Engaging in a professional detox program is essential for beginning one’s journey through the recovery process. While accomplishing such a difficult phase of the recovery process is cause for celebration, it doesn’t mean that an individual is necessarily prepared for the stresses that they will encounter outside of the recovery sphere. While some may want to transition directly into an intensive outpatient program, spending time in a sober living or transitional housing facility can provide a better structure for developing a new lifestyle in sobriety while continuously providing the needed support throughout the process.
Dangers of Jumping the Transition
Addiction affects every aspect of an individual’s life — from their mentality and worldview to how one chooses to spend their free time. One’s use of an addictive substance can also impact their professional life and development, as well as personal and familial relationships. Each of these aspects will have to be addressed to maintain one’s sobriety effectively, and this can take time.
Rushing the recovery process can leave an individual ill-prepared to cope with these aspects, and being caught unprepared in even one of these categories can cause the brain to try to fill that space with the only practice it knows — turning back to an addictive substance or behavior. Recovery isn’t a race, and rushing it can leave gaps in one’s coping strategies as it can be difficult to know exactly all of the different, difficult aspects of life one will have to cope with.
Benefits of Sober Living
The transition from detox to reintegration back into the “real world” is a complicated process, as an individual will have to address any number of personal hurdles. Practicing life skills, interpersonal skills, and developing new hobbies and interests help to keep individuals occupied and continuously focused on their recovery and sobriety. Sober housing is a phase of recovery that is designed to help an individual discover what their own daily life will look like in sobriety while still providing a backdrop of safety and understanding throughout the transition.
Providing a safe, designated space can help calm an individual as they deal with unexpected stressors, urges, or even persistent feelings of guilt or shame. These communities also continuously reinforce one’s own social skills as they learn the new ways they need to interact with their environments in sobriety. The journey from addiction to sobriety is a profound transition, and taking the time to dedicate to the bridges between one’s past and present lifestyles is essential in giving one’s self the best chance for a successful and prolonged change.
Sober living is a powerful transition tool, allowing each person suffering from addiction and moving through the recovery process to expose themselves to the unique stressors of the “real world” while still maintaining their safety net in a curated, recovery-focused environment. At Valiant Living, we understand the unique hurdles that exist through reintroduction and are ready to help you better understand and develop your own personalized coping strategies to help you make a successful and long-lasting transition towards a new, sober lifestyle. For more information on how we can personalize your stay with us, call to speak to a caring staff member today at (303) 952-5035.
