Addiction is a battle that a victim cannot win alone; they need a supportive team to recover from it. Rehabilitation centers offer excellent treatments for alcohol and/or substance abuse recovery, but the post-recovery stage is a critical aspect of the patient’s life.
While some recovery addicts are loved and supported by their families, many aren’t. In fact, teens rely on alcohol and substance abuse to ‘escape’ from strict families. Precisely speaking, disputed households aren’t safe for recovering addicts as they can push them toward a relapse. This is why the majority of the recovering addicts enter sober living homes and programs.
What Is a Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes are safe havens for recovering addicts. According to a research study on psychology and drug abuse, sober living home programs are necessary as they provide support to recovering addicts.
After going through an intensive outpatient care program, recovering addicts enter a sober living home. Here, they share a home with their peers who are at the same stage of recovery as them. This is particularly helpful because it gives the patients a freer and more inviting environment to live in.
As a matter of fact, sober living homes provide patients with group therapy, where they can talk about their shared experiences and encourage each other to get back into a routine. These homes are perfect for those newly recovering, as they can practice what it’s like to live a drug-free life before they are actually back on their feet.
What Is a Sober Living Home Like?
Life at a sober living home is a lot like one at a hostel or a shared apartment. A person in recovery shares a room with a peer, who is also working toward restructuring their life.
Because sober living homes are all about re-establishing lives and reminding patients what a normal routine is, they provide each member of the home with responsibilities. These responsibilities include running errands, tending to the chores, gardening, going to school, welcoming new members, etc.
To make sure that everyone completes their daily tasks, there are certain rules at these types of living facilities. These rules are usually devised by the pioneers of the program or the home owners, who are responsible for providing residents with all kinds of amenities.
Although these rules aren’t hard, they have to be strictly followed. If any member of the sober living home violates the rules, they will have to leave the facility. This is because all the residents of the home are working extremely hard to rebuild their lives and one person’s negligence would not only discourage them, but potentially lead to a relapse. Everyone is in a vulnerable state and a minor error on one person’s part could completely ruin another’s journey to recovery.
Who Benefits from A Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes offer a nurturing environment, especially to those who have completed their rehab treatment programs. Exclusively, this facility is beneficial for those who:
- Have a history of relapse after receiving intensive care treatment
- Have family members at home who still rely on alcohol and/or substances
- Have verbally abusive families who fail to provide the kind of support necessary for a successful recovery
- Do not have friends or a supportive social circle
These are the kinds of people who are likely to relapse after their release from rehab as they experience high stress levels that can trigger a reaction. Sober living homes provide them with a stress-free living environment.
What Are the Benefits of a Sober Living Home?
Living in a place where everyone is working on long-term goals the way you are can really benefit you. This is why sober living homes are exceptionally beneficial for those aiming for a fresh start toward progress.
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Group Therapy
As mentioned earlier, sober living homes are residential facilities people enter after being released from the rehab. Everyone in the living home has similar goals, which helps them stay on track. This also makes you feel less lonely because there are others like you!
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Responsibility
Living in sober home facilities motivates you to be responsible. Every facility has certain rules that each member needs to follow. The purpose of establishing these rules is to maintain discipline and promote positive habits.
However, sober living homes are intolerant to rebellious or negligent behaviors. In fact, members who fail to comply with the rules are asked to leave the facility as their attitudes can affect others negatively. So if you want to keep your place in this highly supportive environment, you will learn to take responsibility for your actions.
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A Sober Social Circle
A lot of people who become friends in sober living homes maintain strong relationships even after they leave the facility. The journey to sobriety is a huge challenge. If someone supports you emotionally at such a time and gives you a shoulder to cry and rely on, you develop an everlasting relationship with them.
This can be extremely helpful for people who don’t have a lot of friends or who engage in substance abuse because of peer pressure. You now have a supportive social circle which gives you the strength you need to stay sober.
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Effortless transition
Making the transition back to normal life can be very hard and nerve-wracking for people who have been relying on alcohol and substances for a long time. Sober living homes ease this transition back to normal life as these homes provide residents with a chance to live like a normal person.
They assign them with tasks such as chores, a job, or enrolling into a study program, giving them an opportunity to test their sober skills before stepping back out into the real world.
Sober living homes only help you in your journey to sobriety if you’ve received drug addiction treatment from a rehab. So before you or your loved one enters this program, make sure you’ve gone through the necessary stages to prepare for it!
