No one knows what goes on in another person’s life. The challenges for women on the addiction recovery journey are generally much more difficult than the challenges for men. No one knows exactly why that is. What they do know is that women go through an addiction phenomenon known as telescoping. In terms of substance abuse, telescoping means women develop addictions faster than men. For that reason, women-only treatment centers serve the unique needs that women have during addiction recovery.
Substance abuse rehabilitation is a step-by-step process. Many women feel they don’t have the time or the resources to commit to rehab. However, if they choose to fight their substance abuse alone, it’s not likely they’ll achieve lifelong sobriety. It’s often just a matter of time before they start self-medicating with drugs or alcohol again.
Women Recovering Together
Finding a women-only treatment program gives women their first step forward. Women with addictions need individualized treatment. Many also need a program that offers support groups and programs for children and partners. A woman on a journey through substance abuse rehabilitation surely needs the support of her loved ones more than ever.
When you’re ready to start your recovery journey, reach out to us. The drama, pain, and negative consequences of addiction can end altogether. We don’t reserve treatment for the brave and heroic. Treatment can be effective for you, even if you feel despondent, hopeless, or scared. Life was meant for living, no matter the challenges women face. That’s what makes being a woman in recovery a beautiful thing.
Benefits Of A Women’s Only Rehab Program
Gender-specific addiction treatment programs can offer a number of benefits to women. Women face unique challenges when it comes to addiction recovery, and a women’s program caters to these challenges.
The benefits of a women’s addiction program include:
- a more relaxed and comfortable environment which makes it easier for women to share with one another
- the ability to form lasting relationships with members of the same sex who are also in recovery
- a stronger sense of safety
- the potential to maintain custody of children while in treatment
- programs that focus on the unique issues women experience that may not be addressed in traditional rehab settings
Differences between women and men
The disease of addiction and the process of recovery affect women differently than men. Women tend to:
- progress faster in addiction than men
- experience more addiction-related mental health problems
- face different barriers to getting help
- benefit from different types of recovery support
- We recognize these and many other gender-specific issues in developing the most-effective treatment plan for each woman who turns to us for care. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation gender-specific addiction treatment addresses women’s needs and concerns.