Sober living homes help provide a transitional option for someone who has recently completed addiction treatment yet still wants or needs additional support as they continue on their recovery journey. Also called halfway houses, transitional housing, or sober houses, these environments provide a vital sense of community during the (often challenging) days following treatment.
Many who are new to the changing emotions that accompany recovery will struggle in the days after treatment. During this adjustment period, a sober living home or sober living environment offers a safe and supportive step between an inpatient treatment program and returning home. At a sober living home, you have the opportunity to reinforce the relapse prevention skills learned during rehab. For many, spending time in a sober living house may be the difference between maintaining sobriety and experiencing a relapse.
What is a Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes are facilities often used as part of an aftercare program. The early days of sobriety are difficult. Relapse triggers and reminders of using or drinking feel like they are everywhere. The sober community at a sober living home can help you successfully transition from a heavily structured treatment setting to living at home. Sober living homes may be connected to or affiliated with a specific treatment center, rehab, or standalone organization.
What Role Does Sober Living Play in Recovery?
Recovery does not end when you complete treatment at Liberty House. For many who are in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, recovery will be a life-long process. Sober living homes provide a supported, safe, and comfortable environment during the vital and sometimes challenging transitional stages between active treatment and returning home. Sober living homes are often used as a step-down or transitional phase for someone new to recovery who might not be comfortable without a certain level of support and guidance.
It is important to remember that inpatient and many outpatient treatment programs are heavily structured, and therefore, addicts seeking sobriety have continual care and support when needed. After leaving the active treatment environment, however, things are different. For some, leaving behind this element of structure and support can be scary. Time spent in a sober living home helps maintain recovery by providing a safe place to continue working towards lasting sobriety and practicing essential relapse prevention tools learned during treatment.
Another benefit to sober living homes is that they are different from treatment. While the treatment environment provides structure and support, sober living programs allow newly recovered addicts the opportunity to slowly ease back into everyday life situations in an environment where they feel safe. Without the structure of an active treatment environment, they can slowly face and there to manage triggering situations. This allows the opportunity to continue practicing healthy relapse prevention habits and continue making progress towards healing.
Also, sober living houses provide the opportunity to forge and maintain lasting friendships with a group of supportive peers. Many of the individuals residing at a sober living home are the same people who progressed through treatment with you. This means you have likely had the opportunity to develop relationships and friendships based on shared struggles, setbacks, successes, and victories. Additionally, this group of peers will be the same individuals you can turn to for years to come when faced with challenges to your sobriety. After completing treatment, spending time at a sober living house helps newly recovered addicts develop an ongoing support system that ensures they avoid painful isolation that often occurs immediately following treatment.
How to Find a Sober Living House Near Me
If you are currently enrolled in an addiction treatment program, ask your treatment providers at Liberty House about sober living houses and aftercare programs. As part of a comprehensive addiction treatment program, your treatment team at Liberty House will work with you, not only on your current treatment needs but on a robust aftercare program designed to ensure you have the tools and skills needed to maintain lasting sobriety for years to come. If you would like to learn more about how we incorporate sober living into our treatment programs, contact a member of our admissions team today.