5 Benefits of Living in a North Carolina Sober Home

Medically Verified: 2/1/24

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All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Addiction is a severe problem in the United States, with over 21 million people suffering from a substance use disorder. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 1 in 5 people struggling with addiction do not know where to seek help.

If you or a loved one are dealing with substance abuse issues, the best way to recover is to receive help from a drug and alcohol rehab program. However, you must remember that recovery does not end when you complete addiction treatment. Frequently, the transition from rehab to independent living is challenging, causing people to relapse.

To prevent yourself from experiencing a relapse, you should consider attending a sober living housing program. Sober living homes are structured environments where individuals recovering from substance abuse live. These programs provide you with the tools, support, and resources necessary to maintain long-term sobriety while teaching you how to live independently in recovery.

Five benefits of living in a North Carolina sober home are:

1. Continued Support and Structure

One of the most difficult aspects of remaining sober after drug rehab is the loss of support and structure. During treatment, your days were scheduled and full of productive activities, like therapy, counseling, and meditation. Once you leave treatment, you are expected to create routines like this on your own.

Navigating sobriety on your own can be incredibly difficult, especially if you spent most of your life without structure before going to rehab. Thankfully, sober homes in North Carolina can provide you with the support and structure you need to maintain your sobriety. Even further, these programs will teach you how to create structured routines for yourself.

During sober living, you will have rules set by the house manager that you must follow. The house rules may include daily chores, mandatory attendance of recovery support meetings, random drug testing, and adhering to a curfew. Regarding support, the housing staff is trained to provide ongoing support by running group therapy sessions in the home.

2. Learning Life Skills in a Sober Home

When you were actively suffering from addiction, likely, you did not learn certain life skills that you need to support yourself. Poor life skills are incredibly common among people who began abusing drugs at a young age. Thankfully, sober living homes reinforce these life skills by requiring you to complete them daily or weekly depending on the task.

Some life skills you can learn during sober living in North Carolina include:

• How to do laundry
• Going grocery shopping
• Acquiring and holding a job
• Adhering to a daily routine
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining your hygiene
• Eating a balanced diet
• Developing interpersonal skills

3. North Carolina Sober Homes Make for an Easier Transition

When you are in a drug and alcohol rehab facility, you are protected from outside triggers. For example, you do not have to deal with stress from work, there are no drugs or alcohol around you, and you are separated from any toxic family or friends.

Once you complete treatment, you will have to transition back into your everyday life, which puts you on the path of a myriad of new triggers. Because of this, the transition from treatment to independent living often leads to relapse. Fortunately, sober living homes in North Carolina can provide you with the support and tools you need to learn how to avoid and manage triggers without resorting to substance abuse.

4. Sober Living Reduces Risk of Relapse

Early in your recovery from addiction, there are two periods of time when you are at the highest risk of relapse: during detox and after completing treatment. During detox, the withdrawal symptoms can lead you to begin craving substances, leading to relapse without proper treatment. After you finish drug and alcohol rehab, your risk of relapse increases because you are transitioning into independent living without structure or support.

Staying in a sober home in North Carolina can provide you with the structure and support you need to maintain sobriety and learn how to live independently without relapsing. During sober living, you will be exposed to the triggers associated with everyday life, however, you will be surrounded by people who know how to support you from their own past experiences.

5. Opportunity to Create Meaningful Relationships

Many people believe that connection is the opposite of addiction. In other words, having meaningful connections with others is a vital aspect of maintaining long-term sobriety. When you are living in a sober home, you will be surrounded by other men or women who have experienced similar traumas and hardships as you.

Your peers in sober living can become lifelong friends of yours over time, providing you with meaningful connections. In other words, sober living homes can allow you to create a community of support with friends who have mutual interests and goals.

Get Connected With a Top-Rated Sober Living Home in North Carolina

If you or a loved one are currently nearing the end of a drug and alcohol rehab program, you should consider attending a sober home in North Carolina. Sober living programs can provide you with structure, and support, teach you new life skills, and help you create meaningful relationships with others. When you combine these benefits, sober living programs reduce your risk of relapse substantially.

No matter where you are in your recovery journey, our team at Carolina Center for Recovery is here to help. Call today to speak with a qualified admissions specialist about your treatment and sober living options in North Carolina.