Sober Living Los Angeles

Individuals who suffer from substance use disorder frequently develop other mental health conditions as well. Many people turn to addictive substances in the first place as a way of soothing the symptoms of their mental illness. This type of self-medication is ultimately likely to exacerbate the symptoms of mental illness. Addiction and its destructive consequences both increase the likelihood that a person will develop major depression, anxiety disorder, and other mental health problems. Design for Recovery believes that for residents with comorbid conditions, recovering from addiction alone is rarely effective. We work with physicians and psychiatrists to ensure that our residents obtain relief from all of their mental health conditions. For many residents in early sobriety, getting a diagnosis and treatment for a mood disorder can be one of the most profound gifts of sobriety. It also makes the process of addressing their substance use disorder far less arduous. Learn more here.

Addiction not only damages a person’s mental health, it inflicts serious damage on a person’s wallet. Young men who have substance use disorders tend to spend money recklessly. They may spend beyond their means in an effort to obtain drugs and alcohol. The disinhibitory effects of alcohol and drugs can also cause people to go on spending sprees during drug-fueled binges. Addiction and impulsivity go hand in hand. Developing a strong program of sobriety involves learning to handle money responsibly. During their time at Design for Recovery, residents work to learn new skills, including how to set and follow a budget. As residents earn and save money, we also work with them on developing investment tools so that their resources can continue to grow. Not only does handling money wisely improve the chances of a prosperous sober life, it teaches an essential mindset for sobriety: long term goals are more important than short term pleasures. Learn more here.

It is our philosophy at Design for Recovery that addiction recovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum. As a disorder that inherently affects a person’s ability to make decisions, addiction cannot be tackled through sheer individual willpower alone. With that in mind, we ensure that all residents have access to one-on-one mentoring. Through the power of relationships, young men who are new to sobriety can take advantage of others’ experience, strength and hope. For many, connecting with others who have suffered from similar challenges is deeply fulfilling. Addiction is often experienced as a lonely condition, and meeting others who not only suffered from the same condition but managed to overcome it can be a revelatory experience. One-on-one mentoring is an opportunity for residents to connect, learn important skills, receive peer support, and restructure their lives. Not only does individualized attention help people achieve sobriety, it puts them in the ideal position to someday help another. Learn more here.

Addiction doesn’t only affect the individual abusing drugs and alcohol. Close friends, loved ones, and family members feel the impact just as much. At Design for Recovery, we also understand that substance use disorders often stem from interpersonal issues or a history of addiction in the family. For that reason, it is essential to help the whole family, not just one individual suffering from addiction. By examining the context of an individual’s life, including close ties with family members, we can get to the heart of what causes a person to abuse drugs and alcohol.

During a resident’s time at Design for Recovery, they not only work to improve their own lives, but to fix relationships with family members. Healing turbulent relationships or resolving feelings of alienation is an important part of the recovery process. Having a strong support system in place is highly correlated with successful addiction recovery. However, it is just as important for family members. When a person is lost in active addiction, loved ones often feel that they have lost someone. Getting sober is about recovering not just oneself, but these essential relationships. Learn more here.

During active addiction, young men deal with a wide variety of hardships; some of the most difficult and life-altering of these include employment problems. Addiction can cause young men to struggle to meet performance standards at work, get demoted, or even lose their jobs. When addiction reaches a certain point, it can be all but impossible to get another job, and many young men languish for years in unemployment. Living paycheck-to-paycheck or having no source of income can make it difficult to access essential resources. Many turn to their families for support. Others turn to crime. Each passing year can make it more difficult to enter the workplace, given the highly competitive and experience-dependent nature of most careers.

At Design for Recovery, we understand that addiction recovery is about far more than just getting young men off of drugs. We work with each resident to get them taking steps toward a career of their choosing. We help residents get placed in preliminary jobs during their residency at our Mar Vista sober living home. While learning on the job skills, residents develop the physical and mental fortitude necessary for long-term sobriety. They may also find themselves again dreaming of careers. By helping residents go back to school, get internships, or get placed in entry-level positions, Design for Recovery allows residents to make headway toward careers that they might have dismissed at one point as all-but-impossible. Learn more here.