Having a Community in Sober Living

When it comes to recovery for drug addiction and alcoholism

little can be accomplished without helping people get connected to a strong community. At Live Free Structured Sober Living homes in NH, one of our main goals is to create a strong community focused on recovery from addiction. We aim to provide a feeling of unity for people that normally feel disconnected from most of the world.

Creating that environment is not always easy but it is definitely worth it. A community requires a psychological connection – an understanding that they, coming together, are a part of something bigger than themselves. More than technology and surface level interactions, we can create a sense of community.

It’s the most rewarding, positive, and powerful thing we can do. To watch the positive impact that a strong community has on a new man just entering the Live Free Structured Sober Living program. Words just won’t do it justice. The new man fresh in recovery feels little hope is scared and does not know what to do. The sober living community knows this. They remember this was them at one point and then set out to help them.

We take groups of people and then build a strong sense of community amongst them. Giving one another accountability. This allows them to point out where they see you slipping up in your life and allow you to do the same to them. Having this in place helps a man or women grow. Steel sharpens Steel.

All the benefits that are derived from a community atmosphere, are derived from the created sense of being a part of something bigger than just yourself. If you can get the people you’re focusing on helping to feel a sense of community. Gaining that bond with one another, then you’re rewarded with a healthy group of people. that are otherwise usually unmatched because of the amount of growth they experience with each other. They go through tough times as well as learn to have fun with one another for the first time. Many sober living programs in NH will not focus on the cultivation of a strong community, but rather let the client just pay rent and take drug tests.

Better still, a strong sense of community makes everything else easier.

It’s easier to attract members, convert newcomers to regulars, sustain high levels of retention and participation. It’s easier for people to succeed in their recoveries from addiction because they feel so connected and supported.

We are all human beings, we are all connected, with addiction there is no possible connection.
-Tony D

Another strong aspect of creating community is doing fun activities together. Creating times to play and have fun are some things that people remember most because for many It is the first time they are having fun in their recovery.

Our guys went our bowling together. Looks like they made up some fun names for each other.

When you create a strong sense of community, amazing things will happen.

When we’re talking about a community, we’re talking about the sense of community felt amongst individuals. This is what a community is. It’s that psychological feeling of being a part of something unique (and special). We need to talk more about it and engage with activities designed to increase this sense of community.