It usually doesn’t take long for someone leaving rehab to realize recovery has only just begun. There is a lifetime of rivers to cross and mountains to climb while trying to stay sober. The good news is there are aftercare resources available to help people stay on the righteous path of recovery.
The Choice of Sober Living
For the individual who is not quite ready to face life on life’s terms after rehab, choosing to live in a sober living home makes a great deal of sense. Almost all reputable addiction treatment centers can give referrals to sober living homes in most any area.
The purpose of a sober living home is to serve as a stopping ground that will allow the recovering addiction sufferer to slowly reintegrate into society as a sober person. At first, the new resident will get an opportunity to catch their breath after 30-90 days of intense therapy. Slowly but surely, the house managers will require the new resident to take on certain responsibilities for themselves and around the home. These responsibilities might include but are not limited to:
- Maintaining sobriety – zero tolerance
- Chores around the home
- Attend recovery meetings (AA, NA)
- Start the process of reconnecting with work, family, and friends
- Resume handling of personal responsibilities like paying bills or taking care of children
For the most part, it’s a reward process. As the resident progresses in their recovery, they will be given more responsibility and freedom until they reach a point they feel comfortable flying solo.
Benefits of Sober Living With Like-Minded Professionals
The key to a resident having a good stint in a sober living home is making sure they are as comfortable as possible. That comfort goes beyond the facility and its amenities. It also includes making sure the individual is comfortable around the other residents.
Working professionals are no better or worse than anyone else, but they do tend to have qualities that are very distinct. They tend to be educated, motivated towards success, driven and connected to their careers. With these very specific characteristics in common, it makes sense that working professionals can benefit by being close together in a sober living environment. With that in mind, let’s consider these mutual benefits:
- Possibility of employment connections and references
- The opportunity to help motivate one another to stay on track and get back to work
- The building of a support relationship that could serve to prevent relapses well into the future
- The opportunity to serve as a role model for other professionals in the home
- The chance to interact with people that are similar to what a person would see an encounter in their own work environment
Sober living is like rehab. The best choice is the one that is going to meet one’s personal needs the best. If someone is a working professional, they will likely move quicker through the healing process if they have like-minded people around them to serve as mentors and motivators. If for only those reasons, a sober living home specifically designed for working professionals would be the optimum choice.
