What is a Sober Living?

A 'sober living' is a group home or facility that allows people who are in recovery from various addictions to live together. This is useful in preventing relapse and helping develop the skills to maintain their sobriety in the long term.

Sober living homes are usually located in peaceful locations to make the early stages of recovery easier. At By The Sea Recovery, that’s why we are located in a scenic area of San Diego.

Are Sober Living Homes Effective?

If you are interested in sober living communities, you are probably wondering if these programs are effective in helping people in early recovery. Studies have shown that not only are sober living homes effective in helping clients commit more to long-term recovery, but there were also improvements in alcohol and drug use, arrests, psychiatric symptoms, employment, and general quality of life.

What is a Sober Living Community Like?

Unlike rehab facilities, residents of sober living communities have the freedom to come and go as they please. There is a house manager who oversees daily operations with the help of senior residents. The house manager ensures that all of the residents follow community rules while they continue their recovery.

Residents are required remain sober and can be drug tested regularly. There is the opportunity to attend outpatient treatment and peer-support meetings. These are just two of many advantages of residing in a sober living community.

Even though residents of a sober home enjoy more freedoms than those of inpatient rehab facilities, sober home residents can still expect a curfew and a ban on overnight guests. At By The Sea Recovery, we strive to provide an atmosphere as free of temptation and distraction as possible.

If you decide to stay in a sober living community, you will learn to establish a routine, pay rent and bills regularly, buy groceries, cook, and do laundry regularly. There will also be some basic chores, as well as the expectation of keeping your room and communal spaces tidy. We strive to help you implement healthy routines that will promote responsibility, independence, and self-maintenance.

You can expect to sign a contract agreeing to follow the rules of the sober living community before being accepted to By the Sea Recovery. The time you spend in sober communities is structured to resemble a healthy environment. You will be expected to wake up early, meet your personal and professional obligations, and engage in the form of recovery that is right for you.

Many sober living homes provide access to a variety of recreational and outdoor activities. The intention of these communities is to encourage residents to work together in a goal-oriented fashion, building a healthier lifestyle in line with recovery goals.

The evenings in sober living homes tend to be unstructured. It allows for downtime, but with a curfew.

Why Choose A Sober Living Community?

If you decide to stay in a sober living community, you will reside in a beautiful, tranquil setting. You will be surrounded by other people who are dedicated to their sobriety. The community support system has been instrumental in the recovery of hundreds of people and will help you in your recovery too. At By the Sea Recovery, we are bound together by our focus on the recovery of everyone in this program. All of the individuals who remain committed to a substance-free life and support each other are what gives us strength.

Many times, people who leave rehab or attend an intensive outpatient program can experience extreme cravings to use again shortly after leaving. A supportive community environment where every person is dedicated to the singular goal of long-lasting sobriety can help you learn to handle these urges and support your fellow residents when dealing with these cravings.

Our location is just blocks away from the beach, allowing clients to enjoy some beach therapy. The vitamin D you get from the sun is a natural antidepressant and can help lessen the negative feelings that people can experience in the early stages of their sobriety.

By the Sea Recovery homes offer expansive floor plans, state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms, and beautiful views. There are also number of big-screen TVs, private outdoor spaces, pool tables, and welcoming communal areas to help residents relax.

Daily Life in a Sober Living Home

Sober living programs should not be confused with inpatient rehab, even though they are both residential facilities. All of the residents at sober living homes are at varying points on their recovery journeys, so you can harness powerful peer support. When you make positive and sober friendships, you can reinforce your desire to remain abstinent.

It is possible for people to attend outpatient treatment while based in a sober living community, which is still cheaper than residential rehab. Even so, it provides a stable and supportive environment where you can attend counseling and therapy sessions at rehab centers during the day and return to the sober living home in the evening.

Sober living communities focus on positively filling your time in active recovery rather than passively sitting and letting sobriety happen to you. There will be people to help and advise you when you need it, but there is plenty of room for privacy and independence, too.
How your day is structured in sober living will depend on your circumstances as well as where you are on your road to recovery. Make sure you utilize your time as much as possible.

Improve Your Chance of Long-Term Recovery with a Sober Living Program

Relapse is common in early recovery. Sober living in Southern California can mean the difference between relapse and a seamless journey to sustained sobriety.

Many people finishing a program in rehab find a sober living home helps to make the shift back into daily living less abrupt. Other people like the idea of engaging in outpatient treatment, yet lack a home environment that will aid you in your recovery.

With the relapse prevention plan and right aftercare in place, you should be able to identify and deal with any triggers that tempt you to use substances while enjoying a structured yet independent lifestyle at a sober living program in Southern California.