Why Are There So Many Rules in Sober Living Houses?

Keeping up with the rules in sober living homes is not always an easy task. It can be easy to fall into the assumption that the facility is attempting to take over your life and that the rules are not necessarily applicable to you.

Despite any misconceptions you may have regarding the rules in place, they are set for a reason and are meant to keep you on the pathway to success.

Overcoming the Rules

When you begin a sober living program at Real Recovery Sober Living, you will receive a handbook of rules. The list of rules is approximately seven pages long, and each resident is expected to abide by them.

Reviewing these rules can cause feelings of anxiety and fear towards the program, turning people away from the opportunity. While the rules can seem overwhelming, if you move past this initial fear, you will realize why each one is important.

Understanding the reasoning behind the rules can help you to overcome them. Each rule has been set for a reason and is there to help you succeed in your recovery journey.

It is normal for you to not want to feel controlled, and It can be hard to adjust to a set of rules. The rules are in place to provide you with structure and to provide more freedom than residential treatment.

Common Rules of Sober Living Programs

As you look at the rules of other programs, you will find that the policies of Real Recovery are not much different. Understanding the rules in place can help you know what to expect in a sober living program.

Many programs require that you are sober upon admission, often requiring you to pass a drug test. Real Recovery Sober Living does not accept individuals who have previous charges of arson or a sex crime.

While not every facility may have the same admission regulations, they are in place to ensure that all residents are surrounded by safe individuals.

Sobriety Maintenance

Every sober living program will expect you to maintain sobriety. Oftentimes, there will be randomized drug tests to ensure substances are not being used. Some places also have room checks, checking that the housing is being cared for and there are no substances present within the home.

Financial Responsibility

Most sober living homes require you to be able to pay your rent and admissions costs. Some require you to be attending school or to have a job.

Having financial responsibility is important in a sober living home, as you are expected to pay rent, just as you would at any other housing unit. Managing finances is often a struggle for individuals who are just leaving treatment, but it is a necessary skill to adapt and utilize when transitioning to independent living.

Curfew

Many recovery homes have a curfew in place to ensure the residents are not staying out all night. Regularly getting to bed late can alter your sleep schedule and promote the chances of mental instability or relapse.

Staying out late often increases the opportunities to go to social gatherings and be surrounded by substances. Early in recovery, you should avoid situations that place you at risk of engaging in substance use.

Meetings

Many programs will require you to engage in meetings or therapeutic sessions. These are catered to help you overcome your current obstacles and continue to gain coping and life skills while you are living in the home.

Each program has a different focus and approach to treatment. Therefore, the required meeting may vary between facilities.

Respect Each Other

Within any sober living home, residents are expected to respect each other and treat each other with kindness. As each individual is working to achieve a similar goal, the communities within sober living homes should be focused on supporting each other. Everyone needs a share of kindness through their recovery journey.

Reasoning Behind the Rules

While there are many rules in place at sober living homes, there is a reasoning behind all of them. Understanding the logic behind the rules can help you accept and appreciate the guidelines that are in place rather than being frustrated with the restrictions.

In general, rules are placed to protect you, other residents, the staff, and the property. We want to ensure our property is well kept to provide each resident with a clean and comfortable living environment.

You should feel that the facility is your home. This means providing adequate and comfortable living conditions for all residents. All of our staff members are paid employees with a great deal of experience in the field of addiction recovery. As staff is constantly available for assistance, we want to ensure that they are provided with a safe work environment as well.

As sober living homes are a program you are paying for, you want to receive all the benefits provided. These rules help ensure that all residents contribute to maintaining this environment for the well-being of the community.

Maintain Sobriety

The number one rule of sober living homes is that you are required to maintain sobriety. This rule is in place to help achieve the goals of everyone in the community, including you.

By ensuring the community is substance-free, you will not be approached with opportunities for relapse within your living environment. This rule can also help you hold yourself accountable for your sobriety.

To help influence the maintenance of sobriety for the residents, Real Recovery Sober Living requires you to attend weekly 12-Step meetings and participate in group activities to help you gain skills focused on your recovery.

The staff at Real Recovery strongly believes the 12-Step method can help you succeed in recovery. No matter where you are in the steps, attending these meetings can promote your success.

As these meetings are included with your cost of residence, we hope you will take full advantage of them.

Financial Stability

You may feel that the monthly costs of Real Recovery Sober Living are high. However, it is actually very affordable for the resources you are receiving. We will provide you with a safe, clean, and structured home environment as well as 12-Step meetings. All residents must have a job and be building a life for themselves.

Paying your rental costs is a way to prove you are maintaining financial responsibility and keeping a job. However, if you are struggling to find a job or keep up with the payments that are expected, please reach out. Real Recovery is happy to assist you in locating opportunities and is willing to work with you if you continue communication.

As long you are actively trying, Real Recovery Sober Living is here to support you. Checking to see if you are eligible for any government resources and receiving assistance looking for a job in your area can help to ease your concerns.

Maintain Appropriate Relationships

You are encouraged to maintain healthy relationships that contribute to your sobriety success. Because of this, regulations are enforced regarding overnight guests and nights spent outside of the home.

Curfews are in place to ensure that you are maintaining your physical health and keeping your sleep schedule on track. Residents are required to treat each other with respect and help to influence each other’s recovery success.

Everyone should feel safe and comfortable in the home; therefore, respect is an essential aspect of the sober living environment. The individuals you surround yourself with can make a large difference in your success in the future. If you are surrounded by a group that desires to break the rules and lacks care for their recovery, you will be influenced to do the same.

Therefore, the rules at Real Recovery Sober Living are strictly enforced about the people that join the community. Each individual is expected to contribute to the success of the community as a whole.

How These Rules Benefit Your Sobriety

Ultimately, each rule is to help keep you safe and on track to your recovery success. These rules can help you to hold yourself accountable for sobriety maintenance.

You can ease out of treatment and into the real world through a slow reduction in rules that are set. If you leave treatment and immediately have full freedom, it can be easy to let loose and encounter a relapse.

The rules allow you to slowly adjust to your newfound independent life. A gradual decline from a rigid set of rules to independent living eases the stress and worry associated with the transition.

Sober living homes are also a great place to create new connections and build a support network outside of treatment. By having these rules in place, you can find other residents who understand your situation and are abiding by these rules as well. They can be of great support to you whenever you encounter any hardships at this stage. You may even create long-lasting friendships.

These rules also help to build a framework for a sober lifestyle. Practicing this structure and routine while in a safe space allows habits to form that promote a successful recovery.

Upon leaving treatment, newfound freedom and choices can seem overwhelming. You may not yet be prepared to make long-term decisions until some time has passed. With regular responsibilities, but with the support of others in recovery, you can get a perfect life balance in this transitionary phase. Without rules in place, creating this safe and structured environment would be impossible.

It can be challenging to accept the rules of any sober living program. Many individuals seeking sober living have just left treatment and are looking for stability but with more freedom. The rules of sober living are set in place for a reason and can help you transition from a set of strict rules to independent living. Being given full freedom of choice immediately after leaving treatment often leads individuals to make rash decisions, potentially leading them to relapse. Use these rules to help hold yourself accountable and stay on the path to success in your recovery journey. Each rule is set to help keep you and the rest of your recovery home safe and to promote success in long-term recovery. To learn more about the rules of sober living homes and why they are in place, reach out to Real Recovery Sober Living at (727) 290-9156.