Sober living homes can be a great option because of the secure environment they provide. In some cases, they also give you access to drug rehab and addiction center professionals who can help at any time.
Joining a sober living home can be a big decision, though, and you may have more questions about whether sober living is the right fit for you at this time or how it can keep you safe during this phase of your recovery. As you look into sober living, there are some things you should consider.
What Is Sober Living?
A sober living house is a place in which you can live as you go about your daily routines and practice living a healthy, substance-free life. In a sober living home, you will have responsibilities and chores, and you will need to hold yourself accountable for maintaining your commitment to a sober lifestyle.
Living in this environment will enable you to continue your journey in recovery with support around you. Sober living homes are fantastic places to help you transition back into the world if you have just recently left residential or inpatient treatment.
Additionally, sober living homes are great places if you want to begin a sober lifestyle at your own pace. They help you learn how to be independent and free from substances.
Though it depends on the sober living home you choose, you are more than likely to share a room in the house with another individual recovering from a substance use disorder. Sober homes will also require a monthly rent, but it is usually cheaper than renting other options as you continue your recovery journey.
The Safety of Sober Living
There are many advantages of staying at a sober living house, and a big one is safety. You may choose to stay at a sober living home because you might not be ready to return to a previous environment in which people or places are likely to trigger a relapse. Though you will eventually need to sustain substance-free lives completely in the outside world, it is unhelpful to place yourself in an environment you are not yet able to handle. In the meantime, sober living can help you practice living without substances without external forces from the previous lifestyle impeding your new journey.
One way a sober living home can keep you safe is by allowing you to avoid putting yourself in two places in which you must develop different routines. Often in these situations, one routine is more aligned with the old lifestyle and is more likely to trigger a relapse. On the other hand, when you establish one routine at a sober living home, you are giving yourself more practice being sober before you move to a more challenging environment. Sober living homes are a safe and secure place to implement and practice your healthy coping mechanisms and become more confident with your new habits.
By being filled with people who will help rather than hinder your progress, sober living homes provide a safe social environment as well. Your roommate and peers at the sober living home will be supportive of your recovery journey. While their situations may be different from yours in many ways, they will be able to relate to the challenges and can help you hold yourself accountable to your commitment to sobriety.
You will be able to build healthy relationships and develop confidence in assessing if a relationship is healthy or not, thus increasing your ability to build a safe social environment for yourself after you leave the sober living home.
Signs of a Quality Sober Living Home
Even when you know sober living is the right step for you, you still have to figure out how to choose a sober living home.
A good sober living home is run by professionals and counselors who care about the residents and treat them with dignity. You should have access to these professionals for help or support when you need it.
The house managers of a quality sober living home will also respect you and oversee whether the rules are being followed. This will ensure that safety measures and the substance-free environment are not jeopardized. Any resident who threatens the safety or substance-free environment should be required to leave a sober home.
The rules should require proper hygiene; the house must be clean and sanitized. The fees paid into the sober living home should sustain the house itself.
Other signs of a quality sober living home are a sense of community and regular household meetings. You want to partake in an environment that supports a substance-free lifestyle and builds relationships between people who have a similar commitment to recovery.
If any of these elements do not apply to the sober living home you are looking at, it might be wise to consider choosing an alternative one.
Sober Living Homes are the Perfect Place to Practice Real Life
If you would like to practice living your substance-free lifestyle in a supportive environment before returning to the outside world, a sober living home is an excellent option.
Finding your perfect option for a sober home is easier than ever with SoberLivingNearYou.com. We’ve carefully compiled thousands of sober homes across the US. Finding a sober home for your budget, needs, and personality is as simple as using the search bar.
Start your search for a sober living home with SoberLivingNearYou.com!
