There are three critical components of recovery that people often discuss. This is especially true in early recovery. These components are admission, acceptance, and action. We must admit that we have a problem. Then we must accept that we have a problem. Finally, we must take action to rectify that problem. However, there is one crucial component that is often overlooked, and that is accountability. This is true in both early and ongoing recovery. One way of ensuring this accountability happens is by taking advantage of recovery residences.
The Importance of Accountability in Recovery
There is a chapter in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (most well-known as the “Big Book”) titled “Working With Others.” This chapter talks about the vital importance that connecting with other people in recovery has for long-term success. The chapter states that “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail.”
This is actually one of the two primary tenets that the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, first created. That is, give one’s life over to a “Higher Power” and work with another person struggling with addiction. If these two actions happen with rigorous honesty, then the chances of recovery rise exponentially.
One of the main reasons for this is that working with others creates accountability. These friends and peers in recovery are going to ensure that we “stay on the beam,” as they say, which simply means staying close to a set recovery program. Ensuring that other people are accountable is critical too. Because when we are focused on keeping others accountable, we can’t help but be accountable too. We are doing “the next right thing” by helping others, and “the next right thing” is what keeps us too recovered. It is a paradox. But, it is a paradox that works.
What Exactly Are Recovery Residences?
One of the best ways to remain accountable in recovery is to maintain close contact with those with the shared experience of both active addiction and recovery. There is no better place to do this than in recovery residences.
Recovery residences (also commonly referred to as sober living facilities) are excellent and effective safe spaces for people to reside while in early recovery. Generally, these recovery residences are for people transitioning from inpatient programs, but there are also recovery residences that are available for people while they are still in the early more intensive phases of treatment.
Recovery residences are ideal for individuals in early recovery because it offers an excellent transitional phase between treatment and heading back out into everyday life, which can be challenging. These recovery residences allow individuals to stay close to their recovery program while also staying hyper-vigilant on their accountability to themselves and others.
Understanding Transitional Recovery
The transitional aspect of a recovery journey can be very important for those of us that need to keep a constant and clear roadmap in order to progress in our recovery. While not everyone’s recovery journey is going to be linear, committing to a transitional program of recovery can help get as close to that straight and narrow path as possible.
Transitional recovery often follows this path. It starts with a detox program, followed by an intensive inpatient program, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a general outpatient program which includes residential recovery residences.
Now, of course, this is a very broad roadmap. For example, some people may not need detox and may even start their journey in an outpatient program. Also, as previously mentioned, recovery residences can be utilized much earlier in the transitional recovery process, not just in a general outpatient program. There is no right or wrong way to start recovery as long as it is individualized and advised by professionals.
The Benefits of Recovery Residences
Now, there are more benefits to recovery residences than just maintaining a program of accountability. The following are just a few of the special benefits that can come from living in recovery residences:
- Maintaining close contact with the same doctors and recovery professionals from the treatment center
- Working with recovery coaches and counselors that can help out when times feel rough, answer any recovery questions, and report any issues directly to their doctors
- Living in a safe space without any worry of being exposed to alcohol or other substances
- Allows the family to continue their healing process while the individual slowly integrates back into the home
Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery
The recovery residences here at Lantana Recovery are ideal living spaces for anyone that wants to ease their transition back into their day-to-day lives. They are safe spaces that ensure safety and accountability.
Our client’s recovery is paramount at Lantana Recovery. Because we know that, as it says in the Big Book, “This is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it.” We’re here to make sure that you don’t.
At Lantana Recovery, we have multiple recovery residences to help maintain a like-minded community setting where individuals help encourage one another’s positive evolution in their recovery. This connection to “shared experience” is often pivotal. These living environments are made to help one’s recovery, but they also have set expectations and responsibilities for each individual. Doing so fosters accountability within each individual and the group itself. If you feel like you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and needs professional help, you are not alone. Our primary purpose is to help others achieve long-term recovery. For more information on recovery residences and how they foster accountability, reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
