Sober Living Is Ideal After Rehab
After leaving rehab, many people don’t know what to do with themselves. While they’re sober and have been given some coping skills, many people return home. The problem with returning to the home environment is that many of the same dynamics that fostered drug and alcohol problems to begin with will still be present. There’s a reason why relapse rates are so high after people get out of rehab.
However, there is a better way. Sober living homes offer a transition to the “real world” after rehab. Many recovering addicts need an extra step between rehab and everyday life. There are many reasons why you should choose a sober living home after rehab. The longer you stay sober, the more likely you will be able to stay in recovery and sober living homes can help.
Making Sober Friendships
People who struggle with addiction often struggle with the relationships in their life. When they go away to rehab and undergo changes, some of those relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners is strained. All parties may be working on rebuilding their trust. It can be lonely for the recovering person, because the others don’t know or understand what you’re going through and how to help you in your sobriety.
After rehab, many people experience loneliness, because many of the friends who will want to spend time with them were the ones that encouraged the drug and alcohol use to begin with. At a sober living house, residents are surrounded with people who know what you’re going through and are also working to help keep you sober. The friendships formed at sober living homes can last for a lifetime.
Sober Living Allows You to Practice New Behaviors Learned in Rehab
While rehab can give you great coping mechanisms, often, returning home is so overwhelming and distracting, that many people relapse. Sober living facilities allow you the time to practice the life and stress-management skills that you learned in rehab in an environment where there’s more support than you would get at home. You will find that there are less toxicity, temptations, and distractions when you are surrounded by others who are invested in their recovery.
At sober living facilities, you can return to work or school and practice your skills while transitioning back into society. With more freedoms than rehab, at By The Sea Recovery, we also have the support to help you adapt to changes and unpleasant situations without returning to drugs or alcohol.
We have many connections to help you find a job or return to school. This step is the most important. Going back to work and school can allow you to transition from rehab to everyday life while still keeping you out of an environment full of things that may trigger your addictions.
Structured Living in a Sober Environment
While using, substance addicted individuals often focused more on feeding their addiction than anything. Once they’re sober, many people struggle with “everyday tasks.” Routine behaviors like taking good care of yourself, maintaining a routine, and feeding yourself healthy foods are things that many people in recovery struggle with.
Sober living programs offer a structured environment to help you in your recovery. We will help you learn necessary life skills, such as keeping a house clean, creating and following a budget, and healthy cooking. Most rehabs focus on becoming sober, but in our San Diego sober living, we have programs that focus on how to keep you sober.
At sober living facilities, residents are required to:
- Work and/or attend school
- Participate in a program of recovery (often, 12-Step meetings)
- Perform tasks or chores to keep the house in good condition
- Keep their rooms neat
- Maintain good personal hygiene
Believe it or not, these small daily victories can lead to the big win of successful long-term sobriety.
Access to Support Staff and Recovery Services
At By The Sea Recovery, we are part of Southern California’s top rehab continuum (Present Moments Recovery). You will have access to our team of therapists. Our staff and programs allow you to apply all of their accumulated expertise so that you learn to enjoy sobriety.
A Safe Place To Continue Recovery
Even after thirty days in rehab, a lot of the emotions that can crop up in recovery are still 'yet to come,' and will reveal themselves when you return to 'real life' pursuits (like your academic or professional career). Many substance-addicted individuals used their drug of choice to keep themselves from feeling or dealing with uncomfortable emotions and life situations.
Now that you’re not using your drug of choice, it can be tough to manage the feelings that crop up. We have the experienced staff and a positive recovery environment that can help you on your path to recovery. The experiences and lessons you learn in your sober living facility will have you ready for real-world distractions once you leave.
Living A Sober Lifestyle
One of the things recovering people can struggle with is how to spend their free time. Before recovery, that time was usually spent with your drug of choice. At our sober living facilities in San Diego, there are many options offered. You can renew your connection with nature. The nearby beaches offer great waves to surf, year-round good weather, and regular activities offered to help you learn to enjoy your free time without your drug of choice.
At By the Sea Recovery, there are numerous hiking trails, parks, and meditation gardens just minutes from the house. These offerings are not intended to just be hobbies, but are also tools that will help you boost your serotonin levels, reduce your anxiety, and enhance your self-discipline.
Sobriety is Crucial so Get the Support of a Sober Living House
Living in early sobriety can be a challenge. There’s a reason why up to 60% of people in recovery experience a relapse. However, a sober living home can help with many of the issues that can cause someone to relapse. Between the sober friendships, being able to practice the skills learned in rehab, staying in a structured living environment, having greater access to support services, having a safe place to continue your recovery, and a chance to live a sober lifestyle, the likelihood of relapse reduces significantly.
When it’s time to leave our facilities, you will be much better prepared to live sober in a world full of distractions and triggers, and even enjoy the experience.
