Can A Sober Living Home Help Me Stay Sober?
Can A Sober Living Home Help Me Stay Sober?
When we talk about treatment for addiction recovery, sober living homes often enter the conversation a bit later – but they’re an incredibly important aspect of recovery that each person should consider for themselves. Sober living homes are defined as facilities used by those recovering from substance abuse that serve as a transitional space between rehabilitation and re-entering life at home. Sober living homes aren’t just for anyone. They’re typically for those who have completed a residential treatment program and feel ready to embark on their new journey in “the real world.” Sober living homes work well because they traditionally provide more support than a person would receive without it while also promoting independence that a person needs to thrive on their own.
Take a look at the following benefits that sober living homes can provide:
Assistance with Employment
Previous research studies have found that sober living homes actually increase a person’s chances of employment. This is because of the support provided and the practical knowledge that can be applied through interviews and the workplace. Sober living environments remind residents of their goals, and, because the structure is still there:
- Rules are still established
- Residents are still required to check in
- Recovery activities are still offered
- Sobriety is still expected
- 12-Step programs are still attended
Rather than feeling like one is on their own in finding a job, sober living homes can help ease that discomfort and provide the information a person needs to thrive.
Enhanced Social Support
While a person may have friends and family who support their recovery at home, there’s something special about receiving support from people who thoroughly understand the process of recovery. In the past, research has found that support through sober living homes can provide individuals with several benefits:
- Community – those in sober living homes tend to feel like they’re part of an even larger community, especially those who want to succeed in sobriety
- Education – services provided often help those in sober living homes gain access to information that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to obtain on their own
- Resilience – in addition to the basic needs that sober living homes can provide, individuals can feel empowered and resilient as they begin to strengthen the tools they developed in their treatment program
- Guidance– 12-Step programs, therapy, and other recovery-related activities offer those in sober living homes a continued chance to strengthen their spiritual relationship with God or another Higher Power in favor of navigating life’s ups and downs
Reinforcing Sobriety
While a person may have friends and family who support their recovery at home, there’s something uniquely special about receiving support from people who completely and thoroughly understand the process of recovery. One of the most commonly talked about fears when it comes to addiction recovery is that of relapse. Fortunately, sober living homes provide the information, support, and services needed for individuals to feel comfortable transitioning without the added pressure to figure it out on their own. Instead of suddenly being thrown “out at sea” when it comes to sobriety, they’ll have a constant team of support who will reinforce the very goals that the person is trying to accomplish in recovery – specifically sobriety.
Sometimes having that positive reinforcement can strengthen our own will and determination to succeed. Those who may not have that consistent form of support may find this extremely beneficial in a sober living home.
A Community That Cares
Sober living homes aren’t for people who don’t need or want help. They’re for people who care about their recovery process and want it to last long past treatment. They see recovery as a lifelong process, and they want to take the necessary steps to get to where they need (and want) to be.
The reality is that who we spend our time with and what we surround ourselves with can have a massive impact on the way we live our lives. By participating in a sober living home, we’re setting ourselves up for success because of the added support. We gain tools and resources that we’d have missed out on if we simply went home and started trying to figure out this journey for ourselves. Sober living homes are communities that care about the people within them. At Cumberland Heights, it’s about providing people with what they need to succeed.
12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), further strengthen opportunities for those in recovery. These groups encourage members to build robust support systems while also following a structure that will aid in the mental, physical, and spiritual health.
If you’re ready to start the journey of recovery, Choice House can provide you with the structure you need to get going. As addicted people, we’ve often fought for years to assert our independence. However, when we get sober, we often find we can’t do it on our own, and we need to reach out for help. Whether 12-step recovery is the correct format for you or you prefer a different approach, you’ll find the compassionate, experienced care you need. Choice House is a trauma-informed inpatient recovery program focused on treating addiction and co-occurring disorders. Our staff includes passionate and experienced experts, trained in cutting-edge, research-backed methods to make sure you’re supported by the very best in the field. Above all, Choice House is a long-term behavioral health treatment center where you’ll feel perfectly at home. Call us today at (720) 577-4422 to learn more.