Rehab for Women
Women suffer more. It's not fair, but alcohol and drugs devastate the bodies, minds and souls of women more that they do men. For the best chance at a full recovery, women need to get treatments that address their unique psychological and physical challenges, and that give them the tools they'll need to stay drug and alcohol free. Women do not need a separate program of recovery, but they do need care from a center accepting of their needs, and with professionals understanding of the unique challenges facing women in recovery.
Thankfully, although on the descent into addiction women suffer more, research has shown that when women do get gender specific and appropriate therapies, they suffer lower rates of relapse than do men, and have an excellent prognosis for a full and happy recovery.
All the therapies and interventions that prove effective for men also assist women, and women in recovery need comprehensive therapies that include 12 steps based recovery meetings, group and individual therapy and cognitive behavioral training. These therapies offer self awareness over the causes of abuse, the tools they'll need to avoid relapse and the inspiration that comes from others in recovery, and from others who have recovered.
But women need more than only this.
Gender specific therapies
Women suffer unique threats to recovery from their experiences with addiction; and without getting gender specific and appropriate therapy and education, a rehab does not meet their needs, and does not give them the best chance for sobriety.
Sexual Abuse
Research shows that as many as half of all women in residential treatment programs for addiction have suffered some form of sexual assault or abuse during their abusing or pre abusing years, and in some cases the issues underlying sexual trauma contribute greatly to continuing and worsening abuse. Without addressing sexual issues and trauma in those women with a history of assault, women cannot leave a rehab stay fully on the road to recovery. Women specific rehab programs make sure that sexual violence and assault get dealt with. Although a month can never heal the pains of sexual violence, by unearthing long covered and painful memories and by working through related issues with a therapist, women can come closer to a personal acceptance, and closer to moving past the legacy of abuse.
STD
Women in treatment surfer twice the rates of STD's that men do, and because medical stresses can provoke relapse, sexual health issues must be addressed as part of the recovery process. Women must receive attention for any existing health issues, and receive the education they'll need to stay healthy and safe in the future. Nutrition Alcohol and other drugs devastate the physical health of women, and the legacy of nutritional deficits can create relapse provoking health problems. Women need nutritional therapy, nutritional education and the appropriate prescription of supplements to ensure that they better existing health challenges, and learn how to stay healthy and happy after rehab.
Family and parenting therapy
A great many women enter into treatment carrying not only the personal pains of substance abuse, but also a legacy of shame and guilt from poor parenting or other familial actions taken while under the grips of addiction. Women need to understand that they cannot suffer the shames of the past if they hope to do better in the future. None of us acts well while an addict or an alcoholic, and all of us suffer the shame of our actions of intoxication; but we need to move on, we need to learn how to do better, and we need to learn the strategies of reconciliation that can once again reunite a family shattered by abuse.
Women Deserve Gender Specific Therapy
Women benefit from general adult programs of rehabilitation, and the therapies that work for men work just as well for women. Women however, need more. They suffer differently on the road to rehab, and they need therapies that respect their unique journey, and provide the tools for a better and happier life of sobriety. You can get treatment anywhere; you deserve treatment in a rehab that knows what you need, understands your challenges and respects your history. You deserve gender specific rehab.
