What Is It Like Living In A Sober House?
Substance abuse is an ever preset problem in our society, with nearly 20 million adults suffering from the disorder in 2017 alone. This impact on both individuals and families is more common than most think, leaving lasting impacts on those involved. One of the most proven and effective methods of beating addiction and substance abuse is to go through a professional rehabilitation facility where treatment plans can be administered under the watchful eye of trained doctors and psychotherapists.
Where a Sober House Comes In
A sober house is part of the rehabilitation process, providing patients with an extra step in between medical rehab and being integrated back into society. Typically multi-family or apartment buildings, sober houses act as training wheels to provide support and structure while each patient works to regain their independence from whichever substance plagued them previously.
Sober living in a group setting such as this can help boost morale amongst recovering patients. Seeing others around you fighting the same fight as you can make a world of difference when it seemed that substances were the only thing there for you before.
Sober Houses Are a Tool, Not a Privilege
Sober houses function similarly no matter where you go, with two main types of living. A standard sober house will typically have a loose daily schedule either in the form of scheduled meetings and activities or a list of chores and duties to be completed by each resident. Paying rent and taking care of the house if part of staying in a sober house as these facilities are not funded by the state as halfway homes are.
This baseline structure and responsibility is more freeing compared to a high accountability house, and is intended for those who have shown great progress. Those struggling with personal accountability but still on the path to sobriety will benefit greatly from more structure that comes from a stricter home. Often times these facilities have fully scheduled days for each resident, overseen and administered by the staff.
Being Mindful Is Important
While the staff and owners of a sober house are there to help you on your quest for freedom, it’s still up to you to make it a reality. Keeping drugs and alcohol out of the residence is easy, you simply don’t bring it inside. Where problems can lie are when more freedom is given, truly testing the progress one has made.
To help make sure patients are able to receive the help they need to remain in the home, the faculty will likely have a set list of items banned from the premises. Outside of alcohol and drugs, this list can include items such as vanilla or poppy seed bagels that can trigger false positives on substance tests. Avoiding these false positives keeps the resident housed while making sure the staff can see each patient through their recovery plans.
Living in a sober house is often a pleasant experience, albeit during a very difficult time. With everyone on site there to support you, you’ll always have the stability and structure you need to fall back on when your resolve is tested. If you or a loved one need help with substance abuse, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Live Free Recovery Services today for a confidential consultation.