In the same way, your setting plays a crucial role throughout the recovery process. If you’re trying to live a sober life, it’s important to have a safe, healthy, and sober living environment to come home to. Here’s what you need to know about creating a healthy home environment, where you can focus on your recovery and avoid relapse.

How Environment Affects Your Recovery

If you’ve ever attended a 12-step meeting, you’ve likely heard a thing or two about people, places, and things — that is, your environment. Especially in the early stages of recovery, 12-step programs implore participants to change those environmental factors, and stay away from potential triggers, including social events. Keep in mind that bars and various social settings aren’t the only places that can trigger addictive tendencies, however. If you’re stressed out at home, school, or work and unable to find a suitable outlet, for instance, your risk of relapse is likely to increase.

Conversely, by surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, you may find that the recovery process is a little less challenging. Fill your free time with positive, recovery-based activities, like support groups, and consider joining a gym or rec center if you still have idle moments. By swapping out unhealthy behaviors for positive habits like regular exercise, you may find that you hardly think about drugs or alcohol at all.

What’s more, regular exercise can help you manage chronic stress and anxiety, and even improve your resiliency. The recovery process isn’t exactly a walk in the park, and being resilient is crucial for addicts looking to put their using days behind them. Interestingly, your resiliency may hinge on whether or not you have a safe space to call home. For people in every stage of the recovery process, you can create a healthy home environment in a variety of places.

Housing Choices for Addiction Recovery

Sober living housing options come in many forms, from inpatient treatment facilities to halfway houses and even your childhood bedroom. When searching for temporary or permanent housing during recovery, start by making a plan that takes your personal needs into account. For instance, what does a sober living space look like to you? Do you need regular support from friends and family, or a structured environment where you’re held accountable?

Many recovering addicts have found long-term success in so-called sober living houses (SLHs), and there’s research to back it up. Put simply, SLHs are drug- and alcohol-free living facilities wherein participants are responsible for paying their own rent and maintaining sobriety. SLHs may be independently run or affiliated with notable recovery housing models, such as Oxford House. First established in 1975, the Oxford House model is utilized in more than 2000 SLHs across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

While SLHs are an indispensable stepping stone for many, they’re far from the only option when it comes to recovery housing. If you have a supportive family, you may find success close to home. Living with family as you work through the recovery process can be a cost-effective, familiar option with plenty of structure and routine.

Creating Your Personal Recovery Sanctuary

Choosing the best housing option for your recovery needs is just the beginning, however, in terms of cultivating a healthy environment. Whether you’re living in an SLH with others or reimagining your childhood bedroom, it’s important to make your space your own. For instance, are there particular colors, scents, and/or decor styles that make you feel safe and comfortable?

You should also consider giving your possessions an overhaul at this time. Get rid of any things that remind you of your substance abuse, or that are associated with addiction in any way. You can then take the process a step further by responsibly decluttering your space, which can give you a much-needed fresh start. As you embrace your sober life, consider donating or recycling the clothing, books, and household items from your unhealthy past. It may seem simple, but helping others and the environment can give you a mental health boost and aid in your recovery.

That’s because a cluttered physical environment can actually disrupt your decision-making skills and inhibit the thinking process. And for recovering addicts, disrupted thoughts can be dangerous, leading you ever closer to relapse.

Key Takeaways

Your home should be your sanctuary, and it’s up to you to create a healthy environment that’s conducive to recovery. Determine the type of home environment that makes you feel safe and comfortable, and then make it happen.

Many addicts feel they have the ability to self-medicate from home and end their addiction by themselves. This is quite dangerous and is highly not recommended. In some cases, it could even be fatal, particularly for alcoholics.

The reason for this is because withdrawals can be quite severe physically and they need to be supervised by a medical professional who can monitor the withdrawal symptoms and treat them accordingly.

Unlike detoxing from an unhealthy diet, drug and alcohol detox is different. Studies have also shown that recovering and detoxing at a center is highly effective.

This article tells you ten questions you should always ask to ensure you choose the best drug rehab.

1. What kind of accreditation or licensing do they have?

Top tier treatment facilities will have accreditation from a national program, such as The Joint Commission, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, or the All-States.

Some will also have state licensing for accreditation. These standards vary widely from state to state.

2. How long is the program?

Most rehab facilities offer either 30-day, 60-day or 90-day inpatient treatment options. Some offer outpatient services.

Research has shown that addiction treatments are more successful long term if the patient stays for more than 30 days.

3. Is there any research that demonstrates the program’s effectiveness?

National accreditation programs usually offer credentials to facilities that have researched the effectiveness of their treatment options.

Quality treatment centers should be measuring the effectiveness of their services, or providing treatment based on other research results.

4. Is there an individualized treatment program?

Each person and their addiction are unique. To optimize your chances of recovery, you should seek an individualized treatment program that takes into account your history, needs, and issues.

Some patients, for example, will require dual diagnosis with addiction and a mental illness. You need to know how equipped the facility is to handle these issues.

5. What are their recovery services?

Some treatment centers like to offer alternative and supplemental activities as part of the treatment process.

These can include sports and hobbies such as art therapy or yoga, as well as therapeutic massage, meditation, or acupuncture. Some will also have a nutrition and fitness program as well.

6. Is medical detoxification offered?

Many drug addicts will need the help of a medical professional to undergo detoxification. Some withdrawal symptoms require medical supervision.

Ask if the facility offers detoxification as part of their treatment process, or if it must be done at a nearby hospital.

7. How is the facility environment?

The setting can be a big factor in recovery, so it’s important to find a facility with a comfortable environment. Some drug rehab centers look a lot like a hospital ward while others try to give off a vacation/resort feel.

Choose the rehab center that best suits your needs.

8. Do they provide support after leaving treatment?

The first few months after release from rehab are when patients are the most vulnerable. That’s why it’s important to find a facility that offers aftercare to reduce the chances of relapse.

Many rehab centers will provide a period of group or individual counseling after treatment. If you live far away, they can also arrange counseling at a health facility near you.

9. What support is available for families?

Addiction affects families as much as it affects the individual addict.

Top tier treatment facilities have support in place to help families understand the healing process, and offer family counseling. Family support is an important factor in building a successful recovery process long-term.

10. Do they take insurance?

Treatment is necessary, but can be very expensive. For many, whether or not a treatment facility takes their insurance will be the ultimate deciding factor.

Try to find a treatment facility that is willing to help you navigate insurance and payment options to offer clarity of the real underlying cost.

Choosing a drug rehab is one of the most important parts of addiction treatment. Alpine Recovery Lodge in Utah strongly suggests that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask the facility hard questions to ensure it’s the right fit for you or your loved one. 

As Financial Director and co-owner of Alpine Recovery Lodge, Amy is very involved in the finances and marketing operations. A graduate of Nevada State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Amy also took Masters level math, finance and economics classes at UCSD. She is committed to the business end of daily operations and strives to use her knowledge of business processes to encourage the continued growth of Alpine Recovery Lodge. She works with insurance companies to get the most possible coverage available for the residents.