What Does Sober Living Mean?
There is a common misconception among many people who believe that the only type of addiction treatment they need is the care they receive while in an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. The reality is that there are several other addiction treatment options that you have available once you complete your initial treatment program. Your treatment team will implore you to take advantage of these follow-up treatment options so that you have every opportunity to make the most out of your recovery program. One of those options that you have is to participate in a sober living program after your initial treatment program. A sober living will give you the structure and reinforcement you need after your inpatient or outpatient program. During your time in sober living, you will be able to work or go to school and see to other essential responsibilities in your life. This process will help provide the peace of mind of knowing that you’re living in a safe and sober environment to have the structure you need to continue in your sobriety journey.
What Happens When You Live a Sober Life?
The focus of your time in structured sober living is to provide you with the supportive living environment you need as you begin to transition into life now that you’re a sober individual. Recovery residents of sober living will have the unique opportunity to put the tools they learned during their time in addiction treatment to the test. Meanwhile, they will be surrounded by a supportive group of individuals working toward putting their own life back together after their experience with addiction. This form of transitional living can help you remain focused on your goals of recovery and help to reaffirm the healthy steps you’re taking in your life.
One of the other tremendous benefits associated with committing to a sober living program is that you will have a better opportunity to focus on your recovery exclusively. Instead of leaving treatment and being put in a position where you need to jump right back into the “normal” flow of life, you will have a buffer that can help you to regain your balance after being in such a structured setting. Although there will also be a particular structure element in your sober living program, adjusting back to the freedom you will now have access to and understanding that you will still need to take specific steps to maintain your sobriety.
After alcohol addiction recovery, see how long it takes to repair your liver from alcohol abuse:
What to Expect in a Sober Living Home
The leading reason sober living is encouraged to be part of an addiction treatment program is that it provides you with an environment free of any potential influence of substance abuse. There are specific rules that every person in a sober living facility will need to follow during their time at that facility to ensure that everyone remains sober and safe.
For example, when you commit to sober living, there are certain rules that you will need to abide by to remain in the program. You will need to maintain a curfew each day, and participants must also keep a promise that they will not bring any addictive substances into the facility. It’s possible that your sober living facility may also require you to find a job and work during the time that you’re living there. Although there will undoubtedly be subtle changes that you will need to make to adapt to a sober living facility, you can count on the fact that these changes will only help you to continue to heal and leave the influence of addiction in the past.
Something else that sober living participants will also need to do is keep up on their doctor appointments and attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings regularly. You may be surprised to learn that it’s common for individuals who struggle with addiction to also struggle with mental health issues that could require medication to maintain. As part of their commitment to sobriety, a person in recovery and living in transitional housing will need to keep up on doctor appointments.
Attending 12-step meetings, on the other hand, can help keep a person focused on maintaining sobriety and developing their understanding of addiction. You will notice that Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings closely follow the model of a group therapy session in the sense that you will have time to share your thoughts and feelings regarding the topics at hand and, in turn, listen to the experiences of others. This open communication style can help you understand that you’re not alone in what you’re thinking and feeling and help you develop a system of support critical for your overall well-being.
When to Move Into a Sober Living Home
The timing of moving into structured sober living is something that will be addressed only after you successfully complete your initial addiction treatment program. Before you can take steps to address your heroin addiction or opiate addiction, the first step that you will need to take is to commit to a detox program. Depending on the severity of your addiction, there is a strong possibility that you will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms within just a few hours of the time that you last consume your drug or drink of choice. Whether you’re suffering from opioid addiction or alcohol addiction, you may experience severe cravings and other physical and psychological symptoms that can prevent you from properly caring for yourself. The safe and sober environment that detox offers can ultimately be lifesaving.
Once you complete detox, you can transition into an addiction recovery program. These addiction recovery programs offer the personalized care that you need during this critical time in your life. Many people opt to take advantage of a residential treatment program because this type of recovery community in West LA provides them with the support and atmosphere they need during this period. An inpatient recovery community allows you to live on the campus of the Los Angeles, California treatment facility that you select and enjoy the round-the-clock care from addiction experts, which you may need during this time.
Many people cannot commit to an inpatient treatment program for one reason or another. They may have full-time or even part-time work or school responsibilities which would prevent them from completing this type of addiction treatment meaningfully. Outpatient treatment allows you to participate in a more flexible addiction treatment program which will not make you feel as though you need to choose between your recovery or these other key responsibilities in your life. You will work closely with your treatment team to ensure you have access to all the tools and resources needed to make the most out of your time in outpatient care.
How Much Does Sober Living Cost in Los Angeles?
The cost of a sober living program is often an understandable concern among many people considering this treatment option. However, there is a possibility that, depending on your insurance coverage, the cost of your time in a sober living program may be covered entirely through your private insurance provider. A good rule of thumb is to reach out to your insurance carrier to learn if this is something that is offered. In most cases, inpatient and outpatient programs are a covered expense, and however, sober living is something that may or may not be. If you need help determining whether this is a covered expense, you can always ask your treatment team or your family to assist you.
Sober Living at Muse in Los Angeles
At Muse Treatment Center, our substance abuse experts offer our clients the personalized addiction treatment that they need to address their drug and alcohol addiction. We understand the difficulties that our clients regularly face when they are struggling with addiction. Whether you begin your recovery in a residential or outpatient drug rehab program and transition into a transitional housing program, you can rest assured you will receive the personalized care you need to navigate through the ins and outs of your cocaine addiction and substance abuse issues. To receive a confidential callback regarding our housing programs, we encourage you to get in touch with us at (800) 426-1818. We look forward to hearing from you and guiding you through this new phase of your recovery.
