Sober Living Homes: What to Know to Smoothen the Recovery Process

It is very easy for someone on the path to recovery from substance use to lose control once they return to society. A rehab allows you to overcome your yearning in a closed and controlled environment, but you can only be considered sober when you can win over in daily life. Being overwhelmed by what the future holds for them on returning to society is one of the main concerns for those completing their 12 steps. They are in need of someplace that acts as a safe place while they transition from rehab to society, and sober living homes are precisely that.

In case you are wondering what sober living homes are, here is your answer. Also known by other names such as Halfway homes, recovery housing, or transitional living; a sober living home is a property owned by someone not affiliated with any treatment centers. Still, it has guidelines and rules to make the residents feel responsible. The motive of a sober living home is to allow an individual to be free enough to lead their social life while enforcing curfews, drug testing, and meetings to make them accountable for their actions. The benefit of a sober living home is that they are less confining compared to residential treatment while providing patient support and accountability. Let’s understand everything you need to know about sober living homes.

Who is it for?

In plain words, Sober Living Homes are for those individuals who completed their recovery process in rehab or medical institute and have inhibitions or concerns about returning back to everyday life in society. Most homes are privately owned by sober people who voluntarily run the program to help the residents achieve self-sufficiency. Unlike medical institutions that are at off-the-grid locations for patient isolation, these homes are part of a community under management to enforce house rules while allowing the residents to become a part of the society. The sober living homes are suitable for people who:

• Have completed any addiction rehabilitation treatments
• Are ‘clean’ in terms of addiction substances and aiming self-sufficiency
• Are looking to be more accountable for remaining sober
• Are willing to participate in peer-group activities and random drug testing
• Will contribute to household chores and do timely payments such as rent, utilities, etc.

Are they successful?

Using addiction as an escape mechanism is how most people gain entry into substance abuse. Those recovering tend to slip back to addiction when exposed to a dysfunctional environment, complete freedom, or any conditions that forced them down the path of addiction in the first place. A well-managed sober living home provides safe accommodation, professional assistance to recovery, and constant supervision for adherence to sobriety. When living with people who share a common journey and working towards their habits, it dramatically reinforces the will of the residents to overcome their addiction. Certain sober living homes, such as Threshold Recovery, also assist the residents in getting employment for financial stability. All that requires is dedication and drive to become self-sufficient from the residents for a sober living home to be a success. Some of the steps a resident can follow to improve their chances of complete recovery are:

1. Take up a Job. This not only helps you pay your bills but also makes you financially independent. Also, a job will keep you engaged in sticking to recovery.
2. Learn new physical exercises. Implementing healthy habits such as joining a gym or picking up on a new sport improves not only your physical fitness but also elevates your emotional strength.
3. Chart out your recovery plan. Most homes require a resident to stay for at least 90 days. Depending upon the individual needs, you can stay for one year and upwards. Charting your recovery plan helps you become ambitious and enables you to work on it faithfully.

 

Some of the skills you can learn while managing the sober living requirements are:

 

1. Co-existence with other residents
2. Finance management
3. Accountability
4. Self-dependence
5. Time management
6. Healthy lifestyle
7. Better behavior control & abstinence from addictions

How to choose one? What to expect in a Sober Living Home?

Depending on your recovery needs, there are different types of sober living homes available with varying levels of supervision. For example, a level 1 home would be a peer operated home with relaxed house rules, whereas a level 4 home is a supervised home with management staff and group therapy sessions & clinical facilities. Additionally, you have co-ed homes with residents of different genders sharing the space and sober dorms for young adults.

A sober living home allows the residents to take up jobs, perform household chores, be part of communal activities to transition better while having certain rules to avoid freedom misuse. When considering a Sober living home, it is always suggested to conduct basic groundwork research. Check for the following pointers in the sober living homes you choose:

• Certification: The sober living home should be registered by any credible agency such as TN-ARR, NSLA, NARR, CARF, etc.
• Location: Since the residents are free to move around, the home’s location from different amenities is important to consider.
• Management: Is the home peer managed or under any professional management? Is the resident’s accountability being monitored? Are the staff members (where applicable) credible?
• Support Group Availability & Frequency: How often do the support groups meet? How often do they emphasize attendance?
• The number of residents: A small group of individuals sharing the space helps positively and gives way to conflicts. Ask how many people stay in a particular sober living home.
• Phases of restriction: Any newcomer has to stay with 2-3 people for initial accountability. Later on, restrictions on meeting families become relaxed. Ask about the different restrictions imposed and what is the restriction phasing duration.

When to move in?

This is the most common question a prospect asks before joining. Ideally, once you have completed your tenure in a rehabilitation center, you can apply to live in a sober living home. The quicker you make the transition, you find it easier to adjust to the new routine and restrictions. Bear in mind that a lot of restrictions would initially be in place, but implementation becomes lax as you start living and interacting with different people staying there.

Wrapping Up

Sober living homes are a really good way to attain complete control over your addiction and achieve total self-reliance. Having said that, living in a sober living home may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Not only do you need to make arrangements for looking after your expenses, but you also need great commitment towards reaching the final goal. Consult your therapist or any medical personnel to determine the best way to treat your condition. Before committing to a sober living home, make a physical visit to inspect the facilities available. Threshold Recovery is a Tennessee-based chain of sober living homes that aim to provide a safe and helpful environment for men and women to fight back relapse.