Relapse is one of the major challenges people face while recovering from substance use disorder. They need to overcome triggers and cravings almost daily. Medical detox and inpatient treatment are effective, but they are part of the recovery system. You will need outpatient services and programs to help you gain full recovery.  Moving directly from the inpatient routine to your normal routine is a huge challenge, and many individuals will relapse. 

Sober Living

You will need to understand a sober living house and how it works to be able to comprehend sober living itself. A sober living house/home is a facility that acts as a bridge inpatient treatment and normal life. Thus, sober living is a transitioning phase and place that individuals use to adjust to normal life.  Most sober living facilities are not run by licensed medical professionals like doctors or therapists. It makes it a simple but highly useful and effective form of treatment.  Some sober living facilities are operated by medical professionals, which makes it an added advantage. Most individuals in recovery need the help of sober living.

Rehab Vs. Sober Living

Rehab or inpatient treatment is quite different from a sober living house in terms of structure. Some of the major differences between rehabs and sober living homes include:

• Cost: Rehab centers are more costly.
• Rules: Rehab facilities have more rules than sober living homes. For example, one cannot leave a rehab facility during treatment, but a sober living house allows such movements.
• Duration: Rehab centers limit the patients’ stay to 30-day or 90-day periods. 
• Professionals: You will surely find professionals in mental health, medication, and addiction. 

Sober Living Houses Vs. Halfway Houses

People also often confuse sober living houses and halfway houses. Halfway houses are intended to help rehabilitate people who have committed crimes. The differences between the two include:

• Operator. Halfway houses are funded by the government. Sober living homes are operated by individuals or organizations. 
• Physical structure: sober living houses are private residences while halfway houses resemble dorms. 
• Attendance: People go to sober living houses willingly while the court orders force individuals to go to halfway houses. 
• Cost: Halfway houses are funded by the government, which makes them cheaper. However, they have fewer amenities than sober living houses. 

What To Expect In A Sober Living Home

You should expect a combination of support, structure, and freedom in sober living homes. In structure, there are some rules you need to adhere to. Some of these rules include curfew rules and compulsory group meetings. The regulations of sober living houses vary with the sober living institution.    Sober living houses also offer freedom. You will use this freedom to ease back into your normal duties. They also offer support, which is very important. Some individuals go into isolation after rehab, and this easily triggers relapse.  You will get to interact with other members of the sober homes, and in 12-step support meetings like Narcotics Anonymous. You will make new friends and also mend your relationships with your family. 

How Long Should I Stay In Sober Living?

Your needs will influence the time you spend in sober living. These needs can be summarized into factors like:

• Your recovery stability. To be stable, you will need to appropriately manage your cravings, coping skills, and co-occurring disorders. You will need cognitive skills from cognitive therapy to achieve this. 
• Your level of comfort. How comfortable are you with resuming back to your normal life?
• Your safety at home. Is your home a fully safe environment? Are you prone to triggers, cravings, and eventually relapse?

How To Recover While In Sober Living

Apart from the support, structure, and freedom in sober living, you can use other approaches to ensure a full recovery. They include:

• Stay busy. 
• Get housing after sober living
• Find a job
• Make amends with friends and family. 
• Carry the sober living principles back to your normal life. 

Sober Living and Addiction treatment at Riviera Recovery. 

You can access sober living in Los Angeles at Riviera Recovery Sober Living Homes. Riviera Recovery is a wellness community. We help men and women to overcome substance use disorder, mental health issues, and co-occurring disorders.  Unlike other sober living homes, our residents are under the care of trained and registered nurses. Our team of professionals offers personalized attention to ensure comfort for you and your loved ones. We also have on-call doctors who will provide the necessary help during your recovery process.  Our services are based on support empowerment and safety. Some of the services we offer include transport to and from support group meetings, nutritionist support, random drug test & breathalyzers, case management, and more.  We have facilities in two locations. One facility offers coed residence, and the other is men-only residence. The coed residence is called the Pacific Palisades House. It has separate bathrooms for each gender. You can access the beach after a short walk. The facility offers a beautiful view of the beach and the Santa Monica mountains. You can access 12-step meetings in Santa Monica, Malibu, and the Pacific Palisades.  The Barrington House offers men sober living. You can access multiple parks after a short walk. Moreover, you can get to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and LAX after a short drive. Residents can also access yoga & meditation studios, museums, and gyms.  Contact us now to book sober living for you or your loved ones. 

Final Thoughts

Anyone who moves directly from rehab to normal life has a very high risk of relapse. In rehab, you will have only discussed the triggers and cravings. However, you will get to experience all these in real life, and you need to get support when dealing with them. Furthermore, most individuals need time to readjust to their normal lives.  Sober living offers addicts the chance to readjust. Individuals will reside in sober living homes during these periods. Sober living homes are quite different from rehab. In rehab, there are medical & health professionals, the rules are stricter, the cost is higher, and the duration shorter. People also often confuse halfway houses with sober living houses. Halfway houses are usually funded by the government, and people use them under court orders. Moreover, the amenities in halfway houses are not as good as those in sober living. They are meant for reformed convicts.  The duration you spend in sober living will depend on your needs. It depends on how comfortable you are, how stable your recovery is, and how safe home is for you. To make the best out of sober living, we advise that you find a job as you readjust, make amends with friends and family, and live by the sober living principles.  Get sober living help from a facility with professionals such as Riviera Recovery.