The structure of a sober house is much more suited to the recovering addicts than returning to the community right after getting out of the strict inpatient treatment of a rehab. Experts at soberlivingct.com help the addicts in a lot of ways by providing them group support, sober coaching, companionship, career counselling and meditation etc. Residents are encouraged to adopt new hobbies and engage in various activities that can help them divert their mind, keep any negative thoughts away and learn new and useful skills.
Following are some of the activities Sober House residents can indulge in to keep themselves occupied:
1. Try Different Forms Of Meditation
Meditation is really helpful while recovering from addiction as it helps calm the mind down and keep the bad vibes away. Residents of a sober house can try out different forms of meditation like progressive-muscle relaxation or mantra meditation. It can help them manage post-rehab anxiety and stress and provide pain relief.
2. Practice Arts
Residents of a sober house can pick up new hobbies like painting, singing, sculpting, and writing etc. If they are skillful in it they can take it up as a career once they’re ready to live in the community outside the sober house. Art is a great way to heal and manage stress and depression. It can be therapeutic for people recovering from addiction.
3. Volunteer At A Charity
Giving back to the community has its own way of satisfying the heart and bringing peace to the mind. Since the residents of a sober house are allowed to go outside, they can volunteer at a charity near them. This will give them a sense of validation and help them do something for others and learn selflessness. It can also help them build new skills and amplify existing knowledge.
4. Attend Support Group Meetings
Sober Houses hold various support group meetings for recovering addicts relevant to their addiction. Connecting to people going through the same struggles as them can help them find support and validation and help them build relationships which can help them reconnect with their relatives and friends once they go back to live in the community. Hearing about others struggles can reflect on what challenges a person might have to face post recovery and help prepare mentally for them.
5. Attend Counselling Sessions
Not everyone in a sober house comes straight from rehab. Some people are even sent from prisons or hospitals etc. Recovery from substance abuse has to start from somewhere for people who have not been sober for a long time.
These people can attend individual counselling sessions. Sober houses provide career counseling, teach life and parenting skills, basic life skills, professional counselling, and coaching. A person can learn alot by regular counselling and prepare for a successful life after they leave the sober house.
6. Get A Part-time Job
Since people in a sober house are allowed to go outside they can get a part time job to support themselves. If someone has not had a job in a long time due to their addiction, getting a part time job is a really good head-start. It will also help them build workplace relationships and skills which are really important once they are set to go live in the community and interact with their friends and family. Getting a job also builds a sense of responsibility in addicts and diverts their mind, builds confidence and the motivation to stay sober.
There are many other activities that a person can do at a sober house like starting a book club, chores around the house, gardening or sports. Participating in different activities is really helpful in building up skills, confidence and relationships for the residents.
