The Benefits of Sober Living in Hamilton Township, NJ

Your journey from addiction to sobriety is one needing constant self-care and an unwavering commitment to staying sober. Though successful completion of rehab treatment programs is a huge milestone and a new chapter in your life, transitioning back into everyday life with a newly sober mindset can present challenges that may seem daunting.  

The supportive structure found in your inpatient or intensive outpatient program may not be readily present, and the shift back into the world, with all manner of stressors, triggers, and responsibilities typically navigable, may overwhelm those still developing the coping skills needed to maintain their long-term sobriety.  

Here, sober living homes are an effective bridge between rehab and living on your own again, free from addiction. So, how do sober living communities work? Let’s examine how sober living in Hamilton Township, NJ, can ultimately support your recovery.  

What Is Sober Living?   

Sober living is commonly called recovery housing, a recovery home, or independent living, a monitored living environment for people in recovery from drugs or alcohol. You can live in a recovery home while you’re attending addiction treatment centers, and some people choose to stay even after finishing treatment in a New Jersey rehab center. 

Recovery homes are safe spaces where you’ll find a network of supportive sober living communities committed to the same goal of sobriety and recovering from substance abuse disorders. In many cases, sober living in Hamilton Township, NJ, is considered a part of addiction aftercare in New Jersey, where you can continue practicing the skills you learned in treatment while gradually reintegrating into society.  

Unlike inpatient rehab facilities, a sober living home provides a great deal more freedom and fewer restrictions, allowing residents to go to work, attend school, and socialize, but with the promise that you’ll steer clear of substance use.  

Many of Footprints to Recovery’s recovery home alumni report that residing in a sober living home was a lot of fun, much like living in a college dorm, a place to live, among others equally passionate about recovery and getting sober. 

What Is Sober Living Like? 

Sober living homes are a communal living arrangement, so you and your neighbors stay focused on recovery — and keep each other accountable — while gradually adjusting to the demands of everyday life. Residents are in recovery and live alongside each other, sharing responsibilities around the home and supporting each other in their sobriety.  

Many recovery homes also cater to different demographics and populations, such as LBGTQ+, pregnant women or new mothers, older adults, working professionals, and those in the early stages of recovery. 

Generally, at a sober home in New Jersey, there are house rules everyone needs to follow. These can include: 

• Maintaining abstinence from all mood-altering substances
• Paying your expenses and rent
• Participating in any mandatory household activities, like chores
• Complying with all drug and alcohol tests
• Adhering to any curfew and overnight rules
• Having a plan to maintain recovery through meetings, therapy sessions, and relapse prevention plans 

A Typical Day in Sober Living  

Every day in sober living is about healthy daily routines with a full schedule of activities meant to maintain a sense of discipline, purpose, personal growth, and sobriety, but most importantly, to manage stress and minimize the types of anxieties in day-to-day life that might lead to using drugs and alcohol again. 

A sober living home client’s day may often start with a morning routine that may include exercise, meditation, attending a recovery meeting such as a one-to-one session with a therapist, or a recovery session such as regularly attending your 12-step meetings.  

During the day, residents may continue to work, attend school, or, depending on their schedule, continue their outpatient therapy at an outpatient treatment center in New Jersey. 

Evenings are a time for residents to convene for house meetings. Here, the group can talk about their progress, challenges, and goals. Residences also plan and assign upcoming chores and household tasks. This is a time to break bread literally and figuratively. Together, they can bond with peers in recovery, reinforce healthy eating and lifestyle habits, and get proper rest with a “lights out” by a specific time. 

When Does Someone Need Sober Living? 

Unlike a halfway house, sober living is an entirely voluntary choice. It’s recommended if you’ve completed treatment at a New Jersey rehab center but might feel unsure or apprehensive about returning home.  

Use your intuition. Ask yourself some critical questions: 

• Will you be in a situation that might trigger a relapse? Studies show that the relapse rate for substance abuse is between 40 to 60%.
• Are your existing relationships unhealthy and a bad influence on your newfound sobriety?
• Is there a lack of immediate support, or just a sense that you might need to take baby steps before returning to the world? 

Remember, getting sober is not about going cold turkey. Think of sober living in a similar light. If re-entering the world straight from rehab seems too abrupt, a sober living community might just be the temporary stop you need to gradually build up your confidence and continue your recovery journey in a safer, more supportive setting. 

Can Sober Living Help Me Stay Sober?

A study from the National Institutes of Health highlights the virtues of sober living homes. The survey discusses the need for more sober housing options, saying, “many individuals attempting to abstain from alcohol and drugs do not have access to appropriate housing that supports sustained recovery,” while shining a light on the benefits these sober living arrangements provide. In fact, of the 300 individuals living in recovery homes, the study found marked improvements in alcohol and drug use, arrests, psychiatric symptoms, and employment.