Sober living homes, also referred to as sober houses or halfway houses, often provide an excellent steppingstone between the restrictions (and supports) found during addiction treatment and transitioning to the home environment after treatment ends. Many treatment centers, both inpatient and outpatient, encourage participants new to sobriety to spend time in a sober living setting before returning home to their family, community, and the possible relapse triggers that remain in those environments. Many who are new to recovery find they struggle during the adjustment period immediately following a treatment program. Our sober living home in Venice, California provides a safe space between treatment where it is possible to practice and reinforce the lessons and habits learned during addiction treatment. In many cases, time spent in a sober living home for men in California may make the difference between maintaining sobriety and relapsing back to old addictive behaviors.
Sober living homes for men are an excellent option for someone who has recently completed addiction treatment but may not yet feel comfortable returning home yet. This could be for various reasons. Perhaps they live alone and lack a strong support system. Maybe they live with family, but the home environment is not conducive to ongoing sobriety. Or maybe they shared their home environment with friends who do not share a dedication to newfound sobriety.
Whatever the reason, it is not uncommon to feel uncomfortable or fearful about leaving treatment and returning to an unsupported or unmonitored environment. Many treatment programs, whether inpatient or outpatient, are heavily structured. For some, leaving this type of environment and openly exposing themselves to triggering people, places or situations can be scary and challenging to their sobriety. A sober living home for men provides a safe environment where you can continue to work on sobriety when the “at-home” environment is not supportive or beneficial to ongoing recovery. Sober living environments do not provide the same level of structure as rehab. However, they offer an intermediary way for you to continue developing and practicing healthy coping skills you can use once you feel comfortable returning home.
Sober living homes for men provide many benefits. Time spent in the sober living community can often be considered supplementary to treatment at an addiction treatment facility. These homes act as a safe alternative to going directly from treatment where there is supportive and immersive care to an unstructured environment without essential supports. Sober living homes replicate typical, everyday situations while striving to instill and reinforce healthy coping habits. This combination of structure and safety helps reduce the chances of relapse for countless recovering addicts each year. While staying in a sober living home for men, residents participate in a number of activities designed to help guide them during the early stages of their recovery. For example, some may locate stable and safe housing to move into after treatment, and others may work to find steady employment.
Another significant benefit of a sober living home for men is that sober living environments allow an opportunity to make amends with family and friends who were impacted by substance abuse while providing a chance to adjust to a newly sober life without the same supports found in the treatment environment. Perhaps the most crucial benefit to the sober living community is relapse prevention. Staying at a sober living home is generally part of a comprehensive, carefully designed aftercare plan created as your addiction treatment program comes to a close.
While at a sober living home in Southern California, a recovering addict is provided the opportunity to identify triggers that may be difficult to manage when they are “on their own” without the support of the treatment community. The structure of the sober living home further reinforces and teaches new healthy coping skills that can be used when faced with triggers. The sober living community also provides emergency contact people and numbers that can be called upon during times of high stress or cravings to use. Developing and further reinforcing your relapse prevention plan will ensure you are better able to manage challenging moments and the inevitable triggers that will arise in your day-to-day life.
The sober living environment is meant to be a safe space for you to continue your journey to recovery from drugs and alcohol. For many, the feelings of comfort and safety are enhanced in a gender-specific setting. It is not uncommon to feel hesitant or concerned about expressing thoughts and emotions (especially related to the opposite sex) when you are in an environment with members of both sexes. In a men’s sober living home in Southern California, you are better able to speak freely and share stories with other men who have experienced similar issues.
The idea that men can benefit from gender-specific rehab is rooted in research. A recent study found that a large majority of men are uncomfortable expressing emotions and have difficulty identifying and understanding their own feelings, especially in mixed groups. On the other hand, women are often more in touch with their emotions and better able to communicate thoughts and feelings. With that in mind, gender-specific treatment in a sober living environment can remove these challenges and promote more effective therapy outcomes. Other studies also indicate men are more likely to disclose their thoughts and feelings more willingly to other men.
For heterosexual men, a men’s sober living environment also removes what is often an unexpected challenge to their recovery-the opposite sex. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends a rule of no romantic involvement among members of a treatment group because these types of relationships can sabotage treatment for both. The environment in a gender-specific sober living home provides the opportunity to learn more about yourself and how to establish healthy relationships outside of substances without distraction. It is often suggested that those new to sobriety avoid beginning a new sexual relationship for several months after detoxing to prevent issues related to codependency, often associated with addiction. Although there is often debate around the effectiveness of this advice, it is certainly easier to accomplish in a gender-specific environment.
Finally, trauma is often a precursor to addiction. Although we often hear about violence and abuse where women are the victim, men also struggle with victimization in many forms. In a gender-specific setting, it is possible to talk about the fears and challenges that arise from trauma. In an environment where both genders are present, the open nature of communication is often hindered as either gender may feel fear and anxiety about expressing such personal and overwhelming emotions in the presence of the other. In a sober living home for men, you can share your experiences with others who have experienced similar difficulties and together learn and practice healthier and safer ways to cope with symptoms without alcohol or drugs.
If you have recently completed addiction treatment or your current therapeutic program is ending, it is time to talk to your treatment team about what aftercare will (and should) look like for you. What each person needs as they walk the path of sobriety is different, as is the level of support necessary to continue working on relapse prevention skills. If you are concerned about transitioning from a supportive treatment environment to the home setting or are worried about being “on your own” post-treatment, you should consider stepping down to a sober living home. The intermediary option that a sober living home for men provides is one that is often of significant benefit to those in recovery. Generally, stays in a sober living home usually last around ninety days but can be arranged for longer if needed or wanted. At a sober living home for men, you will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing therapy and vital peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Many sober living homes also provide options for family support groups.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of sober living homes for men in Venice, California, contact us at Living Now Sober Living and Recovery Services. If you are preparing for discharge from a California addiction treatment program, talk to your provider about how a stay in a sober living home for men can provide vital peer support in a safe and healthy setting designed to help you continue moving towards long-term recovery.
Community-Focused
Peer support groups, daily check-ins, and weekly outings allow our residents to build a true community of men seeking recovery.
Family-Integrated
Our weekly family check-in, safe location, and case management services allow families to heal together from addiction.
Sustainable Recovery Happens Here.