The groups are definately helpful, as they make you realise that you are not the only person going through the legal system, but they discourage SO from hanging around with other SO, outside of the group setting. It's often not permitted by the SHPO as well. But, if you want to find something outside of probation, where you can meet others in the same position as yourself, you might want to consider the SAA (Sex Addicts Anonymous) support groups.

Recently, I was reading about a guy, with convictions for possessing illegal images, who joined one of these groups, and was surprised to find, that out of the 10 men in the group, 5 had convictions for the same thing. This just reinforces, how these types of offences, are often the result of porn addiction.

The SAA groups offer emotional support to sex or porn addicts and are run very much like the Alcoholics Anonymous groups. The men who download these images, are not unlike the heroin addicts, who steal to fund their addiction. So anyone who feels like they need that emotional support, should check out their website.

My course was a long way away, beyond bus trips in the evenings, so I got rail warrants instead. One of the ticket office staff made a few comments, but settled down after a few weeks. When I got there, it was a little daunting, but I'd already done one course in prison, so I was used to that big first step. Then it turned out I'd been given the stiffest sentence, which was also an issue for me, but the other guys were great. I missed the group when it eventually finished, just for the fellowship.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

The transport aspect sounds bad for you.
When I did mine, we just got asked to pay and we got reimbursed.

This is great news and congrats on this!

I was also put on a rehab course and I felt a little uneasy with it at first myself. I also had a great group and it was easy to speak my mind and get things off my chest. Although some days were much harder than others but the group noticed and did help me.
My only real issue with the course as a whole was transport and those bus tickets probation gave you, which had your full name on them at the time (this was later changed after I made a few comments). The bus driver claimed they had never seen one before so called the boss, literally screaming down the phone for all to hear that I handed her something from probation. The looks I got after it by other passengers was one of the most uncomfortable bus rides I have had. So I resorted to getting the train instead which tickets I was given had no logos of any kind to show where it came from.

Yeah! I'll be honest, it was pretty daunting at first - I mean, it's one thing having one on one conversations with social workers in a professional capacity it's another thing to talk about it in a room full of complete strangers. But everyone was in the same boat, it's a sexual offence rehabilitation course we're all on. So although some of our offences may differ we're all there for essentially the same reason. If you're at all curious you might be able to find some general details about the course online, the one we're working on is called Moving Forward, Making Changes.

In terms of mental health, although I'm not a pillar of perfect mental health I'm in a much, much better position mentally than I was 2 or so years ago. In a weird way I actually attribute some of that to COVID and lockdowns as I had nothing but time on my hands to work on myself, and during that time I managed to cut out alcohol and cigarettes. Alcohol was a huge, huge crutch in my life and I'm currently just over 2 years sober. The ciggies I'm just over a year!

Totally understand that, routine and social interaction, especially after the past couple of years. 
It's those exact things that keep cropping up when I hear about people in *any* difficult situation finding any calm or improvements in mental health and so on is being surrounded by people who you can be open and honest with and importantly empathise with after what's been an insane few years.
What's interesting is often people say they have a good group, it's certainly reassuring in a vexed world of dehumanising.

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

Honestly? The routine and social interaction for the most part.

My group work was about a year late in starting due to COVID so a lot of the systems and assignments they've been having us work on are things I've already started implementing myself. Thinks like mindfulness and introspection.

I lost my job as a result of the conviction and with lockdowns and COVID and all that noise it's helped me get a better routine going again as I go twice a week at the same time so it's nice having somewhere to be. Then also having that face-to-face chat with the other people in the group - I feel we have a pretty good group and everyone gets on really together which is a bonus.

Out of interest, what's been most helpful about the rehab group, khafka?

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

Testing 1134

It's a good feeling, isn't it? 🙂

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

After nearly a year, I was finally able to post something, without getting an error message. 

Yeah, just about the same, mate! Powering through my group rehab course and I'm into my final year on the registry so I can sort of see that finish line getting closer.

Can't even remember properly when this place last worked so I'm not even sure where I was at last time I talked about it all.

Still alive and kicking, how about you?

Ooo it'd be nice if it was!

How's everyone doing?

EDIT: My post seemed to go through there without any issues so touch wood!

I wonder

it seems to be!

is it working now?