From the first moment Faith Richards sat in front of a computer she was hooked. Little did she know it was going to take the next 4 years to sign off. Rescued from the NET, one woman's journey of computer addiction and Twelve Step recovery, is a story of addiction, abuse and amazing grace.
Internet addiction affects both teens and adults in epidemic proportions, and the Christian community is not immune. Rescued from the NET is an eye opening account of what can happen when you open the door to the enemy through the World Wide Web.
Rescued from the NET not only sheds light on Internet addiction but on codependency and sexual addiction as well. It is written for those in the household of faith that have allowed technology to invade their lives and the lives of their families. It is also able to reach the many hurt and wounded people who don't know God and have been seduced by the trappings of Satan.
This book promotes understanding and awareness of a serious disease, and is a tool for pastors and counselors who have not personally dealt with addiction but counsel those who have. Rescued from the NET takes readers into the mind and heart of an addict, so that even family members can have compassion and a new understanding as to why the Internet has such a hold on their loved one.
Rescued from the NET speaks to the secular world as well as the Christian community. The author's first priority is to make a difference in people's lives. Her goal is to tell those in similar situations that God has not forsaken them. There is a way out and her story proves it.
In the summer of the new millennium, Faith Richards became hooked on chat rooms and instant messengers. As her addiction progressed, she got deeper into the sexual side of the Internet and further from God. This included phone sex, cybersex, Internet personal ads, and a phone line dating service.
Twice she traveled cross country to meet someone from the Internet, only to find both men were not what they portrayed themselves to be, and neither were many of the other people she met online.
Faith Richards gives an honest account of the abuse that she suffered in her marriage and how that influenced her to seek another life on the Internet. She describes the "God hole" that is in each of us and how filling her heart with agape love is the only way to be satisfied. She also discusses her birth family, the effect that they had on her growing up, and how Jesus can take even the most shameful secrets and replace them with joy and peace.
When Faith finally called on God for help, He guided her to a therapist who taught her about her addiction and recovery through twelve-step programs. But in spite of being in recovery, she developed an unhealthy dependence on her therapist which led to new pain and devastation and thoughts of ending her life.
Since then she has dealt with the root causes of her addiction, got a sponsor, and worked the twelve step program.
Faith ends her story by sharing where her life is now and answers questions that the reader may have about living as a recovering addict.
A list of therapists, Web sites, books, and twelve-step groups on codependency, Internet and sexual addiction are included at the end of the book for those who can relate to her story and may see they have a similar problem.
