Living sober matters, but it can be a struggle if you don’t have the right resources and support. If you’ve ever searched for “halfway house near me” and come up empty, you know it can be a bad feeling. Where are you supposed to get the help you need once you leave the detox or drug treatment facility? If you live in the Chicago area, you have options. Stairway to Freedom offers Recovery Homes in that area, so you can have a safe and structured environment to start rebuilding your life. By the time you go to drug treatment or alcohol detox, a lot of damage may have already been done to your life, and fixing that takes time.

Choosing a Halfway House

In some areas there may not be too many options for halfway houses, but why should you choose one in the first place? These houses are excellent choices for anyone who has left a detox or treatment center and isn’t quite ready for independent living just yet. After drug or alcohol treatment, many people struggle to find jobs and secure safe and comfortable housing because of their past mistakes. They may have damaged their credit and finances, along with their relationships with the people closest to them. A halfway house can give them the chance to get back on track, so they can work and live independently again.

Following the Rules Matters

Halfway houses are very strict, with a deep commitment to living sober. When you search for “halfway house near me” and decide living there is right for you, remember that rules will have to be followed. There is no allowance for drugs or alcohol in these locations, and most Chicago halfway houses have rules about curfews and visitors, as well. Anyone who lives there is expected to pitch in and help, and is also expected to take steps toward moving their life forward in a positive direction. If you aren’t ready to do those things and can’t commit to the importance of them, a halfway house may not be the right choice for you.

Independent Living is on the Horizon

When you live at a Chicago halfway house, you have the opportunity to start rebuilding your life. Take that opportunity and focus on it, because it’s a very important way for you to get a second chance. Even if you feel you’ve made too many mistakes or you can never get things turned around, there are always options and choices to be made. Finding a job and saving money is part of that, along with the potential to rebuild relationships with friends and family members who may have backed away during your struggle with drugs or alcohol. A job and better relationships can help lead to independent living once again.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

No matter what kind of situation you find yourself in, help is available. Once you go through drug treatment or are released from a detox facility, a halfway house can be exactly the help you need. It gives you a transition period between the facility you were in and an independent living situation, which gives you a way to rebuild without needing to do everything all at once. It can also keep you from having to sleep on the street if you don’t yet have the means to rent a place or you don’t have a job that pays enough to live independently. Getting to the point where you do have those things is what a halfway house is about.

Sober living is a journey, and how you get there is up to you. But with a halfway house to go to you know you have a safe place to sleep. It also gives you a sense of home and community, and others who understand where you’ve been and what you’re going through. That sense of belonging can go a very long way toward helping you build an independent life once again.

If you made a New Year’s Resolution that you were going to get sober, and it’s May and you haven’t done it yet, don’t give up. It’s never too late to make a change, and begin a sober lifestyle. It doesn’t matter what day of the year, week, or month it is, or how long you’ve been saying you’re going to change and haven’t. It doesn’t matter whether you feel like you’ve wasted your chance to get sober this year, because you haven’t. You always have a choice, and you can choose, today, to begin a sober life. When you do that, and you get sober, then it’s time for you to find a new path in life, and rebuild what you may have lost in the past.

Sober Living Options in Chicago

After you get treatment you may not be sure where to go or what you’re going to do next. Fortunately, when it comes to sober living in Chicago, there are many places you can go. That means you’ll be in good company, and around others who have been through similar struggles and succeeded at winning their battles, too. You can get a lot of support and encouragement from people like that, especially when it comes to halfway houses and other locations where recovering addicts move from treatment programs and struggle to a better life and a fresh start. You can be one of those people who moves on and lives a good, sober, happy life.

Housing is Important During and After Recovery

If you’re involved in a program that offers in-patient treatment you’ll have somewhere to stay, while outpatient programs can sometimes be more difficult. But the housing after treatment is also vital. In some cases it can be hard to find a place when you’re coming from treatment and on the road to recovery. But you do have options for sober living. Chicago is a great city full of opportunities, and when you can stay in a good halfway house with other people who also want to succeed and be healthy and sober, you can make friends, find new options for employment, and move into a happier life that’s free of past addictions.

It’s About the Support, As Well

While housing is very important, it’s not the only thing you need. Having support services matters, too. You will want and need ongoing support to help reduce your chances of relapse. That support can also help you avoid issues with employment and other concerns, and may help you find ways to earn income, volunteer to help others, or do other rewarding projects that will keep you busy and help you feel fulfilled. Having something to do each day that matters to you is one of the best ways to keep your mind on the present and the future, instead of focusing too much on the past.

Don’t Forget the Joy in Helping Others

When you work with support services and stay in transitional housing such as a halfway house, plenty of options arise for you to help other people who are in your same situation or who are just trying to find their footing after going through treatment. When you can help people who need it most, you’ll find that your life is generally more rewarding. That’s a great way to focus your efforts on sober living, and understand how much value you have to the world. There are talents and gifts that only you can give, and by offering those to others you bring more joy to their lives and to yours.

The road to recovery can often feel like a long and lonely one. You may have alienated yourself from friends and loved ones. Or perhaps, you find it’s difficult to be around them now that you’ve chosen sobriety. Not only that, you’ve been forced to cut ties with people who might have encouraged your addiction or who are encouraging it now. Who’s left?

Making new friends is already a sometimes challenging venture, but even more so when you can’t just be friends with the same people you once easily took to, or who took to you. Beginning, or rekindling, a healthy social life is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself on the journey to sobriety. And the good news is that, while bars are a common place for friends to meet, there are options well beyond these places. Read on to find some useful tips for addiction recovery:

1. Recovery Groups

One of the best sources of support you’ll find on your journey is being with others who are also recovering from alcohol addiction. They’ve been where you are, or maybe they are where you are right now. They’re likely seeking the same thing you are – social activities that don’t require you to spend your evenings trying to avoid drinking situations. Having a common goal is a big reason people stick together, so seek these groups out because you can at least count on the fact that you’ve got common goals.

2. Try a New Hobby

Think of something that’s always interested you, that you never had time for before because you were, well, doing other things. Have you wanted to give knitting or crocheting a go? What about breaking out the brushes and easel to take up painting? Maybe you’ve finally mustered up the courage to try horseback riding, scuba diving, or mushroom foraging. Look into clubs and organizations in your area that cater to these hobbies. If you can’t find a club, then start one yourself. Whatever you new hobby is, the focus will be more on the hobby itself, which will keep your mind and body engaged in positive ways.

3. Become More Active

Consider starting or overhauling your current fitness regimen. If solo activities aren’t your thing, find club sports in your community. There tend to be organized sports happening all year long. There are team sports like basketball, soccer and flag football. If you like a nice mix of solo and social, try cycling, running, or walking groups. Getting more exercise will increase your endorphins, and thus make you feel better on a regular basis. If you haven’t been active, it will be a bonus if you’re able to tone up or shed extra weight in the process.

4. Religious Groups

Church might never have been your cup of tea before, and it doesn’t have to be now. Keep in mind, however, that many religious groups—from small groups and classes at a church, to volunteer opportunities—are specifically designed to bring people together and encourage relationships. As an added bonus, many of these groups have policies prohibiting alcohol, so you won’t have to be stressed out about the possibility of it showing up.

5. Reach Out to Long-Lost and Former Friends

It may be awkward at first to reach out to people who knew you before you became an alcoholic, or even more so to those who you damaged your relationship with during your addiction. Reaching out to them now, however, is a great way to start rebuilding those friendships. In many cases, they might not know how and when to reach out to you. You can even invite them to join you for new activities, or morning gatherings for coffee or tea. Start off slow. Depending on the nature of your relationship and the reasons you lost touch, you might need to ease into it so both parties are comfortable.

Early in your journey to sobriety, you may find that it’s difficult to find social activities that you don’t associate with drinking. Game nights with friends, concerts, and sporting events were all drinking opportunities in the past, right? Over time, however, you’ll rebuild your social circle, change your associations, and discover that there’s a whole new world awaiting you.

If you need help on your journey to sobriety or want to learn more about how to make better choices, contact us today to learn how we can help.

Whether you’re newly sober or have managed to stay that way for months, there are times when the urge to drink will sneak in. Knowing how to hold those urges at bay is one of the keys to sobriety. If you’re struggling with wanting a drink, some of these mantras will help remind you of how far you’ve come and encourage you to stick to your goals and resolutions.

When you want a drink, try telling yourself some of these things.

1. “Look at everything you’ve gained by choosing not to drink.”

Look around you. Even if it seems as though everything is falling apart, chances are, there are a lot of things you’ve gained by breaking the hold alcohol has on your life. List those benefits to yourself either in your head or out loud. You’re physically healthier; you’re improving relationships in your life; you feel more in control of your choices; you’ve got a great job. You don’t want to throw any of that away!

2. “This will pass.”

Sure, there’s a reason you want to drink. You’ll always be able to find a reason: a really bad day, a frustrating conversation with a friend or family member, a burning need for “just one drink.” When the urge hits hard, keep reminding yourself that it will pass. In another hour, another day, you’ll be glad that you didn’t give in to it.

3. “These are the reasons I’ve stopped drinking.”

You didn’t choose to walk away from that lifestyle just because you could. You have deeply felt reasons why you’ve chosen sobriety. Keeping those reasons close to you can make it easier to make the right choice when the urge to drink hits hard. Consider, for example, putting a laminated list in your wallet or carrying it in your pocket.

4. “It’s not just about me.”

There are people who care about you and who will be impacted by your decision to drink. It’s not just your future that you’re putting on the line; it’s theirs, too. Try carrying pictures of your loved ones with that list of reasons you stopped drinking to help you remember them when it gets hard to say no.

5. “Remember when…”

Chances are, there have been some memorable moments over the course of your drinking career. Most of the time, you push those memories out of mind and do your best to forget about them, and some of them you may never fully remember. When you’re fighting the urge to drink, however, it’s a great time to call up some of those memories and remember what it was like when you were drinking regularly. Those memories alone can be a great reminder of all the reasons you quit!

6. “I will regret this decision tomorrow.”

Sure, it would feel good to have a drink right now. You might even feel great in the moment. Tomorrow, however, you’re going to have some serious regrets—and it’s not just about the hangover. Try to step back from how you’re feeling right now and make a decision that will carry you through to tomorrow.

7. “Stop!”

Sometimes, the difference between taking a drink and walking away is changing your thought patterns. Visual imagery can help: a giant stop sign thrown in your path, a loved one standing in your way, or whatever it takes to change your mental trajectory and send you down a better path.

8. “I’m not helpless.”

It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling that, if addiction has its claws in you, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. That couldn’t be further from the truth! You have the power to make the right decision and retain all the good changes in your life that have come as a result of your sobriety.

They wouldn’t call it alcoholism if it were as easy as deciding to give it up and never having another craving. Thankfully, you’re not alone in your journey. If you’re looking for more tools to help you with a lifetime of sober living, contact us today to learn how we can help.