So, you are newly sober and find yourself living in a halfway house. Let me be the first to offer you my congratulations on this massive triumph. It takes a lot of courage to admit that we are powerless over drugs and alcohol, sex, eating, gambling, etc. By now, you are probably just getting out of, or about to be leaving treatment, and you might have mixed feelings about re-entering the “real world.” Don’t be alarmed, hundreds of thousands of people before you have been where you are now and have made it through. Here are some helpful tips to remember during your transition from treatment to a halfway house, and beyond.
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Every Halfway House is Different
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First of all, depending on where you live, every halfway house will be ran a little bit differently and will be expecting different requirements from you. However, be aware that a good halfway will hold you to a high standard of living. For example,
- Getting a sponsor and working your 12 steps
- Getting a job
- Keeping the house clean
- Curfew requirements
- Random Urine Analysis or breathalyzer tests. -Attending IOP or OP during the week
- Attend meetings in the fellowship of your choice (AA, NA, CA, SA, etc.)
- A weekly check in or house meeting
Any halfway house that meets these requirements will definitely put you on the right track to starting out your healthy and stable sober life. I know, I know, it can feel like a whole lot of rules, but let’s be honest, being home by 10 pm is a whole lot better than whatever else we had been doing the last few years. Besides, these simple expectations will provide you with an extremely solid foundation for your departure from halfway when you are ready to move on.
Adjusting to a Halfway House
Many people have a hard time adjusting to living in a halfway house with a bunch of other alcoholics and addicts, and obviously, there’s probably going to be some conflict. Here are some tips on how to deal with roommates and other people new to recovery:
- First of all, the people in halfway (at least where I lived) don’t always have the same mindset as you do. Not everyone is entirely ready to start a sober life, so be cautious of who you befriend in your house. I found it very helpful to be chummy with my roommates, but have sober supports that I really reach out to and emanate in my sober life.
- Let’s be realistic, in a houseful of addicts and alcoholics, chances are things might get stolen sometimes. And as much as this sucks, you have to remember that things are just THINGS. They can take your peanut butter or your shoes, but they can never take your clean conscious from you. Just keep doing the right thing and you’ll NEVER have to be in halfway again if you stick to your program.
- When living in a house full of other people, it’s okay if not everyone gets along, because chances are, they won’t. There are going to be people that just rub each other the wrong way, but a key to feeling comfortable at home is to not try to let it get to you. YOU are in control over your emotions, and you are the only person that chooses to engage in any situations. Try to rise above the BS, and again, stick to the next right thing.
The area in which I chose to get sober is one of the top two sober communities in the world. It is a mecca for recovery, which is awesome when you’re looking for sober supports and fun stuff to do, but on the other hand, there is a lot of room for “shadyness” to occur.
Halfway Houses, Insurance & Scammers
Since treatment and halfway houses are often paid for by insurance, there are a lot of scammers out there who are just trying to make a quick buck. So be aware when you are looking for a halfway house, there are usually some indicators that the house is legitimate, primarily, if they enforce all of the requirements listed above, as well as permitting only one gender in the house. For example, houses where couples are allowed to live there together are usually not considered quality halfway houses. The most important requirement for a solid halfway is that they have a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use. Any place that allows their clients to get high should obviously be shied away from.
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(877) 633-0053
Freedom From Addiction
If you have found yourself suffering in addiction, you are not alone! If you are ready to change your life and live free of addiction, then FindAddictionRehabs.com can help. We give you the jump start to recovery as well as teach relapse prevention including learning healthy outlets in sobriety . Our program is unique in that it doesn’t just treat the addiction, it treats the whole person. For more information on our program, call 1-(877) 633-0053 today.
Charles F. has been an active part of the Florida recovery community for over 5 years. He began as a behavioral health technician at an addiction treatment facility in Ocala, Florida and has since begun training as a Licensed Addiction and Chemical Dependency counselor in Boca Raton. Charles’ passion involves the promotion of recovery and helping spread the hope of recovery to as many readers as possible!
