Staying Grounded in the Heat of the Moment

Summer can be a time of rest, travel, and new experiences, but for those in recovery from sex addiction, it can also bring unexpected challenges. The relaxed rhythms of summer—looser schedules, less accountability, more skin, and even more alone time—can stir up old patterns and temptations.

If you’ve committed to healing, the last thing you want is to undo your hard work. That’s why it’s crucial to name the risks and proactively plan for recovery-safe summer habits.

Let’s begin by naming some of the places and spaces that can serve as hurdles in your recovery journey. Awareness is the beginning of prevention.

Common Summer Temptations for Those in Recovery

1. Increased Exposure to Sexual Triggers

From beachwear to billboards, summer tends to be more revealing and more visually stimulating. You may find yourself in environments where lust is normalized or even celebrated. What will you do when you encounter these triggers?

2. Unstructured Time

With vacations, flexible work schedules, or school breaks, you may have more downtime than usual. While rest is good, idle time without intention can become a danger zone.

3. Traveling Alone

Whether for work or pleasure, solo travel can strip away normal boundaries and accountability, making it easier to justify slips or secrecy.

4. Emotional Vulnerability

For some, summer intensifies feelings of loneliness. Seeing others in happy relationships, attending weddings, or being away from your recovery community can trigger unmet longings and lead to acting out.

5. Party Culture

Summer often comes with parties, cookouts, and concerts, environments that may include alcohol, lowered inhibitions, or casual conversations that quickly veer into flirting or boundary-crossing.

It’s important to acknowledge these potential triggers, because denying their potential impact only intensifies their power. Name the temptations that you might encounter so that you can make a plan to combat them if and when they arise.

How to Stay Anchored: Recovery Strategies That Work

1. Name Your Triggers in Advance

Again, don’t wait until you’re in the heat of the moment. Now is the time to identify what situations or environments are likely to be difficult for you and create a plan for each. Write them down, and share them with your sponsor or accountability partner.

2. Use the Intrusive Thoughts Toolkit

Unwanted thoughts are normal, but they don’t have to control you. Download our free Intrusive Thoughts Toolkit to understand what’s happening in your brain and adopt several grounding tools you can use in the moment to reframe and redirect.

3. Stay Connected

Isolation is one of the enemies of recovery. Don’t let your check-ins with your circle of five (or accountability group) fall by the wayside just because your summer schedule shifts. Set up weekly check-ins with your recovery group, therapist, or sponsor. If you’re traveling, find local 12-step meetings or use online options to stay connected.

4. Build Structure into Your Days

Give each day some anchors—whether that’s a morning routine, planned activities, or time for prayer and journaling—even if you’re on vacation. A loosely structured day is more recovery-safe than a completely open one.

5. Travel with Integrity

If you’re going on a solo trip, let someone know your itinerary, check in daily, and avoid hotels or places you know have been stumbling blocks in the past. Bring reading material or playlists that support your healing. In our online course, I Can Stop, we cover some additional tips and tricks to travel with integrity.

6. Refresh Your Foundations

If you’ve been in recovery for a while, summer can be a good time to re-engage with core concepts. The Sex Addiction 101 course is a clear, shame-free resource that will walk you through the basics of addiction, trauma, and healing—whether you’re starting fresh or need a reset.

Don’t Let Summer Derail Your Healing

You’ve come too far to lose ground now. Recovery isn’t about avoiding life—it’s about learning to live in it with courage, clarity, and support. This summer, protect the progress you’ve made. Choose intentionality over impulse, connection over secrecy, and grace over shame.

Download the Intrusive Thoughts Toolkit or enroll in Sex Addiction 101 to reinforce your recovery pathway.