By Delila Kaminski

Planning your life after starting recovery can be both exciting and terrifying. On the one hand, the fact that you are finally doing what is best for your mental and physical health is a good reason to feel proud of yourself. On the other, no one can guarantee that your journey will be obstacle-free – because it most likely will not. Still, there is no reason to lose hope. If you are lucky enough to have your loved one’s support, you will surely weather your storms much painlessly. After all, nobody wants what’s best for your as much as the people who brought you into this world. If you’ve managed to reestablish your connection with good intentions and behavior, you might even be considering moving back to your parents while in recovery.

However, while this is, in most cases, a good idea, it’s imperative to consider both its advantages and disadvantages to figure out if it’s the right move for you. Luckily, you don’t have to do this alone. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the pros and cons of moving back home while on your journey toward sobriety.

The advantages of moving back to your parents while in recovery

A solid support system

Braving through recovery without anyone's help is nearly impossible since the world can seem particularly cruel and scary during this delicate period. When those inevitable bad days creep up, you might have a hard time fighting off the temptations and avoiding falling back into your old habits. 

However, this can be significantly easier if you are constantly surrounded by people who mean you well. Not only will your parents be able to tell when you're going through a rough patch, but they will likely try their best to motivate you and push you toward your goal. After all, a solid support system is a key ingredient for success in recovery.

Establishing a healthy routine

Although too much control can be harmful to individuals in recovery, a healthy dose of it can do wonders. Once again, it would be unrealistic to expect your journey to sobriety to be filled with rainbows and butterflies only. When the hard times come knocking at the doors, you might experience difficulty sticking to a routine that comprises regular meals, good hygiene, perfect attendance at your job or meetings, etc. And this is yet another thing that is easier to succeed at if you live with your parents. Having someone to remind you of what you need to do, or even do it for you, if necessary, will surely prove to be of immense help.

Financial recovery

We all know that substance abuse is a costly hobby. However, not many people understand that staying on top of your finances while in recovery can be even more challenging than financing substance abuse. Not to mention the fact that finding employment can be incredibly tricky in this period. 

With that said, it makes sense to try to simplify things by moving back to your parents. This doesn't mean you should entirely rely on your family's money, but cutting back on rent, food, and other major expenses will surely make things easier. This way, you will be able to devote more attention and focus on breaking harmful patterns and improving your mindset instead of figuring out how you're going to pay for necessities.

Potential disadvantages of moving back to your parents while in recovery

Relationship mending and establishing trust

Substance abuse doesn't only wreak havoc on your body and mind. It also affects your relationships and the well-being of your loved ones. Because of this, living with parents while in recovery might not be the best option for everyone. And it's understandable - gaining back your family's trust after months or years of self-destructive behavior is undoubtedly one of the trickiest parts of the process. So much so that it might even make pursuing sobriety more challenging or impossible. While it's vital to work on bettering your relationships, sometimes it's easier for everyone involved to do so from afar.

Triggers

If your old neighborhood, family home, or even your parents somehow played a role in the events that led to your toxic relationship with drugs or alcohol, it's probably best not to put yourself in that environment while in recovery. Unresolved issues, trauma, and reminders of the past will only act as triggers in this vulnerable state.

Freedom restrictions

A lack of freedom is a common issue among those living with their parents. However, this problem only increases while you're going through rehabilitation. Your parents want you to succeed, and their intentions might come off a bit too controlling for your liking. Still, you need to understand your family's fears, even if doing something bad isn't on your mind.

While it's completely understandable that you want to be in charge of all aspects of your life, replacing some of that control with the support of your loved ones might be a better idea. This will help you avoid relapsing, and it will do wonders for building back the mutual trust you all once shared.

What can you do to make things work?

Doing everything you can to set yourself and your family up for success will surely help minimize issues. For starters, make sure to have an honest conversation with your parents about everyone's expectations, rules, and boundaries. Honesty and communication are essential in this situation.

To make the actual process of relocation as stress-free as possible, consider hiring movers to help you. Ask around for recommendations but don't trust everything you hear. There are many misconceptions about moving services, and you need to rely on factual information only!

The bottom line

In most cases, moving back to your parents while in recovery is an excellent idea as it can help you overcome obstacles and reach your goals with fewer distractions. Still, since every family is different, you need to consider all the pros and cons of this decision to understand whether it's right for you.

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By Delila Kaminski