Many people wonder what the next steps in their sobriety journey might be after completing an addiction treatment program. Maintaining lasting sobriety (in most cases) requires an ongoing commitment to health and wellness. It is not uncommon for the early days of sobriety to feel difficult as there are many changes that occur. Your physical and emotional health change, as does your circle of friends, hobbies, and social interactions. These changes can feel overwhelming and challenging to manage without help and support for some. Sober living homes can help make the transition between a residential treatment environment and returning home go smoothly.
What Does Sober Living Mean?
Sober living homes go by several names. They are frequently referred to as sober houses, sober communities, transitional living homes, or halfway houses. Regardless of the title applied to a particular arrangement, the goal of sober living is the same across the board. Sober living homes are safe, supported environments designed to help you navigate the early days of sobriety. A sober living home provides the essential structure and routine that many people need as they transition or “step down” from a highly supported treatment program to a less intensive aftercare environment.
What are the Benefits of Sober Living?
After completing rehab, you may encounter several challenges as you return home. Because everyone’s situation is unique, the challenges you face will inevitably differ from someone else’s. However, successfully maintaining your sobriety depends on having a stable source of support during this transitional period. As you progress towards completing your treatment program, it is important to communicate how sober living fits into your aftercare plan with your treatment team.
One of the most notable benefits of sober living homes is the support you receive while there. Each member of the sober living home is encouraged to support their housemates. Peer support from others who share similar challenges and goals is highly beneficial in countering the isolation and loneliness that are often experienced by someone new to sobriety. Participating in peer support groups and other forms of ongoing therapy at a sober living home can help you maintain lasting sobriety after rehab.
Sober living homes also provide a structure similar to that of the treatment environment. Before going to drug or alcohol rehab, many struggling addicts have little support, routine, or structure. They find routine in spending time with others who share similar habits such as drinking or using. Upon entering rehab, their goals and mindset change. Routines now center on understanding and overcoming addiction while focusing on self-care and healing. Sober living homes help you keep your new, healthy routine in place through ongoing therapy and peer support in a safe and substance-free environment.
Studies on the benefits of sober living homes also show that those who chose a sober living community after rehab experienced more significant levels of success in several areas than those who did not. For example, people who stayed in a sober living home experienced lower arrest rates, reduced relapse rates, improved mental health, higher therapy retention rates, and greater involvement in 12-step and other peer support groups.
Why is Sober Living Important in Addiction Treatment?
Sober living homes as part of a comprehensive aftercare plan offer many benefits. However, most importantly, sober living homes can help you remain focused on your recovery goals. The programs and group structure at a sober living home help you develop lasting relationships with like-minded peers who share the same goals. The peer relationships developed at a sober living home serve a vital role in ongoing support throughout the months and years that follow rehab. For many who complete an addiction treatment program, staying at a sober living home is a vital part of maintaining lasting recovery.
How to Find the Best Sober Living For Me
Finding the best sober living home for you is an important step towards lasting recovery. If you would like to learn more about sober living in your area, talk to your treatment team at Liberty House Recovery Center about aftercare planning and sober living opportunities. They can help you understand the important benefits of aftercare planning and how sober living reinforces all of the work and success you achieved during treatment.