Texas Sober Living

Texas, located in the South Central region of the United States, is the second-largest state in the country after Alaska. In terms of population, it is also the second-largest after only California. This unique state, known for its unique culture, economy, and geologic features, is famous around the globe. While often associated with southwestern deserts in many people’s minds, Texas actually consists mostly of grasslands, prairies, forests, and coastlines. It is also littered with enormous metropolitan areas, including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. Texas shares a border with multiple US states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, as well as the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Chihuahua.

Today, Texas’ economy is highly diversified. It is home to more than 54 Fortune 500 companies. Thriving industries in Texas include agriculture, tourism, petrochemicals, aerospace, biomedical sciences, energy, and computer electronics. In fact, the Texas economy is thriving to such an extent that if it were a nation, it would have the 10th largest economy in the world. Culturally, Texas is famous for the image of the Texas cowboy. Texas is known for valuing its freedom and autonomy, and Texan culture values individualism and determination as important values. The culture is also significantly influenced by Mexico, a nation Texas shares much of its border with.

While Texas continues to thrive economically, much of its population currently suffers from drug and alcohol use disorders. Alcohol abuse continues to cause countless fatalities each year in the automobile-focused state of Texas. Drugs of abuse shipped across the Mexican border by drug cartels include cocaine and crystal meth. The opioid epidemic has also hit Texas particularly hard. Over 1,402 people in Texas die each year as the result of opioid overdoses, and opioid overdoses due to prescribed synthetic opioid painkillers number in the hundreds. Unfortunately, many people never seek help for their drug and alcohol addiction problems in this state that values individual willpower to such an extent.

Help is available, however. Sober living homes in Texas offer young people with addictions a way to get sober, stay sober, and rebuild their lives. By enrolling in a Texas sober living, or even a sober living house outside of Texas, individuals can prevent their substance use disorders from developing further. It is not weak to ask for help; in fact, it is one of the bravest things a person can do. During the course of a sober living home residency, individuals learn to be independent and can free themselves from the debilitating cycle of substance abuse.

What Are Sober Living Houses?

During early sobriety, one’s environment is a critical factor. Individuals who have recently quit drugs and alcohol are very vulnerable to the negative effects of triggers. Triggers can come in many forms; the most common type of trigger is actual exposure to substance abuse. Sober living homes provide a safe and trigger-free environment by requiring residents to remain clean and sober. In a sober living house, individuals pursuing recovery can remove themselves from their old lives and begin picking up a new way of life.

Sober living homes are more than just places to work, sleep, and eat. They are communities. Housemates share the common goal of recovering from substance addiction. To that end, they offer each other significant support. Housemates who have been sober longer often serve mentorship roles for newer house members. While offering emotional support, accountability, and strength to each other, every resident of a sober living home benefits. These relationships, according to a study on sober livings, can help reduce relapse rates even years after a person has left their sober living house.

Sober living home staff understand that recovery is about more than just successfully quitting alcohol and drugs. Few people aim merely to stop abusing substances; most people want to quit because they want better lives. Sober living homes are designed to help residents begin gaining the gifts of sobriety. They offer support as residents work hard to repair relationships and develop new ones, start new careers, and even enroll in academic programs. By the time an individual graduates from their sober living home, they are likely to be ready to face any challenge coming their way.

Sober Fun in Texas

Recovering in a sober living home makes it possible to have “sober fun.” For individuals who are actively abusing drugs and alcohol, sober fun may seem impossible. This is because addiction is often lonely, with relief from loneliness only ever coming in the form of intoxication. With a strong support system consisting of sober living friends, however, any activity can become a source for sober fun. Texas is an enormous state with a wide variety of offerings. For anyone living in Texas or visiting, there are countless events and places to visit that can be enjoyed without needing to resort to drug or alcohol abuse. A few ideas are listed below.

The Alamo

Ever heard the phrase, “Remember the Alamo!”? This historic site was originally part of a mission built in 1718. While it was originally built by Franciscan monks, it was converted in 1836 to a fort, which eventually played an important role in the Texas Revolution. Today, visitors can stop by this landmark and take pictures of its resorted buildings, as well as a cenotaph commemorating Texans lost in the Revolution.

Space Center Houston

The Space Center Houston is perhaps one of the most popular places to visit in Texas. At this educational center, visitors can meet astronauts, learn about NASA’s latest plans, and discover what makes space exploration so amazing. The complex is enormous, and it includes a replica of a space shuttle as well as a replica of America’s first space station that visitors can walk inside. Diverse exhibits, film screenings, and experimental displays make this center worth a visit for locals and tourists alike.

San Antonio’s River Walk

The San Antonio River runs through the heart of the city of San Antonio. The River Walk, which is built below street level, provides a pedestrian walkway that hugs the river as it runs through the city. It is a popular and quite scenic place for locals and tourists to walk and enjoy the city, and it offers countless restaurants and outdoor patios. For a more novel experience, visitors can even enjoy a cruise on a riverboat.

Big Bend National Park

Located in the Chihuahuan Desert in West Texas, Big Bend National Park contains a large portion of the Rio Grande River. This national park offers some of the most unique and dramatic views in the entire state of Texas, which includes rivers, mountains, canyons, and recreational and sightseeing opportunities. Athletic types will likely enjoy the bountiful hiking trails and campgrounds, while those looking for a relaxing afternoon can spend a day picnicking, wading into the water, and birdwatching.

The Sixth Floor Museum

Most people who were alive at the time remember exactly where they were when John F. Kennedy was shot. The Sixth Floor Museum is designed to preserve the memory of the event. The museum is located on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, Texas, which is where the fatal shot was fired. The red-brick building provides visitors with detailed descriptions of the assassination, Kennedy’s legacy, and events surrounding the world-shaking event. Historical footage, artifacts, and photos are always on display.

Fort Worth Stockyards

One of Fort Worth, Texas’ biggest attractions is the Stockyards National Historic District. This area, founded in 1866, was once where millions of cattle were distributed across the state. Now, the stockyards are an attraction that offers myriad activities, including concerts, rodeos, western-themed shopping, and theatrical performances. Cattle driving demonstrations can be seen throughout the day, and it is even possible to get on a horse or ride a trail yourself.

Natural Bridge Caverns

Located nearby the city of San Antonio, the Natural Bridge Caverns consist of a wide-ranging underground network of caves. The stalactite formations are truly an awe-inspiring sight. It is the largest cave network in the United States that is open to visitors. Explorations can take over a day. Visitors can also take part in other fun activities, including climbing the caverns’ sprawling network of platforms, ziplines, and ropeways.

Houston’s Museum District

Downtown Houston is home to the city’s Museum District. Yes, an entire district. Many of the city’s 19 distinct museums offer free admissions, and most are within walking distance of one another. Of particular note are the world-famous Museum of Fine Arts, the children’s museum, the Holocaust museum, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Art lovers rejoice: small art museums and galleries also proliferate in the area.

Galveston’s Beaches and Strand Historic District

When people think “Texas,” they often imagine desert terrain, but don’t forget that Texas is a coastal state. Among the many wonderful spots alongside the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston stands out as one of the most beautiful. The water is always shallow and calm, making it great for swimming. Pleasure Pier also offers games, rides, and arcades for the young and old alike. The nearby Strand Historic District provides visitors with a glimpse into the area’s historic past. Victorian-style mansions, glass pyramids, an aquarium, and a rainforest are just a few of the offerings.

Benefits of Texas Sober Living Homes

Sober living houses allow residents to stay for as long as they need. Many choose to recover in sober livings for a year or more. Perhaps this is the greatest gift sober livings offer: time. While sober livings are not clinical addiction treatment programs, they often allow residents to recover for far longer than rehabs allow. This means that residents can truly take the time necessary to restructure their lives and develop the skills they need. Some of the many benefits of sober livings inside and outside of Texas include:

Transitions from Rehab

Sober living homes are effective for individuals who are getting sober for the first time, but they are also utilized as aftercare programs for people who have already gotten sober in rehab programs. Jumping straight back into one’s old life after finishing rehab can be a recipe for disaster — and relapse. Sober living homes smooth out these transitions by serving as a kind of bridge between inpatient treatment and everyday life. Residents can further strengthen their coping skills, reinforce their sober social support system, and develop the independence and structure they need to succeed.

Social Support

Sober living homes are more than just houses — they’re communities, even families. Addiction is often fueled by loneliness, and it tends to increase social isolation. Being around other individuals who share similar experiences can be profoundly healing. Housemates offer each other advice, emotional support, and daily feedback. Best of all, they offer each other laughter, companionship, and the gift of joy in sobriety.

Staff Support

Housemates aren’t the only ones who offer support. Sober living staff and house managers live on-site. In general, staff members have been through the recovery process themselves, which means they are living proof of what recovery can achieve. Staff members enforce house rules, administer drug tests and drug screenings, and are available at all times to answer questions, deal with difficulties as they emerge, and support residents.

Life Skills Development

A person rarely decides to get sober without also wanting to change their lifestyle. Sober living homes not only help residents develop the tools and skills they need to remain sober, but they also support residents in developing life skills. After years of active addiction, many young people lack basic life skills that most people their age take for granted. Sober living houses walk residents through the process of setting a budget, getting jobs, and even taking care of personal grooming and hygiene. The goal is to make sure that by the time an individual graduates, they will be ready to function — and prosper — while living independently.

Is Texas Sober Living Right For Me?

If you suffer from a substance use disorder of any severity, a sober living house can help support you in staying sober and rebuilding your life. However, for individuals who have struggle with addiction in Texas, leaving the state can be helpful. In many cases, triggers are very linked to locations. Streets where one used to purchase drugs, or passing by your old bar haunts, can be triggering and destabilizing. Even encountering an old drinking buddy can be enough to disrupt the recovery process. Starting afresh somewhere new makes it easier to overwrite old habits and behaviors.

California is a popular destination for Texas residents who are looking for a fresh start as they recover from drug and alcohol addictions. Southern California is an open-minded and health-conscious area that has a well-earned reputation for being amenable to alternative lifestyles, including sobriety. Various 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are prevalent throughout.

Moreover, Southern California is well known for being the birthplace of a specific type of sober living program: structured sober livings. Structured sober living houses offer a great deal more scheduling, support, and resources than the vast majority of traditional sober livings. For this reason, young people from around the country, including Texas, regularly flock to Southern California as they prepare to restart their lives in sobriety.

Recovery is Possible at Design for Recovery

Design for Recovery is Southern California’s preeminent sober living home for men. Residents benefit from hands-on support as they work to address underlying issues, develop new coping skills, and build a vast social support network. Design for Recovery staff ensures that residents get their needs met with any outside services they may require, which are easily accessible given the house’s central location.

It is the philosophy of Design for Recovery that recovery is more than mere physical abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Residents pursue recovery by rebuilding their lives from the ground up. They work to secure jobs, consider their career paths, repair damaged relationships with loved ones, and rekindle their passions. Crucially, all of this is done by focusing on several core principles, including honesty, integrity, and accountability. We believe that by focusing on these values, and by striving to be the best versions of ourselves possible, our recovery community can be strong, sober, joyful, and free.

If you are ready to make a change, reach out to Design for Recovery today. Contact us for a free and confidential consultation.