Sobriety Doesn’t End When Treatment Does: Moving Out of a Sober Living House
Tim Westbrook, MS
I help people learn to live a KICK ASS Sober Life! Mental Health & Addiction Treatment - Sober Living - Recovery Coaching - Podcaster - Speaker
This is a weekly series of articles to help people struggling with addiction and mental health who are seeking a KICK ASS SOBER LIFE! Brought to you by Camelback Recovery. Call us at (480) 618-5430 for inquiries! (Subscribe here to get our latest or visit us on Youtube)
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Moving out of a sober living house can be terrifying for those who have undergone multiple programs for addiction recovery. Making the decision to stay in the area of the sober living home, moving back home, or moving to a different city entirely can be difficult as well. There are many factors to weigh in that depend on each person’s situation.
Are You Ready to Leave?
First and foremost, before deciding to leave your sober living home, make absolutely sure that you are 100% ready to leave and live on your own. Leaving too early from treatment can be disastrous to your overall recovery. It’s better to stay longer than you need than to leave before you are ready.
Have a Strategy for Moving
Do not move out of a sober living home without having some sort of plan in place. You can talk with your therapists or addiction specialists at the home to come up with a post-treatment plan. In this plan, ensure that you will be addressing the same issues that were discussed in treatment. You should also have coping skills for new situations that may arise after you move out.
You should also consider employment opportunities for when you move, as not having enough money to live can lead to stress — and stress can lead to relapse. Moving to an area with plenty of available jobs can help with your recovery. To see what areas are good for finding employment, try using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as a resource.
Once you do move out, be sure to find an aftercare program. This can help you adjust to your new life as you become even more independent. Also, look for support groups to find fellowship and community with other like-minded individuals who can keep you motivated to stay sober.
Moving Back Home
Moving home can be a positive option, as it means going back to a supportive group of family and friends. For some, moving away from this support network of family and friends could hold them back in their recovery. Support from people you love is crucial to a successful recovery.
However, this is not the case for all recovered addicts. Moving back home is not always recommended for various reasons:
Triggers can lead to cravings and relapse. This is why it’s commonly recommended to stay in the area of your sober living home or treatment facility or find a new city entirely to call home. Moving back to the place where you were using is risky. A fresh start can leave you with a new mindset since you won’t be constantly reminded of the past or surrounded by triggers.
Remember That Moving Doesn’t Erase Your Problems
Recovery is a commitment that must be made every single day. Just because you move away from the place where you were using doesn’t mean that your triggers or anxiety about recovery will go away. Do not blame your old neighborhood for your addiction — this is not accepting responsibility for the past. Make a commitment to recovery in your new location.
To help in life after recovery, sober living homes teach you how to be independent with the use of coping skills, recovery coaching, therapy, health and fitness, and more. Challenges will occur after treatment is over, so you must learn to use these skills to survive on your own.
Remember that people from your past may try to guilt you into coming back. Do not let them guilt you into thinking that you abandoned them. You did not abandon them — you abandoned your past bad habits and now are focusing on your own recovery. True friends will support you in this decision.
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You can fall back into bad habits anywhere. Saying no to past temptations and staying committed to your recovery will keep you on the right track to sobriety.
Relapsing After Treatment
Relapse is most common in the months following treatment. This is especially true in the first few weeks after treatment when the person is moving and transitioning into their new living environment. The important thing to remember is that relapse is always a possibility for past addicts. The risk of relapsing does decrease over time, but it never goes away completely.
Do not lose hope if you end up relapsing after leaving a sober living home. Pick yourself back up. This can be difficult but it is not impossible. Try to understand the causes of your relapse and work to fight against those triggers and stressors.
Move Somewhere You Feel Happy
Most importantly, move somewhere that makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Your environment can impact your overall mood and mental state in a variety of ways. The place where you choose to start your sober life after treatment should be calm and bring you joy.
Sobriety is all about taking care of your needs and desires in a healthy manner. Live in the setting you love, whether it be the country, near a body of water, in the mountains, or in the city. Remember that adjusting to a new place will take some time. You will eventually make new friends. Get involved with the local sober community to aid in your recovery, and always remember to be a good friend to yourself.
Camelback Recovery offers sober living homes for men and women across the state of Arizona. The specialists at these homes will prepare you for life after treatment, giving you the necessary tools for a successful life of sobriety. Camelback Recovery can change your life, teaching you how to be independent and healthy after a life of addiction. To speak with an experienced specialist and start the road to recovery, call us today (480) 618-5430.
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Author In The Making- " The Turning Point"- Writer- Publicist- Producer
5 个月Thanks for sharing your insights on treatment and recovery. The primary focus in treatment was to change, learn and pursue a independent living opportunity within a Oxford House. Receiving a disturbing phone call about my grandfather, I had to take care of him. Was I nervous to return to a family of users? No! My mind was made up "this time" around and my counselor understood. I gladly took care of my best friend for 4 years. I fed him his last meal on June 20, 1994- thanks to a brain disorder called Alztheimers. Today, I have 35 years of sobering living, by God's permission. Had this situation not occurred, I would have followed the directive of my counselor. Treatment- Recovery- Growing Up.