As your addiction treatment nears its end, you’ll have to decide between returning home or staying in a sober living facility. After working so hard for your recovery, the thought of confronting old environments, triggers, and temptations can be scary. The good news is that you don’t have to. With the right post-treatment living plan, you can gradually ease your way back into the outside world. Sober living homes provide a continuation of the structure and support supplied by inpatient rehab, even as they offer significant increases in both freedom and responsibility.
Choosing to stay in a sober living facility can be beneficial in a vast range of ways. This is an opportunity to maintain meaningful relationships with people who share the same challenges and goals. Sober living homes also provide residents with access to essential resources and services, and they encourage high levels of accountability. If you’ll be returning to a home that isn’t completely temptation-free, or if you’ll be confronted with high-risk relationships, sober living is likely the right choice.
How to Know if Going Home Is a Good Idea
Addiction is commonly referred to as a family disease. Although you might be the only addict in your household, everyone else is guaranteed to be impacted by the trauma of addiction. Moreover, some people in an addict’s life play the role of enabler. These are people who make excuses for an addict’s behaviors, and who often contribute to or support their habits. By attending addiction treatment, you’ve made the decision to change your own attitudes, decisions, and behaviors. However, your choice to help yourself does not guarantee that everyone else in the home has gotten the help they need. Returning to any living environment that will expose you to:
- Emotional or physical trauma
- Enabling individuals
- Drug or alcohol use
- High-risk substances of any type
is a bad idea. Unless everyone in the home is willing to support you in recovery, choosing an alternative living situation is advised.
Sober Living Can Prepare You for Independent Living
Sober living homes are also an affordable option for people exiting addiction treatment who want to learn how to live on their own. You might feel obligated to return home simply because you aren’t aware of the alternatives. Working with counselors at your rehab center is a great way to find out more about your options in post-treatment living. Sober living facilities are designed to be accessible to anyone who needs them, and who’s willing to adhere to their household rules. When you stay in a sober living home, you may be required to take regular drug or alcohol tests. You’ll also have to log a specific number of hours each week in sober meetings, outpatient treatment, or other support programs. Residents will meet once or more each week to talk about their personal goals, and to discuss the specific steps that they’re taking to meet them. All of these things make it infinitely easier for those in recovery to plan for, establish, and maintain stable lifestyles. During group meetings in a sober living home, onsite staff members share information on:
- Long-term housing programs and other housing resources
- Transportation assistance
- Job search and career-building assistance
and more. If addiction has left you facing a slew of legal and financial challenges, these are great environments for gradually picking up the pieces. You’ll be able to get referrals for legal and financial help, and you’ll have continued support in rebuilding your life.
Gradually Transition Back to Outside Life While Limiting Your Risk of Relapse
One of the greatest benefits of choosing a sober living home is the fact that it eliminates the often overwhelming fear of relapse when leaving treatment. With firm rules and high levels of accountability, sober living homes are both incredibly structured and incredibly supportive. During your stay, you can begin working again, attending school, and taking part in other personal, social, and professional activities. As you increase your exposure to outside triggers and stressors, you’ll have constant access to a knowledgeable and supportive community. Entering a sober living home is a great way to maintain your recovery as your top priority, even after your initial addiction treatment has ended. You won’t have to worry about being exposed to high-risk environments or high-risk relationships, and you can continue building on the skills that you learned in rehab. If you’re nearing the end of your addiction treatment program and aren’t comfortable with the idea of returning home, we can help. Call us now at 833-285-1315.