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Do I Need Sober Living?

Statistics show that more than 770,000 Americans have overdosed on drugs since 1999. Every year, many Americans do not receive the care they need to overcome their substance use disorder (SUD). One challenge this group faces is not getting the help it needs to beat the substance dependence. They struggle to adjust to a life of sobriety.  For a recovering addict, fitting into the real world can be a struggle once you detox. Coping with various emotions, dealing with triggers, and following the rules set to preserve your sobriety can be challenging. The silver lining is that sober living homes provide recovering addicts the support they need to stay on track in their recovery. 

What Is Sober Living? 

We need to know what a sober living home is to understand sober living. A sober living home is an informal treatment facility for substance dependence. Patients in these facilities are rarely catered for by counselors or licensed mental health physicians. Once patients finish inpatient treatment, or they need a place with regulations, they can check into these centers to get the help they need to beat their addiction. The centers provide safe, stable surroundings that prohibit substance use. a family enjoying a meal, sober living near me, sober living america, sober living homes, sober living homes near me Different sober living residences have varying regulations. The individual or organization that owns and operates the facility provides the guidelines that residents should follow. These guidelines are mostly flexible, while few that may impact directly on sobriety may not be modifiable. For example, residents may formulate rules dealing with activities they engage in, but drugs within the premise are forbidden. Sober living entails staying in these facilities to learn to live with sobriety and pick up best practices that will allow you to sustain your new path. 

Rehab Programs Vs. Sober Living Houses 

There are differences between the two facilities in the way they support your path to a life free from drugs. Rehabs differ from a sober living home in the following ways:
  • Rehab programs have many rules and limit your movement in and out of the facility 
  • Rehab mainly treats people new to a drug-free life 
  • They have experts such as medical, addiction, and mental health specialists 
  • Rehabs limit your stay in the facility like in 90-day or 30-day periods 
  • Rehabs are costly

Is Sober Living Right for My Situation? 

There are specific circumstances that can make sober living ideal for you. It can be a viable option if: 
  • Your previous attempts to commit to a rehab facility did not yield the expected outcomes 
  • You are struggling to adjust to life without drugs once your residency in a rehab facility comes to an end
  • Outpatient programs do not cater to your needs 
  • You lack the support from family and friends which is often necessary to achieve and sustain sobriety 
  • You need to continue with some aspects of your life without restrictions, such as employment 
Sober living may not be appropriate for you under these circumstances:
  1. You abuse highly addictive substances or those that have severe withdrawal symptoms 
  2. The fee they charge is too expensive to you 
  3. You struggle too much to get along with new people and may turn to violence or aggression to resist their efforts of warming up to you 

Questions to Ask About Sober Living 

Understand various aspects of sober living before you become a resident of a home. This understanding will help you decide if the program is appropriate for you and prepare you for a successful stay in a home. two women having a talk while looking at each other, sober living near me, sober living america, sober living homes

Questions you should ask include:

  1. Do you conduct mandatory drug screenings? 
  2. How will we know when it is time for me to move on from residing in the home?
  3. What rules do you have regarding visitation, and can visitors spend the night? 
  4. Do you offer counseling or the 12-step program to residents?  
  5. Should any activity I want to continue doing, such as a job or schooling, be closer to the home? 
  6. How long do residents stay in your facility? 
  7. Do you have house meetings, and are they mandatory? 
  8. How do you help residents that leave the facility? 
  9. What strategies do you use to manage conflict between your residents? 
  10. Does each resident get chores? 
  11. Do you have full time practitioners to help residents? 
  12. How many residents do you have at full capacity, and are there enough facilities? 
  13. Do you have any mandatory programs that you put your residents through?  
  14. Is there any other thing that one needs to know before they become a resident in your home?

When to Move Into a Sober Living Home 

Knowing when you need to move to a sober living residential facility can be the difference between staying away from drugs and relapsing. The ideal time to move into a sober living center is once you leave a residential program, and you fear that you may struggle to sustain sobriety in the outside environment.  Once you leave a rehab facility, there will be few rules to help you stay sober on the outside. The absence of a sobriety-friendly structure increases your likelihood of relapsing. In case you find staying away from drugs difficult on the outside, it is time you check into one of the sober living homes near me.

Recommended Length of Stay

The appropriate duration for your stay in a sober living facility depends on your needs. Residents remain in the center for varying periods. While others reside for weeks or a few months, others stay in homes for extended terms. The following factors determine the time you spend in the residential establishment.

1. Your Stability in Recovery

You need to prioritize your overall well being as it is critical to staying sober. Reliable recovery entails incorporating sound coping skills, managing your cravings for drugs, and managing co-occurring disorders, such as cognitive challenges. It also involves having support from those close to you, attending counseling sessions, and using the right medications. You can leave a facility once your recovery is stable in these aspects.

2. Your Safety at Home

Once you detox, you need a safe environment to facilitate your recovery. While a sober living facility will help you adjust to a life of sobriety, it is a bridge between inpatient treatment and living on the outside. You may be ready to leave a sober living once your home environment supports your new life free from drugs. 

3. Your Comfort Level 

A sober living facility prepares you for life outside, free from drugs. It would be best if you did not struggle to transition from a sober living facility to the outside. Consider leaving the facility if you believe your transition will be quick. You should also have a strong mentality towards the rehab, sustain yourself financially, and know the significance of staying sober before leaving the sober living center.

What to Expect in a Sober Living Home 

While a sober living residential resembles life on the outside, there are some few requirements you need to know. Being familiar with these regulations helps you understand what I need to bring to sober living home, and what you will find once you become a resident in them.  a group of five students walking, sober living house, sober living houses near me, what is a sober living house

1. Unlike in Residential Treatment, You Will Enjoy Some Freedom in Sober Living Facilities

You will be able to leave the facility and return as you need. This freedom of movement is crucial as it allows you to ooze your new sober life into your activities slowly. The sober living center may still have rules that you should abide by during your stay. Expect to attend mandatory meetings and a curfew. The rules can be relaxed as you progress during your residence.  

2. Some Activities Can Be Mandatory to Attend

Know these requirements and take part in them. For example, you may have to participate in 12-step programs. These undertakings are crucial in ensuring you stay on track as you integrate into a life of sobriety. Many addicts relapse because they lack the support to get them through the challenging parts of recovery. In sober living homes, you will gain inspiration from other recovering addicts. The combination of structure and freedom also helps you prepare for life on the outside while sober.

3. Drugs Are Illegal Within the Sober Living Home

They can screen presidents to ensure that they are not using illicit substances while in sober living. You may also get some chores that keep you busy, help you bond with other residents, and keep you responsible. The homes may also have some mandatory meetings among residents or with various specialists. Residents have curfews, and visitors are barely allowed to respect everyone’s privacy. Quiet hours can be put in place to provide a conducive environment for people to get adequate sleep. 

Finding the Best Sober Living Program 

Riviera Recovery is one of the best sober living homes that seek to help recovering addicts replace bad habits with sustainable practices. Our skilled personnel are available to walk you through the crucial aspects of your sober living. At Riviera Recovery, we encourage residents to explore and experiment, within specific limits, to learn various virtues that they need to sustain their new life of sobriety. We also offer extra services once patients leave our home to help them sustain their recovery.  Riviera Recovery is famous among recovering addicts because we are clean, offer luxurious services, and we allow pets. We have facilities in West LA and Palisades. We take in a limited number of residents to provide quality services to those that gain entry. Our services include mandatory weekly in-house get together, nightly check-in, attendance at required meetings, food management system, and weekly social gatherings. These programs are to keep you on track during your transition to your life of sobriety on the outside. 

Conclusion 

Different addicts overcome their SUD in varying ways. While others have a seamless transition from an inpatient program, others need help to transition to a life of sobriety on the outside. Sober living can be an excellent way to support sobriety with a structured environment that differs from residential treatment. Preparing for moving into a sober living facility and knowing what to expect helps the program be successful.  Riviera Recovery is one of the leading sober living homes in California. We provide flexible, reliable, and affordable care for the recovering addicts that become part of our sober living program.  Contact us today to learn more about our sober living programs. 
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Best Sober Living Houses in L.A

Statistics show that the relapse rate for recovering drug addicts in America is between 40 to 60 percent. Once you detox from substances, the challenging life of managing the addiction begins. Recovering addicts ought to replace bad habits with good ones that sustain their sobriety. Keeping up with recovery demands on your own can be tough. Sober living homes provide a conducive environment that you need to adjust to a sober life.  Sober living homes, also known as transitional living arrangements, or recovery residences, provide structured surroundings to support your sobriety. Going straight from an inpatient detox program to living in society, free from many addiction treatments rules, can be challenging. Sober living houses provide the structure you need to integrate into society slowly.

The First Year of Sobriety Can Be a Challenging One 

Substance dependence will have helped you deal with stress and some emotions. Once the effects of the drugs go away, coping with these occurrences will be challenging. You will also have to cut ties with friends that you took drugs with. It will be difficult during the first year as you get new acquaintances and learn different coping techniques. Adopting healthy habits will require effort, especially in the first year of being sober. Transitional living arrangements can help you get used to a life free from drugs.

Sober Living 

Sober living is a technique that recovering addicts can use to help them stay on track. It involves staying in facilities with fewer rules than inpatient programs. You can stay in recovery residences for as long as necessary, and you will have some freedom of movement. Sober living allows recovering addicts to use structure to continue with sobriety as they slowly pick up the aspects of their lives that substance dependence might have affected. Residents engage in various programs that keep them on track.

Sober Living Homes 

What is a sober living home? Any recovering addict needs to know the answer to this question. Sober living houses are drug-free living surrounding recovering addicts. These facilities are available throughout the country, and they help former addicts embrace their sobriety.  Residents can stay in these centers until they are ready to continue with their life in society. They provide informal treatment, which makes them fly under the radar of state licensing bodies. Sober living houses have different programs that help recovering addicts. The intensity of these undertakings reduces as you get close to leaving the recovery residence. 

Specifics of Sober Living Arrangements 

Sober living houses belong to individuals, groups, or companies. These owners formulate some regulations that you will need to follow during your residence. The rules may vary from one recovery residence to another. Administrators expect you to comply with their requirements as they seek to provide a conducive sober living environment for you and other recovering addicts.  You can stay in a sober living facility for as long as your recovery needs you to reside in one. Sober living houses allow residents to continue with some aspects of their lives while returning to the facility. Some let their clients sleep away from the center during the weekend during their recovery. There will be some mandatory activities during your stay. Residents often have flexible payment arrangements, and some pay by working jobs the sober living house finds for them.  a group of people standing outside a sober living house, sober living house, sober living houses near me, sober living Some transitional living arrangements have ties with nearby treatment centers. These sober living houses liaise with the addiction treatment programs to provide the best environment for recovery and integration into a sober life. Addiction experts may come in to check on the residents frequently.  Expect some chores and mandatory programs during your stay in the recovery residence. Residents do errands to help them be responsible. Recovery is an ongoing process that will require you to make the right choices. Being accountable enables you to stay on track, and it ensures you deal with obstacles in your path by facing them. Attending group meetings, some counseling sessions, and observing curfews are mandatory. Accept these obligatory programs as they help you stay sober.

Tips for Choosing a Sober Living House  

There are many sober living facilities for you to pick one from them. While the essential services they provide are closely similar, some considerations can help you settle on the appropriate one. Sober living houses will play a vital role in your integration to a drug-free life. You need to pick the best one that will give you the best chance of a comfortable transition.   a cozy lounge room in a sober living house, sober living house, sober living houses near me, sober living transitional house

Here are tips that can help you choose the best sober living homes:

  • Central location: the home you pick should be close to your school or work, therapy, and family. This proximity will allow you to move from one point to another with ease. You can also incorporate your life out of the sober living house, at home, to the recovery. 
  • Be comfortable with the rules: different facilities have their regulations. Ensure you are conversant with them, and you are ready to live with them before checking in with them. Hastily moving in may complicate the recovery. You will be uncomfortable, and the sober living house may impose measures that you may not like. Most of these regulations are there to facilitate your transition and that of other residents to a drug-free life. Ask them to help you understand any that does not seem right with you before making your decision. 
  • Look for referrals or reviews from past and current residents: people who lived or are living in the transitional residence can paint a picture of how life in the facility is. Their referrals can be online, or you can get them by asking friends or other people you know about a sober living house. Filter their feedback to what you think may be relevant as their experience may not necessarily be similar to yours. 
  • Compare the prices: while sober living houses are often affordable compared to inpatient treatment, they charge differently. These differences in pricing could be due to the different services and luxury they provide. Pick a facility that satisfies your requirements and is within your price range. Examine their payment plans to settle on one convenient for you. 

Is a Sober Living Home the Right Choice? 

You can get an answer to this question if you meet these criteria. 
  1. You have tried living on the outside of an inpatient facility, and you struggled to stay sober 
  2. Outpatient treatment does not cater to your needs
  3. You recognize the challenge that is ahead, and you need help to transition into a life free from drugs 
  4. There is no support for your recovery from friends or your family 
  5. You need to get better while continuing with aspects of your life, such as your job or school 
If you meet these criteria, search for sober living homes near me and get into a sober living residence.

Signs That Sober Living May Not Be the Best Choice

While sober living has many benefits to many recovering addicts, it is not always a viable option for everyone. It might be inappropriate for you under these circumstances: 
  • Your addiction requires more considerable care than that provided by sober living houses 
  • You struggle to get acquainted with new faces and new surroundings 
  • Charges of recovery residences are too high such that you cannot afford them 
  • You tend to isolate yourself from people 
  • Rules, such as curfews and mandatory activities, set by others are uncomfortable 
  • You suffer from uncontrollable social anxiety 

How Do I Select the Best Sober Living Program?

a woman in a sober living house kitchen preparing a meal, sober living house, sober living houses near me, sober living Sober living houses offer unique services to residents. These guidelines can help you make the right choice of a transitional living arrangement. 
  1. Conduct your research about a facility before joining it. Know their capacity, services, and charges, among others, to see if it is right for you.
  2. Ask questions. For any vague findings that your research concludes, feel free to seek clarity from the relevant people in the recovery residence. 
  3. Know their rules in advance. Different facilities have regulations that guide their residents. These requirements could be about mandatory meetings, chores, curfews, and what do I need to bring to sober living home, among others. 
  4. Tour the sober living house. Once you have a facility you may like, visit it before seeking entry. This trip can help you confirm what you know and add to your knowledge. It will also help you see whether you can comfortably stay in the transitional living home as you recover.
  5. Talk to your treatment provider about sober living. Doctors have extensive knowledge about programs and facilities in the area. Consult them to get valuable insights that will help you make an informed choice. 

Riviera Sober Living: Best Sober Living Houses in L.A 

Riviera Recovery is among the best sober living homes in California. We believe that your recovery deserves the best care possible. 

We have two different locations:

Our Pacific Palisades sober living house is co-ed with separate washrooms for each gender. The facility has ample parking space with beautiful ocean scenery where you can take long walks. Our Barrington House located in west L.A is an all-male facility. We have a large cozy lounge area within the facility, an outdoor patio with BBQ and a library. Both sober living houses are within walking distance to a gym, yoga studios and museums within the surrounding area. Consequently, we provide a conducive environment and the care you need to safely and satisfactorily replace bad habits with good ones to support your sobriety. We host a specific number of residents at a time to ensure our residents receive quality services. Our staff support residents after their stay to ensure they continue with sobriety.  Riviera Recovery provides clean, luxury, and pet-friendly surroundings to help residents in their recovery. Our facilities in Los Angeles provide services that include some mandatory meetings, nightly check-ins, and food management systems, among others. We prioritize your recovery, and we design our programs to give you the best chance of comfortably getting used to a life free from drugs and bad habits that encouraged substance dependence. 

Conclusion 

Overcoming a substance use disorder is challenging. Once you are through with detox, the process of staying sober begins. The first year of recovery can be challenging as you adopt new habits and cut ties with people that make you susceptible to relapse. Sober living residences provide recovering addicts with a conducive environment to facilitate their recovery. Choose the best sober living houses and ensure you are ready for sober living to have the best outcomes. Riviera Recovery provides a reliable and comfortable living program for our residents. Our facilities are across California, including Los Angeles. We design our sober living procedures to ensure our clients are happy, and they transition to a drug-free life seamlessly.  Call us today (866) 478-8799 or send us a private message to learn how we can help with your recovery. 
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The Best Pet Friendly Sober Living in California

Drug addicts that get sober struggle to deal with things without the feelings that drugs gave them. Many people who abuse drugs do it to escape their emotions and cope with loneliness. When they get sober, they have to deal with these occurrences without the drugs. This fact presents a significant hurdle on their quest for a drug-free life. Failure to deal with it makes your recovery difficult, which can lead to relapse.  Transitioning from inpatient addiction facilities to live outside these centers can be challenging. Once you are out of these establishments, sustaining sobriety on the outside without the rules and structure to support you is challenging. Sober living homes, halfway houses, recovery residences, or transitional living arrangements are an excellent place to stay as you learn to live a drug-free life in society.  Pets are good companions for recovering addicts. Many recovery residences allow residents to have pets. You can come with your pet, or they have some in the facility. Riviera Recovery halfway house recognizes the importance of recovering addicts having pets. Consequently, Riviera Recovery has been among the leading facilities that leverage pet therapy to help recovering addicts. 

Pet Therapy 

woman in grey sweater carrying a dog, pet friendly sober living, pet friendly sober living los angeles Research shows that pet therapy is a reliable technique for helping recovering addicts. Pet therapy is an excellent approach as recovering addicts connect with animals, which helps them through recovery. It involves the use of animals during recovery. The unconditional love, responsibility, and joy that pets cause are beneficial to recovering addicts. They support recovering addicts and encourage them to be more open with their counselors. 

Pets Bring Joy to the Recovery Process 

Pets can be crucial during recovery from substance dependence. For example, petting a dog or a cat can enhance the dopamine and serotonin levels in your body. This increase causes a calm, relaxing effect. Recovering from addiction can be challenging. The impact that pets create brings joy and helps you through the complicated parts of recovery. Having a pet that cares for you unconditionally and does not judge you, despite your struggles, can also bring you joy. 

Pet-Assisted Sober Living 

Some transitional living arrangements allow residents to have pets in their facility. You can have a pet, such as a dog or a cat, in your room during your stay. These facilities have different regulations considering the duration of having the pet, areas you can go with them, and the activities you can engage in with them. Consult the administrators of each halfway house to know their rules concerning having pets during your sober living.  Your pet can help you during your sober living in these ways: 
  • Exercise with pets
  • Socialization 
  • Emotional support 
  • Long term, in-room stay 
  • Pet walks and relaxation 

Benefits of Pets in Sober Living 

The best sober living homes recognize the advantages of allowing their residents to have pets. After your detox, the challenge of staying sober begins. Having a pet as you transition to a life of sobriety can be beneficial. Pets offer the following benefits of the human-animal relationship. 

1. Pets Give Unconditional Love

close up image showing a man hugging a dog, pet friendly sober living, pet friendly sober living los angeles, pet friendly Addiction can make you do many things that affect your relationship with those close to you. This bad blood between you can make them struggle to support you unconditionally during your recovery. You do not have to worry about such occurrences with pets. They will be there for you throughout, and they will not criticize you as you work on getting better. This full support helps you get back on your feet and enhances your self-esteem, which is essential during recovery. 

2. Pets Can Teach You Some Things About Yourself

Animals portray complete emotional honesty. Their cues will always tell you when they are angry, happy, relaxed, or in fear. This comprehensive openness can be a vital lesson for recovering addicts. Addiction is likely to have made you numb to emotions or helped you mask them. Additionally, the animals can mirror your emotions, which can help you know your emotional state. Being truthful about your feelings can help you deal with them better. 

3. Dog Owners Are Likely to Exercise More Than People That Do Not Have Dogs 

Studies show that having a dog can make you work out more than you would without one. As you learn to live without the effects of drugs, physical activity can be helpful. Exercising keeps your body in shape to help you recover. It also makes your body release more endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in your body. Working out also boosts the release of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These chemicals are essential in controlling your mood.

4. Pets Can Make You More Responsible

Looking after pets can be a bit demanding. However, the necessary work should not scare you. Taking up some responsibility as you adjust to life in a transitional living arrangement can be appropriate for you. Looking after a pet can encourage you to see yourself as responsible. Believing in yourself is what you need as you embark on a road of staying away from drugs. You do not have to bring one home. There are many other ways you can get pet therapy.  

5. Pets Can Help You Relate Well With Other People

Once you detox from drugs, you will need to cut off any ties with friends that increase your likelihood of relapse. Building new relationships can be scary for many people. You may struggle for some period as you start relations. Having a pet can ease this transition. Having a pet can be an excellent link to start a connection with other pet owners. Animal-related topics can also be incredible ice breakers. Isolation can make you relapse. Connecting with other people is vital for staying sober. People who are going through a similar ordeal as you often give practical advice that helps you cope.

6. Pets Can Help You Fight the Feeling of Loneliness

As you transition to a drug-free life, necessary changes can make you feel lonely. This feeling is dangerous for your new path. Recovering addicts that do not have support or people in their corners are likely to relapse. Having a pet by your side can reduce the feeling of loneliness. Pets do not endanger your new life and will always be there for you as you work on yourself. They can also help release feel-good hormones that will improve your emotional state.

Strength, Courage, and Optimism 

a woman hugging a siberian husky, pet friendly sober living, pet friendly sober living los angeles, pet friendly sober living california, pet friendly sober living near me   Adjusting to a drug-free life can be challenging. During your addiction, you might have been taking the drugs to deal with stressful situations or your emotions. You will have to learn alternative ways to cope with them during recovery. It may be difficult at first, but having a pet can give you the inspiration you need to remain sober. Look for sober living homes near me that allow residents to have pets to benefit from having one. Many dogs are energetic and playful. Their enthusiastic nature may inspire you to also be proactive in your recovery. Their movements may also make you active, which can be a form of exercise. This physical activity will release hormones that will make you delighted. Happiness can make you more susceptible to adopting the practices you need to remain sober. 

Problems With Pets in Sober Living 

Having pets in halfway houses can present some challenges to the residents. Pets can be dirty. Failure by their owners to clean after them can cause discomfort to the other residents. Pets can also move around a lot. This movement bothers the other recovering addicts or makes the animals get lost. If you fail to look after your pet, the burden often shifts to the more responsible inhabitants of the recovery residence. 

Sober Living and Pet Allergies 

Some residents of halfway houses are allergic to pets. Sober living facilities must ensure that all the inhabitants of the facility get a conducive environment to adjust to a life of sobriety. The common practice is for the recovering addicts to undergo a medical background check before admission. Those that are allergic to pets and gain entry get their pet-free section.   

Finding a Pet-Friendly Sober Living 

Riviera Recovery acknowledges the significance of allowing residents in our sober living homes in California to have pets. We have been at the forefront of leveraging pet therapy to help recovering addicts. Residents get to benefit from pets in our luxurious, spacious, clean, and pet-friendly surroundings.    We have experienced staff on hand to help you when you need them. We take in a specific number of residents to ensure all our inhabitants receive the quality environment they need to adjust to a life of sobriety. Our clients are important to us, and we take an interest in ensuring they stay sober. We provide post-sober living care to help them integrate after they leave our facility.  We have facilities in Malibu and Los Angeles. These centers provide several services. Our services include nightly check-in, food management system, weekly social meetings, attendance at the necessary gatherings, and mandatory weekly in-house get together. You can have your pet through some of these activities while in Riviera Recovery.

Final Word 

While experts agree that pets can be beneficial to recovering addicts, not every halfway house allows residents to have pets. Finding one that permits you to have a pet can make a significant difference in your quest to sustain your sobriety. Pets have many benefits to recovering addicts despite the challenges of having one. They can make you more responsible, keep you company, support you unconditionally, and help you exercise.  Riviera Recovery knows that pets can help people in sober living facilities. Therefore, we allow our residents to have pets. We have a few regulations to help get the best of pets without inconveniencing other inhabitants of the halfway house.  Check what you need to bring to a sober living home to know if you can bring a pet. Our clean, luxurious, pet-friendly environment is the right place for you to learn how you will sustain your sobriety.  Reach out to us via (866) 478-8799 or send us a confidential message to know how we can help you adjust to recovery.
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