Live episode with Eric Clapton giving a very candid interview about his litany of addictions.

It's easy to see the tragedy in a high profile, popular celebrity than it is those who are not 'famous'.

The truth of Mr. Clapton's life is that he's been mostly blessed in spite of his addictive problems. All except for one of the biggest tragedies that inspired one of his most beautiful songs, in my opinion. He noted that he'd been 'sober from alcohol' for about three years at the time his son fell fifty stories from a New York high rise to his death.

What he didn't bring up, is whether or not his addictive problems had anything to do with what happened to his son. True, he wasn't ever in the apartment where his son was. True, the building owners likely (?legally) had some fault in the matter the way the windows opened from that high place. But I couldn't help but notice that the child, he should rest in peace, was born to Mr. Clapton's girlfriend while he was still married. No, I don't know the circumstances of when he broke up with his wife, what was going on in the relationship etc, but he alluded to being an 'addictive personality' and said he had 'other addictions'. Sugar was another he mentioned. Not sex addiction though. I'd like to read his book to see what all happened there.

I do remember when I first heard "Tears in Heaven", an absolute tear jerker, even for the twenty-something I was when I heard it. As a father of toddlers and as a recovering addict, I really empathize with his struggles.

I was also inspired by the depth of gratitude he expressed for his Higher Power and for his ability to feel his emotions in his sobriety.

Sex addiction is not ready for prime time, it seems. But with the advent of the internet and with more and more people being caught and publicly outed for these addictive problems, I'm hopeful that more people will see it for what it is. A disease. I don't purport that every spouse who cheats is a sex addict. Not every guy who masturbates or looks at porn is a sex addict. Just like not every person who overeats is a compulsive overeater, and not every person who gets drunk or stoned is a substance addict.

But it helps more people recognize the problem and find the solution when a public figure, whom people seem to maintain their love for despite their frailties, comes out and says folks need to get more educated about addiction as a disease. I look forward to the day when sex addiction is more socially acceptable as a problem, at least to the degree where there's less shame about getting into recovery.

This reminds me of the other kind of high profile cases related to sex addiction--the media frenzy when a politician is stung in a sex scandal.

Sure, particularly with our nation's current duplicitous leaders, I was smugly grinning when any of these 'fire and brimstone' politicians who so blatantly espouse being anti-gay, pro-life, and pro-family values, get caught either with underage teenage boys, or with prostitutes, or mistresses.

Yes, I've been as or more guilty as the next guy, making fun of these two faced liars, with one big caveat: I would sit next to any of those guys at an SA meeting and offer support, offer a phone number for them to call when they're triggered, and offer to spend time with them in fellowship.

So, needless to say, my recovery makes me look at these scandals in a different light now.

Back on the home front, I'm grateful to have remained sober so far while winding down my second of three straight weeks of working 12+ hour shifts. I'll have this Friday night off too, so that will be a relief.

I spoke to my kids both before and after the Sabbath, which makes me happy, and their mother was actually quite pleasant. I'd forwarded my e-mail that I sent to her to some confidantes and they all said that while I should aim to spend as much quality time with the kids as I can, I must work, do recovery, and do self-care which is part and parcel of being a good father to them.

Well, time to get back to the grind. Hopefully the next time you read about me, it won't be in the newspaper...