Five Ways to Help a Friend in a Sober Living House

Supportive family and friends are crucial factors for addiction treatment success. Unfortunately, only 10 percent of the more than 20 million adults in the U.S. receive treatment for their substance use disorder. Treatment professionals realize that it sometimes requires additional measures to prevent relapse and continue living under the guidance of a facility. After all, transitioning from inpatient recovery to “the real world” can be difficult. With close supervision and being closed off from the outside world, facing the next level of sobriety can be frightening. Deciding to graduate to a sober living house with family and friends as a support system is a wise choice. For friends who want to stay by their friend’s side for encouragement, it’s time to study up and increase your understanding of addiction recovery.  

What is a Sober Living House?

Sober living houses are residential home-like facilities, housing residents who commit to being drug-free and alcohol-free as they continue treatment plans. Sober living homes offer a safe and supportive environment to practice new life skills. In addition, this type of environment provides guidance and parameters to follow while allowing people to “spread their wings.” Finally, adding a supportive friendship to the environment is another relapse-prevention tool. 

The sober living house has rules, curfews, and chores to perform. Like living out in the world, you must pay the rent and work or go to school. In addition, residents should continue an individual therapy program and group therapy sessions. The goal is to be successful at sober living without relapse. 

Why Should You Help A Friend In A Sober Living House?

If you are a friend of a newly sober addict, there are some critical factors to consider in support of your friend. The main goal of living in a sober living house is to maintain sobriety after leaving inpatient treatment. Living in a structured environment is key to being successful. Reestablishing friendships and relationships with family members is a critical process in recovery. 

The input from a friend can instill trust, confidence, and the foundation for other relationship-building as a sober person. Your friendship can be an enormous source of strength for your recovery friend. Living in a sober living house will be a challenge, just as continued sobriety is. Learning the best way to support your friend will enhance your friendship. 

Five Ways to Help A Friend In a Sober Living House

Friendship with a newly sober addict has rules and regulations. Just like living in a sober living house, there must be boundaries, emotional parameters, and safety in the friendship’s environment. Healthy and positive lifestyle functions learned in treatment must be practiced and adhered to. Friends and family who participated in family therapy may have known how to be supportive positively and healthily. 

Educate Yourself about Recovery

Understanding the physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects of recovery from addiction is undeniably essential for a supportive friend. But unfortunately, there is no cure for addiction; there is the state of being currently sober. Therefore, if your friend is living in a sober living house, it is critical to educate yourself about that environment. For instance, sober living is very different from rehab. In addition, your friend’s choice to live in sober living indicates the importance of the commitment to remain sober. 

Learn about Triggers and How to Avoid Them

Understanding how triggers can tempt a recovering addict back into addiction is vital to being a supportive friend. It’s best to stay away from using alcohol and drugs when hanging out with a friend in recovery. Staying sober is a daily task to tackle. Living in a sober living house is a safe environment, but when going out somewhere, think ahead of possible triggers to temptation. 

Be Supportive, Not Controlling

There are rules to follow in the sober living house that are standards. Within the confines of that safe environment, it is easy to make good choices. When out in the world with a friend, making sound, sober decisions takes practice. Learning to support by listening and respectfully discussing possibilities instead of being bossy and judgmental is vital. It’s best not to alienate a recovery friend by projecting negativity. 

Give Encouragement

Listening is an excellent tool for any relationship. In tough times, encouragement by reminding a friend about how much they have accomplished is a supportive measure. 

Living in a sober living house may present problems to resolve from time to time. Therefore, offering encouraging support in positive and healthy coping mechanisms is precisely what your friend needs. In addition, reinforcing sober living goals and relying on skills learned in treatment can ease stress. 

Accept that the Friendship Might Change

Having a friend in recovery means significant lifestyle changes to remain sober. Relationships with old friends can change. Your friend in recovery may have new goals and lifestyle habits. It may be difficult to identify with their choice to live in a sober living house. Although you have different lifestyles, you can still find common ground to maintain your friendship. Being positive and flexible while being supportive will allow the friendship to continue. 

How Sober Living Can Help

Talking to a friend in recovery about the sober living house concept is a supportive measure. Participating by supporting a friend in recovery helps to prevent their chances of relapse. In addition, understanding how important a supportive friendship can be and being physically and mentally active in recovery adds to your personal growth. Sustaining positive motivation and learning new skills for continued support for your recovery friend is an incredible journey. 

Find a Sober Living House in Los Angeles, CA

If you are searching for a sober living house in California, Riviera Recovery can help you now with your search. We understand the importance of sober living after inpatient treatment. In addition, Riviera Recovery can provide how successful sober living can be. Finally, we encourage friends and family to support their loved ones by participating in sober living programs. Contact us today.