When you’re struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction, getting professional help should be the first step to begin your new, sober lifestyle. A reputable drug and alcohol treatment center can help you find the correct way to attack your addiction head-on. They can give you the many tools you will need in the future when you are determined to remain clean and sober. However, rehab does come to an end at some point. When it does, where can you turn?
One popular question that addicts often ask is this- Is sober living right for me and my situation? We’d like to tackle this question in order to provide you with as much information as possible when it comes to your addiction and the plans you have to beat it.
What is Sober Living?
When rehab is over, you will have a couple of tough decisions. Should you leave the facility and enter the “real world” like before? Or should you check into a sober living home until you are ready to make the permanent transition back to normal life? Many addicts find that they struggle with the adjustment back into their daily regimen. A sober living facility offers a recovery option that is in-between rehab and regular home life. It allows you to reinforce the many lessons you learned while you were in rehab. For some recovering addicts, a sober living facility is the best option if they want a safe and sober living scenario.
What to Expect
When you are in rehab, you will follow a somewhat strict schedule every single day. While there is some room for independent time, the staff keeps a close eye on every patient. In a sober living home, you will have more independence and are able to come and go. However, you will still be required to follow certain rules during your stay. This allows you to slowly but surely ease your way back to a normal life while picking up more and more responsibilities out of the home.
Sober living homes are not as strict as rehab centers. They do; however, all have a few rules that you must abide by while you are staying there. This will include attending group meetings, adhering to curfews, and keeping up with general cleaning duties. You will be permitted to leave for work, school, and family duties during the day. Your curfew will depend on that schedule, but you will be required to check in at a certain time every night.
Is This Right for My Situation?
Taking a room in a sober living home has a lot of advantages when you are trying to stay clean and sober. One of the biggest reasons recovering addicts stay in a home is because they are not ready to go back to their normal lifestyles. If you believe that your normal home environment is still toxic to your newfound lifestyle, you will do better to stay in a sober living home. Another reason why you may stay is that you don’t have a place to live after rehab. You may have lost your living arrangements or been kicked out, and now you have nowhere to go as you learn to live with your sobriety. A sober living home will give you a roof over your head while you look for a more permanent situation.
The benefits to living in a sober living home far outweigh the small rules that the homes enforce. It’s a time to create structure in your life, find and hold a job, go to school, reconnect and rebuild relationships with family and friends, and learn accountability in your life. Another plus to sober living homes is the chance to build positive relationships with others who are working on staying away from alcohol and drugs. You’ll have a support system in place you can count on, especially since you will be required to continue attending group meetings.
You’ll find that your sober living arrangement provides a calm, encouraging environment that supports your decision to stay in recovery. You’ll enjoy a combination of structure and freedom that allows you to adjust to what life will be like outside of rehab. When you need transitional housing after a rehab stint, strongly consider a room in a sober living home.
Call Us Today!
We know how hard life can be when you are dealing with an addiction. Stop in or call us at (833) 922-2653 to learn how we can help you. Our goal is your sobriety, and we work hard to make sure it happens!
