New to California and the Resources You Can Use

There are parts of your recovery that will rely heavily on geographical location. Location plays a significant role in addiction treatment and recovery for several reasons. For starters, you have to rely on the treatment centers and facilities in your area to seek help. The same goes for sober communities. 

To find a support system that works for you, whether it be an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or a support group of peers, where you reside will have the potential to affect how much access you have to communities such as these. With that said, many of us learned from the COVID-19 pandemic how accessible virtual treatment could be. Thanks to these virtual addiction program offerings, the inaccessibility to competent treatment programs has become less of an issue. You may even prefer virtual treatment programs as they allow you to carry on with your life responsibilities while receiving treatment from the comfort of your home. 

Regardless, there will continue to be instances where in-person treatment programs are more effective. If you have relocated to another area, it is important to find the local resources available to aid you in maintaining your sobriety and long-term recovery. Before making the physical move, research the resources and communities in your future home. It may take a while to find somewhere that is the right fit, but when it is, you will know it.

Researching Your Resources

Say you have recently decided to make the bold move of relocating to the Golden State. All you have to do is look up Alcohol Anonymous meetings in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica, or any town or city you are moving to in California. Sifting through internet results can be tedious, but you probably should not just attend the first place that pops up. Read reviews, visit the facility or meeting, and get people’s personal and professional opinions. Discovering your newfound sober community is an important decision that should not be rushed.

You may also meander to the California Directories for Substance Use Disorder website. Here you can access substance use disorder (SUD) programs, the SUD non-emergency treatment referral lines for various areas, and have access to the California County Alcohol and SUD programs. Moving to a new place can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. Be sure to do the necessary research so that you can enjoy your next chapter without fear of relapse.

Finding the Right Sober Community

The are several sober communities throughout the state of California. Again, finding the right sober community or support system is essential to maintaining recovery. It is crucial to have a community of people in recovery to talk to every day about your struggles with addiction, recovery, and your fears and struggles revolving around the new move.

First and foremost, you may want to create a list of all the meetings, areas, and communities you can attend in your area, both in-person and virtually. It may take a couple of attempts, but once you find a group of individuals that are right for you, open communication with them can help your transition be smooth and successful. 

Like virtual treatment programs, the beauty of today is that you can bring the sober community you create here with you everywhere you go in the future. Even if it is not exactly the same, it can be comforting to know that your California community will always be just a call away.

Staying Sober in a New Place

Sometimes moving to a new place is the best thing for recovery. Even though the stress of picking up and moving to an entirely new home can be a trigger, being able to start over can be refreshing. Whether you are still fresh in recovery or are trying to free yourself from a toxic environment, there are things you can do to make staying sober in a new place a more efficient process. 

The first thing you might consider is ensuring that you are leaving all triggers and negative memories out of your new location. Filling your new home with pictures of families, pets, or anything that motivates you to keep going and stay sober can be highly effective.

Creating routines can also be effective in maintaining recovery after a big move. Try practicing daily self-care, including exercising, journaling, or doing one fun thing that makes you happy each and every day. That could include something structured like yoga or something as simple as going for a walk and enjoying the west coast views of your new home. 

Specifically, consider the Lakehouse Recovery Center if you are new to Los Angeles County and are looking for treatment and support. Our in-person and virtual program offerings can start you on your path to recovery today.

Anyone who has ever moved to a new and unfamiliar place knows the stress that comes with the moving process and the fears of the unexpected and unknowns that may occur in this new place. For individuals who are newly in recovery, the stresses of moving to a brand new place like this can be empowering but can also threaten their recovery. There are certain things you can do yourself to make this move non-threatening to your recovery. That might include practicing daily routines, mantras, or ensuring that your new home is drug or alcohol-free. Even more productively, it would be best if you researched the programs, treatment centers, and sober communities you can become a part of upon coming to your new home. Whether you are looking for an in-person or virtual treatment program, the Lakehouse has many different treatments that can help you today. Call (877) 762-3707 to learn more.