07 Jul Can Sober Living Homes Help Parents in Recovery?
Addiction is a far-reaching disease that affects people from all walks of life. While parents are superheroes who manage to balance childcare, work, cooking, chores, and more, no parent is invincible. Some turn to drugs, or more commonly, alcohol, to cope with the high demands of parenthood and life in general.
The bad news is many parents delay getting help out of fear of losing their child or having to be away from their child for an extended period of time. Many parents who do seek treatment complete short-term programs and are, understandably, in a rush to get back home and be with their families. Failing to get help and rushing through the recovery process can be detrimental to one’s sobriety. Parents who return home too quickly and relapse risk causing even more harm than they already have to their kids.
Whether you are a single parent or married with kids and struggling with addiction, it’s important to understand how sober living homes can help parents in recovery.
Can My Kids Live With Me in Sober Living?
Unfortunately, most sober living homes in Delray Beach do not allow children to live in the homes with their parents. There are very few gender-specific facilities that specialize in sober living services for women and children. Finding these types of programs can be complicated, but they can also be difficult for your child.
Taking your child out of their home environment is a major adjustment that can cause them a lot of stress and anxiety. In pre-teens and teens, doing so can seriously disrupt their social life, school work, and more. Although you may find it comforting for your child to live with you in a sober home, doing so is neither realistic nor what is best for your child.
Unless you’ve found an available bed in a men/women and children’s sober home, you won’t be allowed to have your kids in sober living with you. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t see them every day. While in sober living, you are allowed to come and go as you please as long as you are home by curfew. You will have plenty of time to visit your kids outside of work and your recovery-based obligations.
The Long-Term Effects of Addiction on Children vs. Sacrificing Time Away for Recovery
The thought of staying under a different roof than your kids for several weeks or months can be painful, but the long-term effects of risking relapse or letting your addiction go untreated are worse.
According to SAMHSA, nearly 1 in 8 children under the age of 17 in the United States live in homes where at least one parent has a substance use disorder. Children who are raised in addicted households often struggle with difficulties in school, fitting in in social environments, and their mental health. These children are far more likely to develop depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder than children who are not raised in addiction-affected households.[1]
By sacrificing some time away from your kids in the short term, you can take all the time you need to heal from addiction. You can dedicate this time to strengthening the coping mechanisms you used in rehab and building a strong foundation in recovery. And, best of all, when you return home you will be the happy, healthy, and attentive parent your child deserves.
Benefits of Sober Living
Sober living homes help ease the transition from treatment to the “real world.” Although you may be in a hurry to get home to be with your family, spending some time in a sober living home after rehab can help you prepare for your return back home. It may even help you be a better parent.
Some of the benefits of sober living include:
- Living in a supportive and sober environment
- Staying separated from triggering people, places, and things
- Living in a home with other like-minded people in recovery
- Being held accountable by the rules of sober living
- Getting introduced to the recovery community and 12-Step meetings
- Having access to counseling and treatment referral services
- Reinforcing the coping mechanisms learned in rehab
Staying in a sober living home will allow you to re-establish your identity as a sober parent who is physically, mentally, and emotionally available for your children.
Join Our Sober Living Community in Delray Beach Today
Florida Recovery Group currently manages four sober living homes in Delray Beach—two homes for men and two homes for women. Our sober homes are located within quiet residential areas just blocks from downtown Delray Beach and less than 2 miles from the beach. Our men’s and women’s recovery residences are dedicated to helping people from all walks of life get the help they need in early sobriety. If you think sober living may be right for you, give us a call today.
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