If you are finishing your recovery, you might need continued support while you return to your everyday life and your home. That support can come in the form of a sober companion. A sober companion can fill many roles with flexible support but is there to help you day or night during your early stages of recovery.
What is a Sober Companion?
A sober companion might be a volunteer or someone you pay for full-time services.
You can choose between short-term companions and long-term companions.
Short-Term Sober Companions
Short-term companions are typically hired after you have completed your rehab program, and they are there for a short amount of time. For example:
Mary finished an inpatient program and has now returned to her daily life. She participates in weekly support groups and has a sponsor, but last week, she lost her father to cancer very unexpectedly.
Not only was this a challenge for her because of losing her father but because their last few years together were full of fights and a strain on the relationship because of her addiction; her father had also been through recovery for addiction and was trying to help her, but she pushed him away.
During this stressful life change, Mary is at a high risk of relapse. To help her avoid this and stay on the right track, she might hire a sober companion to live with her or spend the day with her regularly and for the span of a few weeks or months as she processes the grief of losing her father.
Long-Term Sober Companions
Long-term sober companions are typically hired to live with you for several weeks or months, not because of a single event that puts you at risk of relapse but rather because you have finished recovery and need additional support for the first few months.
For example:
Tyler just finished a 60-day inpatient program, but he has had a history of outpatient programs and relapses in the past. This time, he wants all the support he can get to stay on the right path, so he hires a sober companion to live with him for the first 6 months after treatment, helping him create a sustainable routine and develop a sober lifestyle.
In Tyler’s case, he is not at risk of relapse because of a stressful life change, but his history of relapse would indicate that he needs additional support after treatment.
How a Sober Companion Helps
After you have completed inpatient drug rehab, a sober companion can help you not just maintain sobriety while you return to your regular life but also help you establish routines, participate in meetings, and establish new goals in life.
Establish Daily Routines
A sober companion helps you create a healthy routine. When you have a companion who lives with you full time or who comes to your house every day, they are there to keep you accountable to a good routine that includes things like:
- Regular exercise
- Sleep hygiene
- Meditation
- Group meetings
- Health meals
- Journaling
The right type of routine will go a long way toward ensuring you have the support you need to stay occupied, avoid feelings of isolation or loneliness, and create healthy habits that support sobriety.
Participate in Meetings
Tangentially, participation in regular support group meetings or group therapy sessions is vital to long-term sobriety. It can be difficult to keep yourself accountable and attend meetings, especially if you are struggling with feelings of depression or high levels of stress.
A sober companion will ensure that you go to your meetings or that you participate in virtual sessions if nothing else is available. They usually attend with you so you are not alone.
Establish New Goals
Good recovery plans revolve around new goals, not just a routine for the sake of a routine but a routine for the sake of building a foundation for things like:
- A new career
- Additional education
- New housing
- New relationships
When you have a sober companion who is with you full-time, you have someone who can help you figure out what you might need for your professional or personal goals. For example:
Martin was a pilot, but his license was suspended when he tested positive for opioids. He attended rehab as a requirement to get his license back. However, his sober companion is there to help him figure out what additional paperwork is required to get his license reinstated and to be with him during his probationary time frame after his initial reinstatement.
A sober companion might also help you identify where your next steps are and what type of education or certifications you need to reach them.
Other Support
A sober companion can offer other support, such as socialization and safe sober activities. For many people who have a history of addiction, finding sober activities to occupy their time, let alone socializing with others, can be a challenge, but having a sober companion means you at least have one other person with whom you can go on hikes with or take an art class with.
Additionally, they are there to help you:
- Regulate emotions
- Identify personal triggers
- Use coping mechanisms
- Build self-esteem
Depending on your circumstances, you might have other forms of support when and where you need them.
Getting Sober Support with Sequoia Recovery
At Sequoia Recovery, we work hard to provide all levels of care including aftercare services and sober living services. If you are working through an inpatient or outpatient program at our facility but you want additional support when you leave, we can help connect you to a sober companion to serve whatever role you need from establishing a routine to attending your group meetings.
Reach out to our admission staff today to get help with your addiction.
