How to Embrace Sobriety: Exploring Addiction Support in Sober Living
50% of Americans over 12 have used illegal drugs in their lifetime. 21.7% have engaged in binge drinking.
The number of drug-related deaths in 2022 was 108,490. 92% of those deaths were categorized as preventable.
Substance abuse disorder is a treatable disease, but 93.5% of those who have it don't seek help. They may not be ready to face the fact that they have a problem yet. They may not know where to get addiction support.
Transitional living environments, also known as sober living homes, are one of the best options. They're a stepping stone on the way from starting addiction treatment to reintegrating into society.
Read on to learn the types of addiction support that sober living homes can provide.
Substance-Free Environments
It can be difficult to avoid triggers in a modern, party-centric society. Gambit Recovery sober living communities make it possible.
They help you identify and stay away from all your potential triggers. Maybe it's a bar you used to go to or a street you used to walk down. It could even be enablers that used to be in your life.
Sober living replaces those triggers with a healthier lifestyle. It gives you a new, more structured routine. It gives you a sense of control that you didn't have before. This discourages you from falling back into old patterns.
Support Groups
Support groups are a crucial part of sober living recovery services. Gambit Recovery’s Peer-to-peer support in particular is crucial.
It makes you feel less alone in your struggle. Share your successes and failures with each other. It makes overcoming the dark times less daunting. Recognition of the positive ones helps keep you going.
Guidance from a mentor can also be helpful. Find another member you connect with who's had similar experiences to yours. They can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel and guide you through your recovery.
Healthier Habits
Sober living homes aren't a prison that keeps you from everything out in the world. They allow you to try out new hobbies such as:
Sports
Hiking
Volunteering
Painting
DIY projects
They help you find fulfillment and have fun in sobriety. Using your time in more productive ways helps you forget about cravings. It reduces the risk of going back into harmful, less fulfilling ways of life.
You'll also start to develop healthier self-care habits. They'll help you reach into your mind and deal with your emotions. A few options are:
Meditation
Mindfulness
Personal Growth
Sober living recovery services aren't only focused on helping you stop using a substance. Gambit Recovery helps you find out who you are without those substances.
Sober living helps you build character and prepare to become a contributing member of society. That can mean simple things such as learning how to care for a home.
Sobriety gives you a clearer mind. That can help you find out what you're passionate about. You may have a forgotten talent or goals that you've been ignoring.
Your recovery journey gives you a chance to pick them up again. If you don't know where to start, use the available addiction recovery resources. They'll help find the educational or career opportunities you need to achieve your goals.
Healing Broken Relationships
Addiction doesn't just harm one person. It hurts everyone they're connected to.
Sobriety gives you a chance to heal those relationships. Friends and family will start to notice the positive changes you've made in your life. It'll make a difference in your relationship with each other. Rebuilding lost trust will take time, but it's possible with addiction support.
Friends and family can also become an important part of the recovery process. They prevent feelings of isolation that may make you want to relapse. They're also an additional support group you can lean on for encouragement and understanding.
Financial Freedom
Addiction has a major mental and emotional cost. It also has a literal monetary cost. The total economic and non-economic costs of opioid use disorder alone is $871 billion.
Addiction also has a financial impact on the individual from:
The cost of the substances themselves
Legal fees
Medical expenses
Lost work
Sobriety allows you to achieve financial freedom by paying off these debts. Gambit Recovery helps people go back to work with a clear head.
It also gives you time to work on personal and career growth. This increases your earning potential.
Improved Physical and Mental Health
Addiction and poor mental health are so intertwined that they can be difficult to separate. Around 1 in 12 adults who have substance use disorder also have a mental health condition.
Addiction doesn't only affect your mind. It's also linked to many physical ailments. These include:
Liver damage
Heart disease
Respiratory problems
Weakened immune systems
Sobriety gives your body a chance to heal from this damage. Your energy levels and sleep patterns will improve. You may even notice healthier skin and hair or weight loss.
Your mind will follow. You'll think more clearly and have more even moods.
Long-Term Sobriety Support
Long-term sobriety support is essential because of the potential for relapses. Sober living homes are a necessary step on your journey after rehab. They keep you from going right back into the unhealthy environments you were in before.
Any form of addiction support must also involve aftercare. This could look like a counselor or support group to speak to. It could also include continuing help with life skills and employment.
Sobriety is a lifelong journey. That's why sober living facilities help you find lifelong addiction support.
Gambit Recovery Offers Expert Addiction Support
Gambit Recovery Sober living can offer a wide range of addiction support services. They provide safe environments, offer support groups, encourage healthy habits and personal growth, improve physical and mental health, and offer long-term support.
Gambit Recovery is an alternative to traditional sober living facilities. We offer a range of safe, supportive recovery programs. They focus on helping participants reintegrate into society and reduce the risk of relapse.
We offer hope to anyone at any stage in their recovery journey. Contact us to schedule a tour or reserve a bed today.