2025 SA/S-Anon NW Regional Retreat

I attended the SA/S-Anon NW Regional Retreat in Post Falls, Idaho. Gratefully, this was my fourth NW regional retreat, and as someone who lives on the opposite side of the country, each one has been a blessing. It was five years ago, at the suggestion of my then sponsor, that I got involved with SA meetings in Portland, OR, and I will be forever grateful for all the recovering sexaholics I have met there.

Retreats seem to breathe something new into me and my program every time. This time, I felt a deep sense of camaraderie and acceptance in my experience over the weekend. As a sexaholic, my magic magnifying mind is always trying to focus my attention on all the problems in my life. But being around so many other sexaholics at the retreat was a welcome shift of focus. The speakers, the breakouts, the pick-up basketball, the hanging out in the evening; my HP knew I needed it all. It’s a gift to now have an SA community on both coasts that I can call home.

Another highlight of the retreat was the SA and S-Anon speakers. Hearing the S-Anons tell their stories reminded me of the damage I did to others when I was acting out and the damage I can do again, if I go back out there. My lust fantasies try to tell me that it’s all about me, it’s only in my head, and I’m not hurting anyone. I benefit from being around recovering S-Anons, as it helps me see through those lies in my head. 

Recovering in mixed meetings was one of the themes of the retreat, so most SA speakers were women. I am very grateful for their stories of experience, strength, and hope. I got the opportunity to look for the similarities (of which there are many!) instead of the differences in our stories, and that only adds to the depth and breadth of my recovery. 

And lastly, I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to see my sponsor and grandsponsor in person again. I’ve spent my entire life trying to be a part of something. Now I’ve found my people.