Sober Living Environments
When a drug addict or alcoholic completes inpatient treatment, the safest option is for them to move into a sober living home or halfway house. Going straight back to their old life makes the risk of relapse much higher. Sober living is a perfect option that allows them to gradually adjust to life in the real world while having a safe, structured living environment with a strong support system in the background.
Upon leaving inpatient treatment, residents will be recommended to move into a sober living home. Counselors will work with the resident and their family to help them find a home that is the best fit for them. They will be recommended to stay there for a certain amount of time, such as six months or one year. But what exactly does a sober living home look like?
Sober Living Locations
Sober living homes are often houses or apartments located in a normal neighborhood. Most cities offer a variety of sober living homes in a variety of locations. They might be in a busy downtown area or in a more relaxed, suburban environment. A typical sober living home will provide parking and be near access to public transportation, so residents will be able to get to work or school. They are usually located near gyms and grocery stores, so residents will be able to run errands and take care of their needs. You can click this link to find some sober livings in your area.
Types of Sober Livings
There is no set model for what a sober living home has to be like, so there are many options when it comes to how the home is set up. Some offer individual bedrooms and include services such as providing meals, in-house counseling or recovery coaching, support groups, and transportation to meetings or outpatient treatment. Residents will have access to cable television, internet, and might receive a gym membership or bus pass.
Other sober living homes might be more independent. Residents provide and cook their own meals and are responsible for transporting themselves to outpatient treatment, school, work, and meetings. There might be two or more residents to a bedroom.
Obviously, the monthly rent price of a sober living home will vary depending on the location and amenities offered. However, most cities will offer a sober living home to fit every budget.
What sober living homes have in common is that they provide structure and accountability. A live-in house manager will mentor the residents, making sure they follow the rules and performing drug tests as necessary to make sure they are sober.
The Environments
The purpose of a sober living home is to provide a supportive environment to help addicts or alcoholics in their transition from treatment to the real world. Any sober living home worth its salt will do this in a variety of ways. Because addiction is a difficult disease to fight, it makes it even harder to do alone.
In a sober living home, addicts never have to feel alone. Instead, they can work together as a community, increasing the chances of successfully staying sober for everyone. The addicts in a sober living home often become close friends, relying on and supporting each other in their individual journeys to recovery.
Sober Living Environments and their benefits
Addiction is a difficult disease to fight, and trying to fight it alone makes it that much more difficult. In a sober living home, addicts never have to feel alone. Instead, they can work together as a community, increasing the chances of successfully staying sober for everyone. The addicts in a sober living home often become close friends, relying on and supporting each other in their individual journeys to recovery.
Structure and accountability are essential in recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Most people in active addiction do not take very good care of themselves and have trouble fulfilling their responsibilities. Adjusting to doing this again in sobriety can take time, and sober living is very helpful here. Residents will receive consequences if they do not wake up and come home on time, attend treatment, school, or work, attend regular meetings or counseling, and stay sober. The house manager and the other residents will hold them accountable when they slip up and help them stay on track.
A sober living environment can also help an addict or alcoholic to rediscover the joy in life. Most people are pretty miserable when they are using or drinking, and can only feel happy and have fun when they are intoxicated. Having a positive sober community can help them learn to have fun again. Residents of a sober home will learn to enjoy life together, playing or watching sports, learning to stay sober in social events, enjoying nature, watching movies and playing games, and enjoy many other fun activities.
Recovery may seem boring at first, but most residents in a sober living home soon find they are having more fun sober than they ever did when they were using.