When you’re addicted to a substance, you can develop a physical dependence. This means you can deal with painful withdrawal symptoms when you quit. Cravings can continue for weeks, months, or even years after your last use, which is why recovery is a lifelong journey. Sober living is an important step in the recovery process and understanding how to make the most of sober living can make it easier to overcome addiction.
When you struggle with alcoholism, addiction, or a substance abuse disorder, it takes time to fully recover. Addiction can destroy your life and can lead to a series of increasingly negative consequences. Since addiction causes you to prioritize your drug and alcohol use over everything else in your life. It can lead to broken relationships, legal problems, and significant financial debt. During addiction, you begin to build a tolerance to your substance of choice, which means you have to constantly increase your use in order to feel the same pleasurable effects.
Addiction and Recovery
Addiction doesn’t discriminate, meaning that anyone, regardless of age, race, religion, or background, can develop a substance abuse disorder. Because addiction has no known cause, it is difficult to recover from without help. The only way to avoid addiction is to refrain from using psychoactive substances. Addiction is a mental health disease that causes major changes to your brain chemistry, meaning that addiction isn’t a choice or an indication of weak willpower.
When your brain becomes dependent on your substance of choice, it associates everything that reminds you of your substance of choice with pleasure. This association causes you to combat intense cravings whenever you’re exposed to triggers, which can include everything from people to specific emotions.
Many substances can also cause physical dependence, which results in painful withdrawal symptoms if you immediately stop using it. The intensity of withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult to quit. Severe addictions can cause you to use your substance of choice simply to avoid withdrawal symptoms, meaning that you no longer experience intoxication or pleasure when you use it.
Recovery requires learning how to cope with triggers, cravings, and emotions without the use of drugs and alcohol. During addiction, your substance of choice becomes your preferred coping mechanism. Recovery focuses on helping you identify triggers and barriers to your sobriety so you can learn how to manage your symptoms.
How to Make the Most of Sober Living
Besides inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, sober living is another way you can support your recovery. Learning how to make the most of sober living is essential in order to maximize your recovery chances. Our residences don’t just provide alcohol and drug-free residence, either. Sober living programs can offer on-site treatment and access to recovery support groups.
Some tips on how to make the most of sober living include:
- Actively participating in sober living programs
- Befriending other residents
- Following the rules at your residence
- Attending AA, NA, and/or SMART Recovery meetings
Understanding how to make the most of sober living can ensure that you take advantage of all available supports during your recovery. Sober living houses can help you manage your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Learning how to make the most of sober living can also help your career. Sober living programs can help you find employment and explore educational opportunities.
Connecting With a Sober Living Program Today
When you are recovering from an addiction, learning how to make the most of sober living is essential to achieving your recovery goals. This program provides you with a safe and stable place to begin your new life of sobriety and abstinence. To find out more about how to make the most of sober living, or to explore your sober living options, call us today at 844.287.8506.
