Early sobriety is an incredibly vulnerable time, filled with uncertainties about the future. Whether you or a loved one is contemplating treatment, you have many options available. The benefits of sober living programs may be very helpful for individuals in early sobriety.
Pathways Recovery Center is more than a standard addiction and mental health treatment center. We offer a plethora of recovery services to help our clients recover, meeting them where they are. In addition to detox, residential, and outpatient treatment programs, we offer aftercare, alumni, and sober living services. We can assist you in taking the next steps in your journey to achieve effective and long-lasting healing.
Are There Benefits of Sober Living?
Sober living can immensely benefit people in recovery. Attending a sober living program gives people a safe and secure, substance-free environment. This can help them establish and sustain a life free from drugs and alcohol.
Every sober living home differs in its own way, requiring residents to abide by certain expectations and rules. Most often, residents are required to participate in ongoing treatment services while they are living in one of these homes.
The Necessity of a Secure Living Environment in Sobriety
You may wonder what circumstances or factors suggest that sober living might be right for you. It is vital to understand the influence of your environment on your healing and sobriety.
Lori Criss, the Associate Director of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, says this about the influence of our surroundings in early sobriety:
Who we spend our time with, where we go, and the things we surround ourselves with all impact who we are and the decisions that we make. Many times, people in early recovery have to give up everything they’ve known… because those people, places, and things put them at risk for relapse or continued use.
Often, the choice of sobriety can feel isolating. You must evaluate the people, places, and things in your life that could put your sobriety at risk moving forward. When necessary, you may need to distance yourself from what doesn’t support your sobriety.
If your family and friends are unsupportive, you may need to find an alternative living situation. Fortunately, sober living offers the structured and safe environment you may be looking for. This option can help you gain confidence and independence as you begin your new life.
Top Three Benefits of Sober Living
The benefits of sober living stretch far and wide. Here are the top three benefits of sober living that may be helpful to know when considering sober living for yourself or a loved one.
#1. Provides a Safe Living Environment, Free From Triggers
First and foremost, the most profound benefit of sober living is that it provides you with a safe living environment. It is not only free from drugs and alcohol but also free from other substance-use triggers.
Often, attempting to secure sobriety can feel impossible when family conflict, financial burdens, and other emotional triggers regularly occur. Sober living can give you the space you need from these triggers while you solidify your sober habits.
In addition to providing this safety and security, sober living homes also provide routine and structure. This can ensure that your day-to-day life in sobriety is kept in check.
#2. Facilitates Valuable Social Support
According to the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, “A critically important aspect of one’s social network is their living environment.”
Sober living homes remove you from living with loved ones who enable you or allow toxic dependency. They also provide opportunities for you to connect with peers in recovery.
Within a sober living home, you will live with other residents in recovery. You will be able to lean into social support from these peers throughout your entire stay. Whether you are struggling to fall asleep due to cravings or dreading finding the motivation to continue your treatment participation, your peers will be there to assist you on your continued sobriety journey.
Many sober living homes will require regular in-house meetings. They may also provide other group activities to foster cohesiveness and connection among residents. Most houses also staff a house manager or other mental health professional. This ensures that professional guidance is always readily available.
#3. Restores Life Skills
As you work to establish independence from drugs and alcohol, you may struggle. You may find that you lack the knowledge and ability to function well in daily life. Recurrent substance use may have impaired your understanding and use of basic life skills.
Whether you struggle to do laundry, cook, or find and maintain employment, you can relearn them in an encouraging environment. Sober living can help you restore the basic life skills you need to thrive in sobriety.
Reaping the Benefits of Sober Living With Pathways
At Pathways Recovery Center, we recognize the positive impact that sober living can have on your ability to achieve and maintain lasting recovery. We have seen how sober living can enhance treatment engagement and effectiveness, leading to more positive recovery outcomes. Call us today if you’d like to learn more about our sober living homes.
Sober living offers a safe and secure living environment, free from substance-use triggers. Some additional benefits of sober living include facilitating needed social support from peers in recovery and assisting in restoring basic life skills. If you or a loved one is in early sobriety, you can benefit greatly from residing in a sober living home. At Pathways Recovery Center, we can connect you with treatment and sober living simultaneously, ensuring that you have the best chance at establishing and maintaining lasting sobriety in your life. We offer several other treatment programs and recovery services to meet you where you are in your healing. To learn more, call (888) 771-0966 today.
