Living in Recovery: Why You Should Begin at a Sober House

If you have finished your treatment regimen, either as an inpatient or outpatient, you are probably looking forward to starting your life in recovery. Still, you may want to consider transitional living and specifically a sober living house. These facilities allow you the freedom to live your life the way you choose while still helping to ease you back into the world after an intensive treatment regimen.

Why Should I Start My Recovery at a Sober House?

Sober housing can be a huge help in your recovery. Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) toll free to find one today.

Structure and Freedom

At a sober house you can make lasting connections that will strengthen your recovery.

A sober house is one of the best places to start your recovery because it allows you to receive assistance without having to fully compromise your lifestyle. Residents pay rent so they are required to have a job and to leave the house in order to work. Facilities are usually centrally located in bigger cities so that residents can attend work and come and go as they please. However, they are required to follow certain rules including:

• Maintaining abstinence
• Never bringing drugs or alcohol into the facility
• Showing respect to the other residents
• Doing household chores
• Paying rent on time
• Attending house meetings

The rules are in place for a reason (often to make the experience of the sober house more livable for everyone), but this does not mean that personal freedoms are limited. On the contrary, these facilities are much less controlled than inpatient programs but still provide a helpful amount of structure to those who are reentering society.

Continuing Treatment

Facilities may also “either mandate or strongly encourage attendance at 12-step groups” (NCBI). This can be an amazing help to many individuals who may not have otherwise attended a support group after their formal treatment program was over. Most facilities are built in close proximity to meeting places for these groups which makes the commute much easier as well.

No Fixed Timeline

According to a study on sober houses, there is usually “an invitation for residents to stay  as long as they wish provided they comply with house rules” (NCBI). While this may not seem like much, it actually takes the pressure off many individuals who feel that they must immediately find their own place to live or move from the sober house to their own home in a certain amount of time. These facilities do not often put specific timelines on residents which allows them to focus on their recovery instead of moving out before they are ready.

We can help you find the right sober home for you. Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) toll free today.

Between Treatment and Living in Recovery

A sober living house often falls into a category between formal treatment and living in recovery. Starting here will allow you to keep your safety net and your independence. It is a perfect way to start your recovery without throwing you into a completely new situation.

Many people who are just starting out after treatment need the structure of a sober living house, and others choose it just because they will be staying with people who understand their situation. Sober houses allow residents the time and space to decide their paths in a safe environment, a perfect transition between treatment and recovery.