Sober Living in Bowie, MD

There are many different treatment options available to you if you are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. However, even those people that are struggling with substance abuse issues and addictions, do not know about all of these various options. This can prevent them from getting all of the help and care that they need to recover from their addiction which can leave them stuck in the throes of substance abuse and attempted recovery. One of the options that you should know a bit more about is sober living housing. Get to know some of the facts about sober living communities in general and your options for sober living in Bowie so you can be sure that you make the right decisions in your treatment and addiction recovery process.

What Is Sober Living?

If you are looking into your options for addiction treatment in Bowie, one of the questions on your mind might be asking is what sober living actually is. After all, most people know about rehab, at least in general terms, but very few have any idea of what sober living housing and sober living communities entail. The concept behind sober living in Bowie is known as SMART Recovery. SMART recovery stands for self-management and recovery training and essentially has to do with the idea that an individual recovering from an addiction needs to essentially be in charge of their own recovery in that they need to take responsibility for their actions and for pushing forward in their sobriety.

When a person is in an addiction treatment program that is based on SMART Recovery, they are allowed to become self-empowered and self-actualized in the process, oftentimes for the first time in their lives pre- or post-addiction. In sober living housing, a person will go through four basic steps of addiction treatment and recovery. The first is to find and maintain an individual's motivation for recovery. This is often unique to each person as everyone has different reasons for wanting to turn their life around and different goals for their future.

Once a person has established their own reasons for wanting to overcome their addiction, they will need to begin to learn how to cope with their cravings and urges. It can be very easy to get sucked back into old habits and patterns if a recovering addict is not careful about developing coping strategies, avoidance strategies (i.e. avoiding temptations and negative situations), and learning what their triggers are. SMART Recovery continues with a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy and recovery that helps a person to learn to better control and understand their own beliefs, thoughts and feelings, and behavioral patterns so they can avoid substance abuse in the future. And finally, the fourth and final step in the SMART Recovery process is living a life that is healthy and balanced.

So, when it comes to sober living communities, individuals are given a fair amount of autonomy to make their own decisions in the recovery process. They need to be motivated to take positive steps themselves if they are going to succeed in recovery. Additionally, they are given the support and guidance they need to do that in an environment that allows them to begin to develop that balanced lifestyle.

How Long Would I Have to Stay in a Sober Living House?

Many people thinking about going into sober living in Bowie also wonder how long they will need to stay in the sober living housing. Most people tend to stay in sober living between 60 and 90 days. Of course, some people do not stay as long (the shortest timeframe is usually around 30 days) and others choose to stay longer (120 days or more). Your recovery and progress will partially determine how long you stay in sober living communities as well as your level of comfort getting back to complete freedom and autonomy.

Residing in a Sober Living House -- What Would I Expect?

Residing in sober living communities can have many advantages and benefits. Firstly, you do have the freedom to come and go from the house. There are certain hours that you are expected to be in the house (i.e. a curfew) but you can still go to work, have family come visit you and go on approved outings. When you are staying in sober living housing, you will be in close quarters with other people trying to overcome their addiction struggles as well. Because of this, you will form strong relationships and bonds with some or all of the people around you. The shared experience of recovery is a powerful force and you will likely feel closer with your housemates than you have with anyone for a long time. These relationships and bonds can last well beyond the stay in the sober living house.

Are There Rules in a Sober Living House?

There are certain rules that apply when you go through sober living in Bowie. The aforementioned curfew and free hours are among those rules. You will also have house meetings and therapy sessions that you are required to attend as a part of your program, but these are informal and generally just a way to check in with all of the residents about any struggles or successes they want to share. The other main rule of sober living is the sharing of household chores. Everybody living in the house is expected to keep their own space clean and to contribute to the household in the way of chores like taking out the trash, vacuuming, and doing the dishes. Chores are rotated between household residents to make the experience as balanced and fair as possible. Call Bowie Alcohol Treatment Centers. (877) 804-1531.