Did you know that the first 30 to 90 days after completing inpatient rehab is one of the most critical times for recovery? You may have heard this during your time in residential treatment, but what other option do you have other than returning home after rehab?
Immediately jumping back into your everyday life after treatment can cause you to face triggers and cravings too soon. Luckily, there’s another option for your recovery and it comes in the form of sober living homes.
Since recovery isn’t something you have to go through alone, we’re here to help you find the answer. Learn about the benefits of sober living homes and how you can move your life in a healthy direction.
What is a Sober Living House?
Sober living homes are group homes free of drugs or alcohol that are meant to help you slowly transition back to everyday life. Think of sober living like a co-op where residents pay living costs while also being responsible for some housing upkeep.
As a resident of a sober living home, you’ll regain some of your independence while living with other residents and a house manager who can help keep you accountable. This balance of recovery support and personal accountability is designed to help you learn how to manage normal life and stressors without substance abuse.
3 Benefits of Sober Living Homes
1. Create Meaningful Sober Relationships
For people who go straight back to home life after inpatient treatment, the risk of feeling isolated and alone is high. But in a sober living house, you won’t have to worry about being alone. One of the most important benefits of sober living homes is the relationships you’ll build. You’ll be living alongside people who understand what you’re going through because they’re also in recovery.
By being with people who are also looking for lasting change, a level of camaraderie can help move your recovery forward. The relationships you build in sober living can become a pillar of support for the rest of your recovery journey. You’ll meet people who are there for you when things get tough or when a craving happens. And the relationships you forge in a sober living house will help you hold yourself accountable for your sobriety.
2. Re-learn Key Life Skills
When someone is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction, their other obligations often fade into the background. Things like eating healthy, going to work on time, personal hygiene and home maintenance are all skills that might be out of practice. Another benefit of a sober living home is that it provides the structure you need to re-learn those skills.
In a sober living house, there’s less outside pressure and more built-in structure. This can help you re-learn how to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s a simple chore like washing the dishes or a more stressful task like finding a job, you’ll have a safe environment to build your personal responsibility. But you won’t be the only one re-learning key life skills. You’ll have the support of other residents as you all work on regaining your independence together.
3. Decreased Risk of Relapse
While the coping skills you learned in treatment are important, sometimes a safe environment can help you more effectively manage your triggers. This type of environment offered at a sober living home can actually help to lower your risk of relapse. Free from the outside pressures of your old environment, you’ll have the freedom to heal and focus on yourself.
A sober living home may also help reduce the number of relapse triggers you experience. There are no drugs or alcohol allowed and other residents will be counting on you. There’s less time to dwell on cravings when you’re focused on daily chores and responsibilities. Being part of a sober living home can help you see that you can get through normal days without drinking or using drugs.
Silver Maple Recovery Offers Sober Living Housing in Lorain, Ohio
At Silver Maple Recovery, we know that your journey to lasting recovery doesn’t end once inpatient rehab or detox is over. That’s why we are currently working on adding sober living houses to our continuum of care.
The same evidence-based and personalized approach to treatment we’re known for will take new life in our sober living houses. With our local experience, we know that there is a difference between getting sober and living sober. Our sober living program is designed to help bridge that gap.
If you’re interested in learning more about our sober living houses, contact our team today.
