If you or a loved one has made the hard choice to go to inpatient rehab and are looking for sober companions, congratulations! This is the first and most important step in setting up a recovery plan. You’ve put a lot of hard work into getting yourself or a loved one clean, but the work does not end there. Going to rehab is a microcosm of the recovery world. For the most part, your day is scheduled and you are told where to eat, sleep and recover. With release back into the real world, freedom can be overwhelming and sometimes unsettling for a recovering addict. This fear is a normal reaction and should not be feared. However, there are certain things you can do to help prevent a relapse. Over 70-80% of addicts will relapse within 90 days of inpatient rehab, and a sober companion/escort can greatly increase the chances of recovery.

What are Sober Companions?

A sober companion is a person you can depend on to walk you through demanding situations or social occasions. Often they are someone who has been there, and who has a proven track record of beating the odds.

Someone who has overcome addiction themselves can identify completely with what you are going through and keep you on track towards your goals.

A sober companion can follow you anywhere and everywhere. The fear of adjusting to life outside of an institution can be frightening for some. Many recovering addicts choose to use a sober companion during their first few months out of rehab for this reason. It doesn’t matter if you are from Jersey or Philadelphia. It doesn’t matter if you are from Georgia or Connecticut. Addiction is a disease that does not care where you are from. Sober companions can escort you to and from outpatient facilities, AA meetings, work and school, and so on. On the way to a 12-step meeting, you may feel unnerved and have urges to drink or use drugs. This risk can be mitigated by having a sober companion. Being honest with your companion can be the final piece of the puzzle. You can hire a sober companion to be there full-time or part-time. It depends on the amount of help you need.

Do You Need One?

Sober companions can be called on when you just need someone to talk to. Loneliness or boredom can often drive someone to return to addiction.

Knowing there is someone who understands, and particularly someone who has been through what you are going through or worked with people who have, can help find answers to issues you might be having.

This decision is only one that you can make. It also depends on what the professionals on your team think. From a psychologist to a physician or other sober professional, following their recommendations is usually the best bet. If you are returning to a living situation where a person is still abusing drugs or alcohol, Sober companions may be necessary to help curb cravings or moments of weakness. No matter how strong you feel when you leave rehab, it only takes one slip-up to send yourself tumbling back into the depths of addiction.

Expectations

Good sober companions knows how to keep you sober. Generally speaking, they’re recovering addicts as well and have been in your shoes. Sober companions are often compared to 12-step sponsors and they have many similarities. A great sober companion can help remove drugs and alcohol from your living situation, monitor and keep watch over your behaviors and whom you associate with and encourage healthy habits that you learned in inpatient treatment. Recovery is about a lot more than just detox. Finding out what your triggers are, if you have a dual-diagnosis, and staying sober and happy are just a couple checkpoints that you should go through. Whatever you choose to do, we wish you the best of luck. We offer a one-stop recovery solution and proudly serve the following areas: Philadelphia, South Jersey, Richmond, Atlanta, Greenwich, and the Greater Washington, DC/Baltimore region. Contact us today if you need help with any aspect of your recovery process.