Addiction is a demon that may sleep for a little bit, but never ever departs from our sides. As we shuffle through life smelling the roses here and there, often times addiction pulls a “Houdini” and appears out of nowhere. Most of us never really see it coming. We consistently justify our actions and thought processes and explain to ourselves that our usage is normal. We compare and ignore everything as it happens right in front of our eyes. Then the mystery happens. WAM! We wake up one day and can’t help but wonder, what on earth went wrong. Our alcoholic tendencies are showing up full-fledged and we haven’t the slightest clue as to what went astray- or so we tell ourselves. The battle gets ever more intensive, and we sink lower and lower into the powerlessness and unmanageability.
Eventually, some of us contact help and intend to set out on a different path. Being that we are all at different periods in our lives, the next course of action can vary depending on your specific case. One thing is for certain though, when your life starts to revolve around chemicals and addiction, it’s time for a change. As stated beforehand, reaching out for help is recommended to all who are struggling in the grips of alcoholic behaviors. For some of us, this includes changing patterns, friends, and living situations.
Many of us tend to get sucked into the people and places that formulate our habits. So once we start back tracking and modifying our life styles, our friends and place of residency need to follow suit. Some of us go into treatment centers and then some of us enter halfway houses. Then there are those who are currently in the middle of their college careers and have never heard of sober dorm rooms. They become flabbergasted as to where to step next when addiction rears its ugly head. The original blueprint was to go party at school and have fun for the basic four-year enrollment. Then a problem with their drinking develops, they get clean but feel out of place at college. This is a very common theme. When most think of a college education, they think of hard school work and dedication- yes. Then there are those who see/saw it as an opportunity to maybe be young, wild, and free. This is all still possible. Getting trashed is not a necessity for having fun. Period.
What to Expect
Well just because we’re getting sober doesn’t mean that our whole education is put off track. Once we get over the idea of “not having fun”, it’s high tide to find our new living arrangements. So then we start looking further into our options for a conducive living environment in recovery. The term speaks for itself; “Sober dorm rooms” are exactly what they sound like. This is a dormitory or wing of a school where only residences who are sober reside there. It’s a special dorm set up where substances are banned, and there are usually recovery related activities to get involved in.
For starters, this already pushes the idea that you are never alone with this disease. Maybe it’s a bit cynical, but there’s a lot of comfort in knowing somebody is going through the same trials and tribulations you might be. Not only this but having sober wing mates can allow you to still go to parties and have somebody to hold you accountable should temptation start to play with your mind. Nobody wants to eat lunch alone at the end of the day. It’s just human nature to want to be loved and we are creatures of emotion. This disease of alcoholism doesn’t stop for anyone, and it’s guaranteed that more people will be suffering from its chokehold than will be living in the sober dorm rooms. Be ahead of the curve and maybe influence some people to join the lighter side of things.
It’s incredible to see the change in once failing students, to those excelling with the highest scores in the class. All the partying with booze and narcotics will cloud and shroud the brain into the emptiest of attics. Go figure numbing and dumbing rhyme. Then you see all the once hopeless addicts and alcoholics get sober and return back to school. The once promised grades of C’s, D’s, and F’s slowly fade away as student GPA’s start rising. It’s phenomenal, the promise of intelligence that most addicts and alcoholics display.
Students in recovery might feel unsupported and singled out if deciding to live in regular campus housing or dorm set ups. In the greater part of most situations, sober dorm rooms have sober teachers and staff on board to help ensure the safety of the sober residents. This is so not to be monitored as if in a treatment setting, but for the purpose of making sure nobody is a threat to the group’s sobriety. The rules tend to vary depending on the selected school of choice. Often times, there is a minimum requirement of at least ninety days to live on the sober property. The reality of the situation is that one person getting high could potentially take out the whole dorm of students. Other rules may include having to attend a specific amount of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week, or even being required to participate in sober outings and other planned activities. Essentially, everything is in place so that students will be able to maintain an academic career in a way that was impossible while using the forbidden feel goods.
Not Ready for a Dorm?
At the end of the day, some of us require a bit of additional help before comfortably moving into a sober residence of any sort. If you or a loved one has been struggling with addiction or alcoholic mannerisms, please call 844-489-0836 or visit www.firststepsrecovery.com. We have a team of trained specialists waiting to help you or your college kid. Sending lives in a positive direction where education and happiness can be a priority if you so choose- that is our intended goal.
