7 Signs You Should Go to a Halfway House after Rehab

Completing a drug and alcohol treatment program is a great accomplishment for anyone who has struggled with substance abuse or addiction. It takes commitment and determination to enroll into a rehab facility, to face the issues with drugs and alcohol head on, and to apply yourself to gaining everything you can from that process. Now that you are leaving rehab, the next step toward maintaining an attitude of commitment and determination is moving into a halfway house. Now this is not always the only way to continue on a journey through sobriety, however once you have admitted to the problem and laid the foundation for recovery it can be a huge part of keeping consistent by moving to a sober living facility. Sometimes people are just not prepared to be back home without being held accountable for some time. Here are 7 signs you should go to a halfway house after rehab.

1. You are over-confident leaving treatment…

Some people complete drug and alcohol treatment and automatically assume that they have somehow unlocked the key to sobriety and will never need another moment of support or education. If you are leaving rehab and you feel you have a fix on the recovery game, you should definitely consider living in a halfway house for a period of time. You will find that rushing into the real world believing you are unstoppable is greatly under-estimating the disease of addiction.

2. You have no sober supports at home…

Home may be where the heart is, but if home is also a place full of people who drink or use drugs (with or without impunity) it is not a great place to hurry back to after leaving drug and alcohol treatment. Family and friends can be a huge support system, and sometimes are typically considerate of your process. However some people do not understand addiction and recovery, and they may expose you to substance abuse or other tempting behaviors.

3. You are afraid to leave treatment…

Going to a halfway house is typically a great idea for people who become comfortable in treatment and then become afraid to leave the safety of that sanctuary. People who feel safer in an established environment where they are held accountable and the population is monitored should definitely go to a halfway house where there are certain rules in place to provide a more controlled transition period while still giving new freedom.

4. You have a history of relapse…

Anyone with a history of relapse should not be in a rush to get back home. Rehab is a great place to detox from drugs and learn how to develop better coping strategies, but it does not guarantee that the individual does not run the risk of another relapse. Going to a halfway house may put someone who cannot seem to maintain in a position to build on their recovery further before being faced with so many possibilities. And they will make friends who will hold them accountable as sober individuals.

5. You need to find support groups…

If you are leaving drug and alcohol treatment, but still do not know much about the different fellowships and support groups available to you in the local recovery community, you should get into a halfway house where there are other people in recovery who are building their support groups. This way you can devise a meeting list and insert yourself actively in the recovery community. Halfway houses also offer ways to contribute to helping those new to sobriety.

6. You need some humility…

If you think you are too good to go to a halfway house, you probably need to go to one. Anyone who completes treatment and gains a sense of entitlement from the process of detoxing and finishing their time in rehab should take the opportunity to remind themselves early on of the severity of their situation. Living with others or living under the rules and restrictions of some halfway houses can be very humbling for people who are used to running everything.

7. You need a fresh financial start…

Money is often something that is an issue when someone is getting out of rehab. Either they were losing or lost it all before they came to treatment, or they have some worries about getting back to work once they complete their program. Moving to a halfway house creates a stable atmosphere where you can begin to cultivate your financial well-being from scratch if need be. Some halfway houses even accept insurance to help ease you back into the workforce.

Recovery from substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction can be an intense process, but does not have to be a difficult one. There are so many experienced individuals in the field of substance abuse treatment as well as housing for sober living that can make the journey into sobriety one filled with respect, with lasting and life-saving meaning. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135