Guide to Sober Living in 2019

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An Effective Guide to Sober Living in 2019
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Introduction

• One of the biggest worries for most recovering
  addicts, when they are almost completing their
  rehab programs, is how theyll make it on the
  outside. The walls of a rehab facility are
  normally built to make you feel safer on your way
  to recovery but you need a place where you can
  transition. You need a home-based support system
  to help you function independently while living a
  sober life. This is where sober living comes in.
  Its meant to help you have a smoother and
  manageable life in the real world in 2019.

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Table of Contents

• Whats Sober Living
• Benefits of Sober Living.
• The Right Candidate for Sober Living.
• Tips for Finding the Right Sober Living Home.
• What You Can Do to Enjoy Sober Living
• Closing Thought.

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Whats Sober Living?

• Sober Living refers to the act of maintaining a
  drug-free (alcohol included) lifestyle and
  showing the commitment to abstain from an
  addiction. Such conditions are offered in a
  special home called a sober living home. Such
  homes are built to provide a place to stay for
  alcohol and drug addicts once they complete their
  rehab programs or when continuing with the detox.
  These places have very strict rules and
  regulations to help you enjoy a healthier and
  sober life. Sometimes, the houses are called
  half-way houses since they stand between your
  recovery process and sobriety. They are ideally
  meant to encourage sobriety while preventing
  relapse.
• Generally, here are the basic features of sober
  living homes
• You are expected to pay rent for the time that
  you spend there.
• The minimum number of days you can stay there is
  30 days.
• You can only stay there if you are determined to
  stay sober.
• You should not show signs of alcohol withdrawal.

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• A majority of these places have strict curfews.
• There are strict rules to follow which include
  performing house chores and going for counseling.
• You may be required to check in at a school or
  get a job after gaining admission at a sober
  living facility.
• Youll be subjected to frequent alcohol screening
  exams.

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Benefits of Sober Living

• An inpatient detox facility is ideally meant to
  help an addict go through a detox program safely.
  Even though such places are characterized by
  quality therapies and counseling programs, their
  focus is to promote physical healing. The only
  problem is that you cant stay there forever.
  Youll have to step out into the actual world to
  face real-time challenges. A sober living home,
  in this case, makes the transition process much
  faster. It provides you with the option of
  mending the life that alcohol has destroyed.
• Generally, here are the top benefits of sober
  living
• 1. Start a successful sobriety life Normally,
  the chances of relapsing are higher during the
  first few months of leaving the rehab. The world
  out there features so many triggers and they are
  very tempting. Checking in at a sober living
  house protects you from them. You not only access
  a sober surrounding but you get all the support
  that you need to stay alcohol-free. The support
  includes regular counseling and closes
  companionship. Everything in the house is
  designed to emphasize safe sobriety by
  encouraging quick adaptation to an alcohol-free
  life.

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• 2. Choose to stay away from alcohol The decision
  to stay at a sober living home is not by force
  but by free will. So, no one forces you to stay
  there as its often the case with rehab
  facilities. In the sober living home, you are
  unable to yield to the temptation of alcohol even
  if you have such a choice. As long as you are
  there, you choose to remain sober. No one really
  forces you to stay committed but you do it
  willingly. Even though there are curfew hours,
  you are not stopped from getting out and having a
  drink or two but you choose to stay sober.
• 3. Enjoy lifelong support from sober friends You
  are not the only one who will be staying at the
  sober living home. There are other recovery
  addicts who share a similar or different path.
  Regardless, its an opportunity to share ideas
  and make friendships. The networks are important
  during your stay there and after you leave the
  facility. Youll find people who you can open up
  to as you share personal experiences. The whole
  essence is to gain emotional support on your way
  to recovery.

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• 4. Function independently as you regain your
  self-esteem Alcohol has a way to shatter your
  self-esteem and it takes time before you can have
  it back. Not even rehab makes it easier. You need
  a home setting to do it. Apparently, nothing
  really comes close to it than a sober living
  facility. In the facility, youll be able to make
  decisions independently and this empowers you.
  This means that youll no longer have to seek
  consolation in alcohol. In the end, you become
  more confident and satisfied with living an
  alcohol-free life.
• 5. Get emotionally and psychologically organized
  Staying at a sober living environment makes it
  easy to deal with emotional stress and negative
  attitudes which come with alcohol recovery. You
  are able to have a different mindset about how to
  face the challenges. This is possible because the
  sober living conditions help you in the following
  ways
• To understand the addiction and find ways to
  overcome the emotional and psychological
  triggers.
• To accept your current condition as an integral
  step to recovery.
• To revamp your coping strategy so as to find it
  easier to keep away from alcohol.

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The Right Candidate for Sober Living

• Actually, there are no major restrictions when it
  comes to gaining admission in a sober living
  home. Provided that your aim is to enjoy
  sobriety, youll be accepted there. However, the
  following circumstances are the most ideal
• When you dont have a societal structure at home
  that encourages sobriety.
• When you are not sure that you can live an
  independent life without resorting to alcohol or
  any other drug.
• When you are not comfortable facing the people in
  your life that have hurt because of an addiction.
• When you plan to save money when attending an
  alcohol recovery program as an outpatient.
• When you dont have a home to go back to after
  rehab and need a temporary sober-friendly
  surrounding to stay at.
• If you have suffered a relapse following rehab.

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• With the above guidelines in mind, its important
  to know that sober living may not be ideal for
  some cases. The most notable ones are
• If you are naturally aggressive or violent
  towards strangers.
• If you dont have the money to pay for your stay
  there.
• If you are unwilling to adhere to strict rules
  and curfew hours.

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Tips for Finding the Right Sober Living Home

• There are several factors that come into effect
  when looking for a sober living home. They
  include
• 1. Reputation Its necessary that the sober
  living home that you approach is credible. This
  will guarantee that youll have a great stay
  there as you look to live an alcohol-free life.
  You may have to speak to former renters about the
  facility. Allow them to share with you their
  personal experiences before making a decision.
  You can also check the rating of the facility on
  the Better Business Bureau.
• 2. House Rules The house rules highly determine
  if youll have a comfortable stay at the sober
  living home or not. The idea is to find a home
  with rules that you can easily adhere to as you
  look to stay sober. You may have to go through
  random screening tests and having to comply with
  curfew hours. If you are comfortable with the
  rules, then theres no problem renting a space at
  the facility.
• 3. The Setting Most sober living facilities are
  situated in peaceful neighborhoods. This is meant
  to facilitate a faster recovery process. The
  whole idea is to keep you away from joints which
  sell alcohol. This eliminates the chances of a
  temptation. Of course, you have to choose a
  location thats near your place of work or
  school.

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• 4. Admission Criteria Every sober living
  facility has its own admission procedure. Some
  require you to show proof of an official
  medical-aided detox program. Others require you
  to show evidence of not suffering from
  alcohol-induced disorders. However, there are a
  few that only requires you to be free of alcohol
  withdrawal symptoms at the time of admission.
• 5. Services Offered This is where sober living
  homes differ significantly. Like in a normal
  residential home, you also need the best
  conditions to enjoy life in a sober living home.
  Look for the best therapies and activities. Extra
  provisions like music therapy, art therapy, yoga,
  meditation, legal support, and mentorships make a
  given facility a great one.
• 6. Affordability Surprisingly, renting a space
  in a sober living home is cheaper than staying in
  most rehab facilities. However, sober living
  homes differ significantly in costs. Some are
  cheaper than others. In the end, whats important
  is that you get a home that you can afford and
  one that guarantees amazing services. You should
  be able to meet the rent and other budget needs
  as you work towards your recovery.
• Generally, you may need these tips to find a
  great sober living home
• Speak to your rehab provider about so as to get a
  reputable recommendation.
• Show diligence when comparing different sober
  living homes that you find.
• Request the chance to tour the sober living home
  before you can pay for admission.

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What You Can Do to Enjoy Sober Living?

• At the end of the day, sober living is a personal
  decision. You have to put efforts to enjoy
  sobriety. The environment of the sober living
  home is just there to ensure that the transition
  process is much easier for you. Overall, you can
  use these tips to enjoy sobriety
• Learn To Relax Its normal to fill stressed
  sometimes but this should not be a reason to
  suffer a relapse. You need to find an easier way
  to relax. It may be sleeping or talking to
  someone.
• Make It A Routine Once you decide to stay sober,
  you have to make it a daily thing. Use the
  lessons from the sober living home every single
  day.
• Stay Committed In the long run, its the
  personal commitment thatll get you through the
  transition. You have to purpose to keep all the
  sobriety plans that you make.
• Be Accountable Its necessary to act responsibly
  once you decide to live a sober life. You have to
  answer to your actions when things take a wrong
  turn.

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• Get Active One way to dispel the thought of
  relapse is finding something active to do. It may
  be music, an art or a sport. It just has to be
  enjoyable. The activity will also help you sleep
  much better.
• Look for a Sponsor You need someone to walk with
  you in your recovery journey. The person should
  be a positive influence in your life.
• Adapt To Change Things can be unpredictable in
  life but they shouldnt deter you from living a
  sober life. You just have to embrace the changes
  and move forward with your life.

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Closing Thought

• Theres no doubt that spending time at a sober
  living facility is a great idea if you are
  looking to adapt fast to an alcohol-free life in
  2019. The secret is finding the best and most
  comfortable sober living home, one that suits
  your recovery needs. This will ensure that you no
  longer have to go find refuge in drugs or alcohol
  when you are out in the real world.

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The End

• Find out more at https//addictionrehabtoronto.c
  a/sober-living-facility/