When Jake left rehab, he thought he was ready to start a new chapter of his life. He was going to get his old apartment back, call up his old friends, and start dating again.
He was fine for weeks, no triggers, just progress.
Then one night, he came back from work, stressed about a project he was working on, and he felt it. For the first time in weeks, he was triggered.
He tried to ignore it, but the cravings would not fade. They got louder.
Within a month, he relapsed.
This is not a unique story.
About 40-60% of individuals who were treated for substance abuse may experience relapse.
All these people will display signs that they are headed for a relapse. If you don’t catch the signs in time, you can lose a loved one to this terrible disease.
Recognizing the signs means that you can identify when your loved one is struggling and in need of sober living.
Why Are You Struggling to Stay Sober at Home?
Sobriety is a journey. There will be days when your cravings are as simple as adding chocolate chips to your pancake batter. Other times, you have this unbearable need to use again.
Nobody likes to hear this, but your environment is triggering you.
You’ve completed the treatment, you have changed your routine, but you haven’t changed where you live. The couch, the TV, the phone. It all reminds you of your drinking buddies.
This happens to every person who has ever tried to break the cycle of addiction. Addiction is a disease after all, and you will need more than willpower to change how substances have rewired your brain.
You Need New Habits
Studies have shown that changing your environment plays an important role in breaking bad habits or replacing them with new, healthy ones. Think of it like a shock to the system.
Every time you tell yourself, “Just one drink,” you’re saying yes to cheap dopamine. But when you say no to the drink and go home, make coffee instead, you’re trying something new. New is not always registered as nice by the brain.
That is why there is resistance. That is also why you feel the need to go back to old, familiar patterns.
The thing about familiarity is that if you repeat making coffee enough times, it could also become a comfortable, familiar pattern.
Sober living homes work just like that. They give residents a chance to build healthy, familiar patterns that support them in their sobriety journey.
Most of the people who opt for sober living homes have already braved the minefield of living somewhere that brings back all those painful memories. They prefer the new environment because it takes away the guesswork.
You can count on your sober living home to provide a structured environment free of triggers. Plus, there are no painful memories associated with a particular couch.
You’re in a High-Relapse Risk Environment
When you think about the value of sober living, it helps to ask why a certain environment would be considered high-risk.
Can you blame addiction on the environment?
Yes, actually, you can. One of the biggest indicators of a high-relapse risk environment is how quickly someone can fall back into their old routine if the same people and substances are just a phone call away. It’s not a question of if you’ll relapse, it’s a question of when.
Jake is a good example. After moving back in, he was able to stock his fridge with beer and throw a party for his friends. For most people, one beer and some socialization are not a risk. But for someone fresh out of rehab, this was a trigger.
Sobriety can feel like you are swimming against a current if you are in your old environment. You are not addicted to a particular substance. It’s the pull of the stress and chaos you’ve grown used to that you cannot live without.
Sober living is not so much about where you live. It is about how you live. It is about saying no to chaos and saying yes to structure. It is about changing your environment so that you are no longer a product of the old one.
You Are Isolating
Recovery is a lonely process. The reason why you struggle with addiction is that you are not surrounded by people who understand what you are going through. At Haven House, we try to change that.
Community is integral to sobriety, and so we ensure that all our patients feel supported in this difficult time. Living alone can make it difficult for someone to manage anxiety and depression, but when you’re surrounded by like-minded people, you feel seen.
Building meaningful connections keeps your mind off substances. It helps you create a life for yourself outside of your addiction and gives you a reason to get better. To top it all off, you get a group of friends who cheer for you every time you do something right, so you feel inspired to continue making positive changes.
Your Mental Health is Declining
The first sign you get won’t be in the form of four beers for lunch. It will be something small, like being anxious about your credit card bill, or snapping at a coworker.
These small inconveniences will trigger your depression. And when you start to feel like life has no meaning, that’s when you will feel like binge drinking is a good idea even though you have work tomorrow.
A normal person would see that these difficult feelings are messengers, here to tell them it is time for a change. A person struggling with substance use would see these challenges as an excuse to fall back into old patterns.
If you think you are just one bad day away from relapsing, you need sobriety.
Choosing the Right Sober Living Home
Recognizing that you’re not doing so well is the first step. The second step is to get help. If you have noticed that you’re slipping into old patterns, it’s time to consider sober living homes.
At Haven House, our goals are to help people make the transition from rehab to real life. Whether it is through coaching, programming, community care, or physical activity, we help patients maintain their progress while leading a normal life.
If you are struggling to maintain your progress, give us a call. You don’t have to do this alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the top signs someone needs sober living?
Signs that a loved one needs sober living include difficulty adjusting to their environment, retreating into old patterns, or isolating from friends and family.
- How do I know if my home environment is a relapse risk?
Your old environment may be a risk if it gives you access to people who have substances. If you are living with people who use substances, you have a higher risk of relapsing.
- Can sober living help if I’ve already relapsed?
Yes, sober living can help you if you have relapsed. It is designed to provide structure that helps patients get back on track.
- What makes sober living different from rehab?
Sober living is quite different from rehab because it offers a structured, supportive environment, whereas rehab focuses on providing intensive medical care.
- How long should someone stay in sober living?
Most people stay in a sober living home for up to 3-6 months. The time they spend is determined by their personal preferences and their recovery goals.
- When should I consider sober living if my social circle isn’t supportive?
Yes, you should consider a sober living home for your recovery. Sober living homes such as Haven House come with a supportive community that you can rely on when you need emotional support.
- Are sober living homes only for people fresh out of rehab?
Yes, sober living homes are great for people who are fresh out of rehab, as they allow them to transition to normal life while making their progress.
- Can family members be involved in the recovery process?
Yes, many sober living homes encourage family involvement. Family support can strengthen recovery by improving communication, rebuilding trust, and creating a healthier home environment for when you transition back.
- Do sober living homes allow visitors?
Yes, sober living homes allow you to have visitors so that you can maintain healthy relationships.
- How do I choose the right sober living home?
To choose the right sober living home, you need to understand where it is located, the kind of amenities that are offered, and how good their review are. We recommend Haven House for its impeccable amenities, supportive environment, and stellar reviews.