If you’re just getting out of an inpatient treatment program for addiction, the next stage of your journey might involve something called a sober living home. Also known as halfway houses, this program can help ease you into a post-addiction world. Because there are many challenges you will face during this big transition, it is critical that you have the tools you need to overcome them with strength and confidence. This article will dive deeper into what you can expect from this program and whether it is right for you.
What Are Sober Living Homes?
Some drug and alcohol treatment centers administer a program where you will be placed in group housing called a sober living home. These homes are strictly substance-free. While clients have more independence than they did in treatment and can leave the campus as they wish, sober living homes still have rules that residents must follow. This can include curfews or attending group meetings.
At a sober living home, you will have access to meetings, work, and other activities such as aftercare programs, allowing you to start getting back to normal. Oceanfront Recovery has partners that provide fully-furnished housing that include amenities like parking spaces, in-house washers and dryers, full kitchens, and private or double bedrooms. The homes are comfortable, safe, and peaceful, just like their residential treatment facilities.
Why the Program is So Important
If you’ve just gotten through a residential treatment program, this early phase in your recovery process can be the hardest. Although you’ve been successful in treatment and have regained some sense of stability, cravings and triggers are more than just a slim possibility; they will almost surely happen. Those who have been in recovery for years can still be working to manage these issues. Practicing the skills and healthy habits needed to interact with the world and live without substance prepares you to withstand whatever is to come. Moreover, you might be looking for new living accommodations or a job. Sober living can make all of this possible.
Preventing Relapse in Early Recovery
Enrolling in a sober living program also means having access to aftercare services that can teach you how to stay sober, improve your quality of life, and gain independence. Managing cravings and preventing relapsing is a big part of this. Some individuals have been through treatment, maybe even more than once, but continue to relapse due to a lack of real-world practice of the skills learned throughout therapy and group work in treatment. Getting involved in aftercare programs while living in a sober home can help you find out what works and what doesn’t in a safe and semi-structured environment. Therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) will also be available to you.
Another important component of sober living is the structure and accountability it creates. Now that you are easing back into your life and taking on more responsibilities, you have to hold yourself accountable for your actions. This can be very empowering because it means that you have the power to improve your situation and lead a fulfilling life. There are other individuals in these homes with whom you can make friends, share stories, and create a sober fellowship. The more support you can cultivate during this time, the better. Friends who understand you and are at the same stage in their life can be uplifting. It can also help reinforce positive behaviors that help you abstain from substance use.
Get Involved in Aftercare Programs
Aftercare programs are flexible and tailored to each individual’s needs. You can attend group therapy and individual therapy sessions or get connected to community resources such as 12-Step programs, support groups, and external therapists. Understanding that a strong family support system is critical, Oceanfront Recovery provides family-oriented services to assist loved ones in learning about their loved one’s condition and how they can be successful in recovery. This can involve repairing relationships and creating healthier family dynamics.
Why It’s the Right Option for Some
Whether or not a halfway house is right for you depends on you. Are you relatively secure in your recovery but have some doubts? Are you the type of person that needs a lot of structure and stability in daily life? Do you want guidance in looking for a job or more time practicing relapse prevention skills? It’s okay if you need more support and structure after treatment. Lots of people do.
If you need to find a new place to live because your old home is unstable, this is also a good reason to stick with a sober living program until you find a new place. These programs are also more flexible in terms of how long you can stay, meaning you don’t need to rush. If your intuition is telling you that you’re just not ready to leave the security and structure that you experienced in treatment, check out Oceanfront Recovery’s sober living program.
At Oceanfront Recovery, we have seen many clients struggle to transition from active treatment to a post-treatment world. This is not unusual, and it is nothing to feel guilty or embarrassed about. You will have your good days and bad days; it’s all a part of the recovery process. If you need more help after treatment, check out our two sober living homes located in the area of Laguna Beach, CA. This program is available to men and women who have completed our treatment programs. You will be able to stay focused on treatment and learn how to avoid relapse. In this safe and substance-free space, you will still have access to your Oceanfront Recovery aftercare program team and many of our other recovery resources. By participating in a sober living home, this next phase of your recovery can be productive and fulfilling. For more details, please call us today at (877) 279-1777.
