Early recovery can feel quite jarring; therefore, it can be very difficult for some individuals to create and achieve their goals. Although addiction treatment has been completed, this does not mean substance cravings will no longer be problematic. Rather, they just might not be as intense. Unwanted triggers may persist as recovery can be a highly vulnerable stage for some individuals. Although early recovery can be a challenging stage, residing in a sober living home can provide the daily structure needed in recovery to comfortably transition into society. Sober living can also teach individuals the skills needed to maintain long-term abstinence from drugs and alcohol for a successful future.
The Many Challenges of Early Recovery
According to Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, approximately 40-60% of individuals facing problems with addiction may have a substance relapse. About 85% of those diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) relapse within the first year after completing addiction treatment. In other words, research indicates that two-thirds or more people relapse within the first few weeks or months in early recovery.
Recovery is classified as a stage where an individual independently gains stability after facing problems with past trauma, illness, or an unexpected crisis. One may be required to accept the negative stigma linked with their diagnosis and treatment plan but use the skills learned from past interventions to appropriately cope without drug or alcohol dependence. Individuals may further reconstruct their firm beliefs, attitudes, and goals related to their life stressors.
Recovery is not always easy for everyone. When transitioning into society, an individual is typically advised to make certain sacrifices to promote a healthy way of living. For example, one may remove toxic relationships, seek new employment that supports a sober environment, or move to a new city away from the bar scenes, drug, and crime demographics.
What Is a Sober Living Home?
Research indicates that the recovery phase can be different for everyone. For example, an individual who successfully completed their addiction treatment program may still lack a stable living environment. Transitioning into a destructive home environment has been proven to derail one’s recovery status for even the most motivated individuals. Rest assured in knowing a sober living house (SLH) can provide those who lack proper support with an environment free of drugs and alcohol. Based on published findings, those who resided in a sober living home found significant improvement in their psychiatric symptoms, substance cravings, criminal activity, and employment challenges.
Residing in a Sober Living Home for a Successful Future
SUD generally encompasses light substance dependence or addiction alone. Co-occurring mental health conditions linked with trauma commonly contribute to an individual’s challenges with SUD. Substance cravings and unwanted triggers can often lead an individual to an unwanted relapse. The uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can leave one feeling defeated and trapped in the cycle of addiction. Residing in a sober living home can help promote a successful future. The advantages of living in a sober living home may include:
- Peer support
- Learned sober living skills
- Structured environment
- Accountability
- Safe environment
- Fostered independence
- Ongoing guidance
- Relapse prevention
Sober Living with Renaissance Ranch for a Successful Future
Choosing to reside in a sober living home at Renaissance Ranch can increase an individual’s odds of achieving long-term sobriety. Residing in a sober home at Renaissance Ranch prepares individuals for structured independent living to achieve their greatest success. Their SLH program helps individuals build healthy and strong relationships with peers who are focused on pursuing similar sober goals. Peers can spend quality time together by participating in sober activities to enhance their mental and physical health.
Take comfort in knowing staff members are typically on site for 4 hours a day to provide ongoing assistance and support. Each requirement is made to help their clients maintain a level of accountability that is critical for a successful recovery. Different requirements may consist of:
- Meeting curfews
- Completing house chores
- Waking up on time
- Attending weekly meetings
- Joining group activities
Incorporating Outpatient Services Into a Sober Living Routine
Renaissance Ranch clients follow through with a two-phase system that influences their client’s willingness to engage in sober living as well as attend outpatient treatment as needed. Outpatient treatment options may also include various therapy options to ensure a more comfortable experience transiting into early recovery alone. Participating in outpatient counseling services can help one gain increased self-esteem and boost confidence to stay on track in recovery.
Emotional support from family and friends can help individuals maintain progress during their recovery phase. Sometimes it may be helpful if a loved one assists the individual facing problems with addiction in their therapy sessions for moral support. If a family member learns to recognize the warning signs of relapse they can help their loved one manage their symptoms. Therapy options might include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- 12-Step facilitation
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Relapse prevention
- Family work
Renaissance Ranch provides gender-specific treatment for addiction in order to better help our clients succeed in long-term recovery. Our outpatient sober living home provides a safe and structured environment where clients can live while they are enrolled in our outpatient program for addiction recovery. Sober living adds a level of accountability for clients, which is critical in their early sobriety. We provide a comprehensive addiction recovery program that uses a wide variety of therapeutic methods and medical processes delivered through a faith-based approach to promote lasting recovery. If you or a loved one is facing problems with SUD, call us at (801) 308-8898 to learn more about our SLH program and achieve a successful future.