The Benefits of Sober Living
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The benefits of sober living are clear to us. But, obviously, as a sober living company, we believe in the benefits of sober living. However, we will take our personal opinions out of the mix, and explain the factual benefits of sober living for those in recovery. From studies done by the National Institutes of Health to our years of experience, we have the evidence to provide the clear benefits of sober living.
Sober Living and Accountablity
When you enter sober living, you are automatically engulfed in a halfway house with other recovering addicts. This is extremely beneficial. Especially compared to living alone or living with family. When you live with family, you are not (usually) living with other people in recovery. Most parents cannot possibly understand how to deal with addiction. And rightfully so. They are not addicts.
Living alone is even more of a risk. When you live with family, at least you are surrounded by people who care about you. When you live alone, you have no one. You are left with thoughts that could be extremely detrimental to your life. The main point is this: if you could successfully live alone, you wouldn’t be in this scenario to begin with. The benefits of sober living are sounding more appealing now, eh?
The Problems With Sober Living
Problems Living alone:
Zero Accountability. Compared to living with family in recovery, living alone provides even less accountability. After all, you are living alone. You will have absolutely no one to check your behaviors, recovery attendance or overall life progress. The main difference, regarding accountability, is that in sober living, you have a community 24/7. The benefits of sober living come in handy for accountability. Especially compared to living alone. You don’t have any of that.
Isolation. Becoming isolated is a common theme in relapses. When we become sober, there is more than just the avoidance of substances. We must connect with other like-minded people. When we do not find personal connections, we are left with isolation and loneliness. This isolation can lead to anxiety issues or depression. And it is usually just a matter of time before loneliness produces a significant derogatory change in our lives.
No Structure. When you live alone, you have no mandatory schedule. You are not required to make your bed, wake up a certain time, complete chores, or help others in the house. This fundamental structure, however simple it may seem, is a crucial part of creating a new and balanced life.
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Problems Living with Family Members:
Codependency. Parents of drug addicts often times have codependency issues. This is understandable. After all, this is their child. They raised and nurtured this child for many years. So, when their child attempts to get sober, it makes sense that parents will believe they have the capacity to assist in their recovery. However, this is false. Parental and maternal love cannot fix a recovering drug addict. Help must come from an internal source, guided by those who have experienced freedom from addiction. When parents house their children in recovery, they may enable them inappropriately. This is a natural phenomenon with parents that should be avoided entirely.
Recovery Ignorance. Firstly, this is not the parents fault. We cannot expect normal, loving parents to understand how to deal with addiction. Most normal people have no idea what to do. However, the normal parental belief (that they are able to provide an environment conducive to recovery) is not only wrong, but it leads to many unfortunate mistakes. For starters, parents do not understand what to suggest for recovery programs. They don’t know about sponsorship, good AA/CA meetings, how to build schedules (helpful to recovery), how to find productive hobbies in recovery, or how to build proper relationships in recovery.
Lack of Accountability. The lack of accountability, while living with family, can cause a cycle of despair. Not just by damaging the relationships in the house, but it can threaten their child’s sobriety. For instance, how would a family be certain the recovering addict is attending meetings, staying sober, or doing service commitments? How would the family deal with the behavioral signs of a relapse? How would they properly reprimand or incentivize the recovering pupil? The answers are, of course, they wouldn’t know-how. It is ultimately the safest and best option to trust addiction professionals with experienced sober living services in battling addiction.
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The Benefits of Living at Real Deal
Community Benefits
The community in sober living is one of the biggest factors (compared to living alone or with family) in producing long-term recovery. Because the community is available 24/7, residents always have the option to reach out for help, bounce ideas off of each other, find advice, or enjoy some sober fun. Not only does the community benefits residents in the short term, but it also offers friendships that last a lifetime.
Many of our residents have made bonds that are still important today. In fact, some of our residents, after a period of sobriety, decide to get a place with a sober companion they met in sober living. Making good friends can be a game-changer for long-term recovery. But, don’t believe us. Look at the honest reviews from our residents from all our sober living locations. We believe making friends is not only possible but a huge part of enjoying your recovery.
Accountability
Structure helps our lives in many ways. It shows us how to be consistent, follow a schedule, and learn to remain grateful. It teaches us how to clean our rooms, make our beds, and be on time for mandatory events. This principle of structure is automatically transmitted into other areas of our lives. From employment to family relationships, structure will play an integral part in the rebuilding of our lives.
Health & Fitness
Sober living can provide all the necessary ingredients for success in recovery- accountability, structure, and community. However, our program goes further and prioritizes diet and exercise. Diet and exercise not only are relevant to community, structure, and accountability, but it has tremendous benefits to our confidence and our ability to maintain happiness.