Recovery and sober living can be highly stressful since you are fresh in the recovery process and still have a lot of kinks to work out. Your outlook on life may be positive, but you are still not steady on your sober feet. That is why many people seek shelter in a sober living facility before fully transitioning to the outside world. This gives them the space they need to adjust to life after leaving an inpatient drug rehab center with a higher level of support than they may receive in their home environment.
At Westwind Recovery®, we realize that not everyone has the ideal living situation for recovery. We want you to have the best chance of lasting sobriety, so we encourage you to consider residential sober living after completing inpatient treatment. If you need help finding suitable sober living environments in Los Angeles, California, call us at 855.340.8832 for guidance.
What Is Residential Sober Living?
Sober living environments are homes that provide more freedom and real-world experiences than a residential treatment facility. To help support your recovery, they also provide more structure and restrictions than you have at home. By beginning your recovery journey with a wide-open ticket to freedom, you may find yourself on a slippery slope. However, by choosing residential sober living, you will be provided with everything you need to succeed and gain strength for lasting recovery. To get the most out of sober living, look for sober living environments with the following characteristics.
Location Is Key: What to Keep in Mind When Looking for Sober Living Environments in Los Angeles
First and foremost, logic will tell you that you want to ensure the sober living home is not located in an area of temptation, such as those areas that are known for having drug issues. Entering recovery will already place a great deal of pressure on you, so removing this temptation factor is a great idea. A few things to keep in mind regarding location:
- Choose a sober living home located outside of areas you used to frequent.
- Choose a sober facility in a healthy environment. Being near bars, pubs, liquor stores, clubs, etc., often means an increased risk of relapse.
Drugs and alcohol are everywhere; therefore, changing your location will not necessarily keep you sober. However, placing some distance between you and your triggers can help strengthen your recovery.
Residential Sober Living Should Include Rules
Every reputable sober living facility will have a set of rules, which may vary from place to place, but the idea behind them is the same. They will help you to move into recovery step by step. Rather than having the freedom to do as you please and rely on yourself to be strong enough to stay sober, the rules allow you bits of freedom as you grow. In addition, these rules are there to provide you with accountability, responsibility, teamwork skills, coping skills, and daily living skills.
A few of the most common house rules include:
- Curfews – You will have a lights-out time and, likely, a wake-up.
- Employment and education – You will be required to seek one or the other.
- Cleaning – You will be responsible for certain chores to maintain the home, including meal prep.
- Internet and phone – These may be restricted to certain lengths of time and during certain hours.
- Therapy – Group sessions are very common and are usually mandatory.
- Goal setting – You will likely create a personal plan for yourself and steps to achieve these goals.
The rules are designed to keep you safe and focused and, most often, lead to consequences for those who choose not to follow them.
Sober Living Environments Should Provide Safety and Drama-Free Living
Sober living homes help maintain a good rapport throughout the facility, and finding one that makes this a priority can make the home safe. When you place people in recovery in a house together, each with a different background but moving toward a common goal, you are bound to encounter drama. The idea is to create a safe and peaceful space that strives to provide a wholesome environment and works through any issues between residents in a healthy, productive, and positive manner.
Residential Sober Living Should Have Recovery Professionals Available Around the Clock
A safe, sober home has on-site professionals always at the ready. Various issues and situations can arise at the drop of a dime, and your recovery is fragile. You chose not to go home and try your hand at sobriety alone, so why would you want to do it alone in a sober home? Having guidance from a professional when needed is a massive benefit to a safe place. Recovery professionals in a sober facility offer tremendous support:
- As your sober support system and team, they provide a sense of security and knowledge that other systems in your life cannot.
- When faced with temptation early in recovery, these professionals help reinforce the tools you gained through inpatient treatment.
- As you reintegrate back into society as a sober individual, the struggles you face are not understood by everyone. Knowing you have an experienced person to turn to in your time of need is comforting and may help you take bigger steps outside your comfort zone.
- These professionals help enforce the rules so that you can get the most out of your sober living experience in the safest manner possible.
- They can train you in the daily living skills that you may be missing and assist in seeking employment or applying for entrance into an educational setting.
Never underestimate the need for those who oversee sober homes. Let these individuals safely guide you to getting back on your feet while maintaining sobriety.
Westwind Recovery®: Top Sober Living in Los Angeles, California
When you need a facility to support your new sober lifestyle, you can rely on Westwind Recovery®. We emphasize a holistic approach to recovery, which extends to our sober living environments. You can find the lasting sobriety you desire when you put your trust in our reputable facility. Call us today at 855.340.8832 to get started on your path to lifelong recovery.
Dr. Deena is the Chief Clinical Officer of Westwind Recovery®, an award-winning outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles where she oversees the clinical and administrative program and treatment methods. Dr. Deena is a doctor of psychology and licensed clinical social worker since 1993. LCSW #20628. Originally from the East Coast, Dr. Deena has worked running treatment centers, worked as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals as well as school settings and currently has a thriving private practice in the LA area. Dr. Deena has appeared regularly on the Dr. Phil Show as an expert since 2003. She has also been featured on many other TV shows, podcasts and has contributed to written publications as well as podcasts.
