The Benefits of Sober Housing

You’ve finished rehab. Now what?

In a rehabilitation facility, you’re surrounded by like-minded others who are on the same path to recovery that you are. In a sense, you are all in the same boat, heading in the same direction. Having people around you who share the journey can make some aspects of recovery a little more tolerable.

Leaving rehab is an exciting time, but it is also a scary one. When you come out of the self-contained cocoon that is a rehab facility, it’s suddenly you against the world. The access to substances is still there, and now it’s up to you to maintain your sobriety. You have to rely on what you’ve learned in recovery, and choose to stay sober every single day. It can seem like a monumental and overwhelming task.

Sober housing is a way to bridge the gap between rehab and the real world. Instead of being thrust back into society in your raw and vulnerable state, sober living gives you a way to ease back into your life, and gain confidence in the tools and interventions that will help you stay sober.

Sober Housing is A Safe Place

For people struggling with substance addiction, it is important to have safety and stability. In fact, it’s been proven that social and environmental factors can have an enormous impact on sobriety.

Even for a person who is highly motivated to get sober and stay clean, an unhealthy living environment can be a mitigating factor in your success. A home that offers easy access to substances, or living with someone who uses can make it exceptionally difficult to distance from unhealthy behaviors. For many addicts, these fears are real. If the life you are returning to is dysfunctional, your chances of relapse are much higher.

The Benefits of Sober Housing

Sober housing isn’t a rehabilitation facility, but it operates under a similar concept.

Sober housing is a transitional housing model intended to help individuals on their path to recovery from addiction. These residences are often structured around the 12-step process, and like rehab, they offer structure, safety, and stability to its residents. It is a segue between rehab and reentry into mainstream society, and a way to continue to strengthen coping strategies, mental health, and willpower.

It’s about like-minded individuals continuing their journey of recovery together. For anyone who struggles with addiction, the solidarity of peer support can be incredibly empowering. Studies have shown that individuals who had access to sober housing had better long-term outcomes in sobriety, mental health, employment, and housing.

How to Find Sober Housing

Sober housing requires payment of rent, just as you would when sharing an apartment or a house. You are welcome to stay as long as they like as long as you abide by the house rules. Residents are expected to share the load with housework and keep up with meetings, counseling, and other recovery commitments.

You Are Halfway Home

If you are struggling with addiction, just remember that you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out – we are here to help, and you don’t need to struggle by yourself.

To find sober housing in your area, connect with a helpline, or browse online databases to direct your search.

Featured Articles

Side Effects Of Taking Trazodone For Sleep

Rehab

Nov 26, 2019

Taking Trazodone for Sleep Could Come With a Cost While primarily used as an antidepressant, many doctors are prescribing trazodone for sleep issues. It’s important to talk with you doctorRead...

101 Inspiring Recovery Quotes About Addiction

Rehab

Apr 27, 2018

Addiction recovery quotes can give you the strength to persevere through the darkest stages of addiction. While attending meetings, going to individual and group therapy, and enrolling in an inpatientRead...

Is It Dangerous To Mix Melatonin And Alcohol

Rehab

Aug 15, 2020

If you’ve ever struggled to sleep or spent long nights tossing and turning, you might have already tried melatonin. If not, it might have been suggested to you at someRead...