It is often the case that someone who has struggled with addiction has also had trouble functioning in their daily life. For instance, a person who has been addicted to drugs or alcohol for a significant period of time might not have learned how to do their laundry, cook meals, clean their home, or keep a bank account. Because of this, it is necessary for some people to learn basic daily living skills in their recovery from an addiction.
However, for someone who needs to learn these skills, it might be difficult to find an addiction treatment center that provides this. Yet, there are some agencies that specifically tend to a person’s social rehabilitation, such as teaching recovering addicts how to cook, clean, and shop for themselves. It might require some searching in one’s community. It’s common for most treatment services to provide services such as drug counseling, individual therapy, support groups, and 12-step meetings. A treatment center that tries to meet the many needs of a recovering addict might also provide classes on daily living skills.
At times a person might go from attending an addiction treatment center to a sober living home to then residing at a board and care facility. These facilities provide cooking and laundry services for those who can’t do it on their own. At many board and care facilities there are residents who are either recovering from an addiction or from a mental illness or both. Frequently, as such locations, there are support groups on daily living skills, primarily because the treatment goal for many of its residents is independent living. Of course, in order to live by oneself, these and other skills are necessary.
In fact, it’s not only learning how to cook, clean, and shop that is important for someone living on their own, but it’s also necessary for someone to have a routine. Having structure and stability is a preventive measure against relapse. In addition to caring for your own basic needs by cooking meals, cleaning your home environment, and doing the laundry, a daily routine might include preparing for the day, work, volunteer, family time, time for self care, attendance to a 12-step meeting, preparing for bed. These activities can be structured so that you know what you’re doing at given times in the day and you don’t have to think about it. Having a routine and structure can help one with staying sober and stable. For someone living on their own, this is mostly certainly going to require cooking meals and staying clean.
If you know that you’re going to need these skills, you might start off by talking to the staff at the addiction treatment center you’re attending. If you’re not yet in treatment, contact a mental health provider. And if you’re out of treatment and you’re preparing to living on your own, talk to a family member or someone you trust. It’s important to address these needs before you move out. Knowing how to cook, clean, and shop are necessary skills for daily living. In fact, not being able to meet your own needs can lead to stress, instability and even relapse. Contact a mental health provider and/or someone you trust to discuss this further.
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