
05 Oct How Do I Know if Sober Living is Right for Me?
Addiction takes its toll on your body, mind, and relationships. The choice to seek treatment and commit fully to lifelong recovery is one of the best decisions you will ever make. But this doesn’t mean that the road will be smooth and easy. Instead, you are likely to find challenges, setbacks, and struggles mixed in with success and joy. You are likely to have periods where you feel like you go forward two steps and then back one step.
After completing a treatment program, you are likely to have a mix of feelings. You might feel confident that you can do this, proud of what you have accomplished, uncertain about the future, excited about what might come next–or some combination of these and other emotions that seems to fluctuate from day to day.
Even after completing a rehab program, you will probably still need a lot of support as you learn how to “do” life sober. You might find that, while you are confident that you understand the skills you picked up in treatment, you may not feel completely sure of how to use them in your real life. The idea of returning to treatment might not appeal to you or be necessary, but you also may not be sure of yourself as you re-enter the real world. What if there was a middle ground?
Spending time in a sober living community is a great option for people who have completed a rehab program but want more support as they return to their regular lives. If you have recently completed rehab, it might be helpful to understand the signs that you should go to sober living.
Understanding the Difference Between Rehab and Sober Living
Addiction treatment and support come in many different forms. Understanding the different levels of care and what they offer can help you prepare for your own journey with recovery from addiction.
Rehab
Rehab, or addiction treatment, usually involves an intensive level of care offered in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. It generally includes detox, therapy, group support, education, and medications. Many programs also use holistic therapies as part of their programming. Rehab is usually:
- Offered around the clock
- Highly-structured
- Has a strict schedule
- Follows an individualized treatment plan
- Provides supervision and access to treatment professionals
Rehab can be offered in a variety of settings. It is usually the first step of addiction recovery.
Sober Living
Sober living is what it sounds like: a place to live where residents are required to be sober. Unlike rehab, sober living is not a treatment program or plan. Instead, sober living offers:
- A safe, stable living environment
- Flexibility
- Sober community
- Support from staff
- Structure and routine with plenty of freedom
Most sober living communities in Delray Beach require that their residents complete a drug and alcohol rehab program before living there. The residents of a sober living community have the freedom to work, socialize, go to school, and generally live their lives with the support of sober peers and trained staff members. For many people, it is a great way to transition out of rehab.
Signs You Should Go to Sober Living
Whether you have completed rehab already or you are at the beginning of your recovery journey, it’s never too early or too late to look for signs that you should go to sober living after rehab. Some of these signs include:
- Not feeling ready for complete freedom after rehab
- Needing or wanting support and coaching from trained professionals
- Wanting the support of a community
- Feeling 100% committed to recovery and wanting help achieving your goals
- Not having a safe and supportive living environment of your own
- Financial instability that stops you from purchasing your own place
- Having a history of relapse which indicates you may need long-term support
It is very common for people to leave rehab feeling confident that they have learned all they need to know but wanting more support. Sober living is a good way to ease back into your regular life and routines while surrounded by supportive peers and professionals. In sober living, do everything you can do to make it work for you. This includes:
- Staying active in recovery
- Committing yourself fully to sobriety
- Following the community rules
- Watching for signs you need more support, such as cravings, relapse, socializing with people who are using, testing boundaries, or withdrawal symptoms
- Give and get support from peers and staff
Sober living is a good stepping stone between where you are and where you want to be. Recovery is a lifelong commitment. Stay focused, be patient, and surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed.
Find Out if Sober Living in Delray Beach is Right For You
If you have completed a rehab program or are thinking of starting addiction treatment, it is important to make sure you have all the support you need to achieve your goal of lifelong recovery. At the Florida Recovery Group, we know that anyone can recover from addiction if they have the right support.
If you need addiction treatment or know someone who does, don’t wait another day. Pick up the phone and give us a call today.
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