According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), over 580,000 women were admitted into treatment for substance abuse in 2013. Yet that number underestimates the amount of women who need treatment but have not been able to access the proper recovery program. Research has shown that women face more barriers than men when accessing treatment for addiction. This may be due to multiple factors such as taking care of children, financial constraints, or lack of education on specialized treatment programs.
People struggling with an addiction may have difficulty coming to terms with their addiction and how it ultimately is affecting the people they love. For women, the process of committing to a specific treatment center is a bit more complicated. The 2011 National Drug Control Strategy emphasized the increasing numbers of women who are addicted to substances, and noted the demand for more specific treatment based facilities for women. Women need to find the proper care that meets their needs because it is essential in ensuring full recovery from addiction.
There are 4 crucial mistakes women make during the post addiction treatment recovery process that inhibit them from successfully completing their recovery journey. Both clinicians and women need to be proactive in understanding that the mistakes made during post addiction treatment recovery sometimes begin before the actual treatment process.
4 Crucial Mistakes Women Make Before and During Post Addiction Treatment Recovery:
1. Not seeking specific drug treatment. Research shows that women are less likely to seek specialized treatment for their addiction. Instead, women who do seek addiction recovery treatment often go to general mental health facilities. These general facilities may not necessarily provide the detailed recovery plan that women need for their particular addiction.
Additionally, women do not seek women-specific drug treatment programs. Being able to focus on one’s recovery without the distraction or temptation of males can allow women to be more open and more relaxed. Often, distorted relationships are involved in the mental and physical aspects of addiction and mental health issues. Being exposed to men during treatment can be an unnecessary distraction that can further complicate and confuse relationships with men at a vulnerable stage in life.
Women who need to seek specialty treatment programs often have other mental health related problems such as anxiety or Post Ttraumatic Stress Disorder. Additionally, mental health problems can heighten withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Finding a specialized whole-person treatment program is the essential foundation to helping women avoid a relapse.
2. Dropping out of treatment because of child care. Child care is of the utmost concern for the mother seeking addiction recovery treatment. Often, women will drop out of treatment, or will not seek treatment at all, because they are unable to take care of their children. In addition, if they seek treatment, there is an intense fear that child services will take away the children from their care. This can cause women to struggle during the treatment process, be distracted and under additional stress, or not fully commit to the therapy sessions.
Losing custody of a child is a primary concern for most mothers seeking addiction treatment. However, getting the proper specialized care a woman deserves is essential in restoring her willpower and strength to overcome the addiction so she can better take care of her children in the future.
3. Dropping out of treatment because of pregnancy. Research has shown that women who are pregnant have difficulty finding and remaining in their treatment program.
A lot of anxiety is caused by fear of losing the baby or not being able to care for the baby during or after the treatment recovery process. This is a primary concern for many women. It is the precursor to the challenges noted in number two, above. However, it is vital for women to remain in treatment to best ensure the proper care for themselves and their baby.
4. Not making strong connections in the treatment program. Women need to feel supported and nurtured during the recovery process. One mistake some women make is not reaching out and making strong connections to other group members in their therapy sessions. This may be due to a history of abuse, faltering relationships back home, or mental health related concerns. Additionally, women may have difficulty truly trusting their therapist or counselor.
Creating strong relationships is the foundational piece in helping women feel safe and supported during their recovery process. If women do not create meaningful relationships during their recovery, they may feel heightened levels of isolation or anxiety during moments of difficulty.
For many women, these 4 mistakes can be avoided by choosing a treatment recovery program with a strong spiritual foundation. Faith helps women during the recovery process understand their journey and aids them in recovering from addiction through the Word of God. The professionally trained staff at Covenant Hills is skilled in helping women overcome obstacles, make connections, and establish a strong spiritual foundation to ensure a successful path towards recovery from addiction. We provide gender-specific housing and gender-specific treatment so you can focus on getting well, without distractions. Call us today at 888.758.9677 for a free and confidential assessment.
