When someone realizes they need help for addiction, they often don’t know where to start. About half of all who deal with addiction also have at least one diagnosable mental health condition. The person may have considered a sober living house for their addiction but not realized that sober living for mental health is also available. Addressing both addiction and mental illness under one roof helps people make major progress in both areas.
What Is Sober Living For Mental Health?
When someone hears “sober living”, they often think it’s just for people learning to overcome addiction to drugs and alcohol. As a matter of fact, many homes also function as sober living for mental health. Residents of the house all work towards staying sober. Additionally, many also have at least one diagnosable mental illness. For this reason, the homes provide access for everyone to effective help for their mental health.
Most sober living homes have a house manager or other staff that oversees the running of the home. Each person living there is expected to stay sober and focused on their goals. Many homes require residents to attend at least one form of treatment, such as therapy or a support group. These options may take place within the home or off-site. Additionally, homes have rules that each person must follow. This may include things like drug or BAC testing to ensure everyone remains sober. They may also have to adhere to a curfew and participate in household chores.
What Does Sober Living for Mental Health Treat?
Mental illness can come in many different forms. Sober living for mental health homes typically treat all or most of the following:
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Mood disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
- Trauma-based illnesses
In some cases, treatment allows people to reduce their mental health symptoms. This can include things like experiencing less anxiety or fewer feelings of depression. People can learn to predict triggers for something like a panic attack and know how to stop many of them from the beginning. As well, someone who deals with a trauma-based illness can find ways to reduce or even put a stop to things like flashbacks.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Sober Living for Mental Health?
Anyone who needs help for mental health and may also be in recovery from addiction can do well in a sober living for mental health home. If a person has not been in treatment before, this type of plan can be a great fit for them. They may be coming straight from detox or from another residential program.
Alternatively, a person may have previously completed addiction treatment but needs help with their mental health. They often find that a sober living home helps them focus on their mental health needs while still receiving any needed help with sobriety.
An assessment is performed on potential candidates for a sober living home. Their physical and mental health will be taken into consideration. Together, they can help the individual make a decision about if proceeding with sober living is right for them.
Benefits of Sober Living for Mental Health
Several benefits come from spending time in a sober living mental health home. Since so many residents deal with at least one mental health concern, they can bond with each other over their experiences. Living with people who not only share a goal of staying sober but also learning to manage their mental health helps everyone. They can offer each other support, ideas, and cheerleading.
Learning to manage a person’s mental health takes time. Being in a sober living in Atlanta provides a lengthy time frame for each person to learn new skills. Doing so makes it easier to put them into practice when they return home. Going back to their homes can be challenging in some ways. When the person has a new skill set for dealing with symptoms of things like depression or anxiety, they are more likely to thrive.
People stay in sober living homes for different amounts of time. For some, just a month will help a great deal. For others, staying for several months provides the most benefits. Each person works with their treatment professionals to determine how long their stay should be. Additionally, they can decide on any aftercare programs to set up for their return home. These can include things like individual therapy, group therapy, or support groups.
Last of all, treating both mental health and addiction at the same time saves money. Why go to two different treatment programs and spend extra time in sessions when both issues can be addressed at the same time?
Sober Living for Mental Health in Atlanta
Dealing with mental illness on a daily basis takes a major toll on your life. Sometimes you just want to get away from the daily grind and go somewhere to begin to heal. Creekside’s sober living for mental health program can provide you with that haven. Our residents receive the best of both worlds. We provide access to outpatient rehab treatment for mental health conditions. As a result, you leave our house knowing how to manage mental illness symptoms and enjoy a life of sobriety. Contact Creekside Recovery Residences today and get started on your new life.
