Women and Alcoholism
Across genders, ages, and socioeconomic statuses, alcoholism has affected millions of different people.
While alcohol abuse is on the rise for women, this trend often does not receive the attention it deserves.
Men tend to drink more than women do, so it is easy to ignore the upward climb of alcoholism rates in women.
If you are battling alcoholism, our comprehensive addiction care programs can help.
Alcoholism Risk Factors
For many women, biology, social pressures, and mood disorders play a part in their developing alcoholism.
Gender studies have revealed that women tend to both weigh less and experience higher rates of certain mood disorders than men.
Biological differences also mean women have lower thresholds for excessive alcohol consumption and can become addicted faster.
Demanding careers, familial obligations, financial challenges, and social commitments all increase levels of stress and anxiety, making it more likely to reach for a drink to cope.
Alcohol as a Coping Mechanism
We see it on TV and in movies every day. Adults across the world turn to alcohol to relieve stress and anxiety, bond with coworkers and friends, and celebrate milestones, events, and accomplishments.
This normalized substance is often used as a crutch. Many people use alcohol as a coping mechanism to overcome high levels of stress and anxiety or combat symptoms of underlying mental health disorders.
One thing these shows and movies do not show is alcohol rehab is one of the most common and necessary types of addiction treatment.
Millions of adults attend alcohol addiction treatment programs each year. You are not alone and hope is not lost.
The short-term effects of alcohol may reduce your stress, relax, or sleep. The excessive use of this substance by everyone around you also makes it easier to justify the excessive use.
However, there are various types of alcohol-related mental and physical health risks that cannot be justified or ignored for long. Do not wait until you lose control. Use our comprehensive addiction programs to take back the reins. Your alcoholism does not define you.
Physical Side Effects Related to Alcoholism
Many concerning health conditions are linked to alcoholism. Of these, some of the most common are increased risks of stroke, liver cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis. Alcoholics are also exposed to higher risks of heart disease, breast cancer, and brain damage. Relatively new research on male and female alcoholism rates has shown that alcohol may be more detrimental to the health of women than the health of men. The potential health impairments are far-reaching, but they are not the only impairments that must be considered.
Alcoholism also impairs your mental health in several different ways. One of these ways involves risk behaviors or uncharacteristic behaviors that lead to events like intoxicated driving, car accidents, and preventable fatalities. This is due, in part, to the fact that alcohol impairs your judgment. It also increases your likelihood of behaving violently, as it increases feelings of aggression and agitation. Alcohol is involved in many violent offenses.
Mental Health Impairments Related to Alcoholism
Excessive alcohol consumption can alter your brain chemistry. As a result, many mental health impairments are related to alcoholism. Excessive drinking may worsen a pre-existing mental health disorder or lead to one that did not exist before. Mental health studies tell us that women are more likely to experience depression than men. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders among alcoholics.
If you are battling both an addiction and a mental illness, our highly specialized programs can help address each simultaneously. When these conditions occur together, it is important to treat them together, too. Treating one and ignoring the other can quickly undo all of the progress you have made. When an addiction and mental health disorder co-exist, we call this a dual diagnosis. This combination requires a dedicated, well-rounded, and personalized approach. That is the effective dual diagnosis treatment program we give our clients at BriteLife Recovery.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Options
At BriteLife, we understand that one-size-fits-all solutions are not effective. Each client and each addiction is different. We build customized treatment programs based on the addiction, needs, and circumstances of the individual. We will work with you to determine the right care methods, settings, recreational activities, and holistic remedies to suit your addiction and needs. To meet these needs, we offer a variety of treatment options, including:
- Medical and nonmedical detoxes
- Inpatient rehab programs
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Outpatient treatment programs
- Sober living
- Residential programs
- Aftercare programs
Alcohol Detox
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms and cravings are two of the biggest drivers of relapse rates. If you have unsuccessfully tried to quit drinking in the past, you may need something more than a cold-turkey attempt. Like our addiction treatment programs, our detoxes are customized to the level of addiction, symptoms, and needs of the individual. There are different levels of detoxes that may be considered. If you have severe addiction or withdrawal symptoms, we provide a medically-supervised alcohol detox to ease you through the early stages of sobriety.
This type of detox helps ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings while you focus on recovery in our safe and comfortable facility. It also helps us monitor your progress and symptoms to ensure that we are giving you what you need. The medications we use in medical detoxes are carefully selected and professionally administered. The most common alcohol detox medications include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Alcohol detox occurs at the start of most of our treatment programs. And most clients will move into an inpatient rehab program from there.
Inpatient Alcohol Rehab
The benefits of this type of program are immeasurable. In an inpatient program, you will have 24-hour access to the care, support, and guidance of our dedicated team. You will benefit from proven therapeutic treatments, holistic remedies, recreational activities, and resort-style amenities. Our facility in Hilton Head is conveniently located to help you find peace, quiet, and progress in an incredible beach town. But you do not have to be close by to benefit from our offerings. We see clients travel from across the state, North Carolina, Georgia, and beyond to take advantage of all we have to offer.
Each day, your schedule will include therapy sessions, support group meetings, healthy meals, and activities that can be restorative, relaxing, or invigorating. Our seasonal activities might include swimming in the pool, walking through the courtyard, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and more. Art therapy, yoga, meditation, exercise classes, and others are available year-round. This type of program offers the highest levels of support and helps you improve both your physical and mental health. If you are better suited to another program, you will still benefit from many of our offerings. The biggest difference will be the amount of time you spend with us.
Paying for Alcoholism Treatments
If you have health insurance, paying for addiction treatments may be less difficult than you would think. Most health insurance providers offer coverage for these types of treatments. And we work with most major health insurance providers.
If you are not sure what is covered under your plan, please call our admissions counselors. They will perform a fast and free insurance verification for you. If you do not have health insurance or you have partial coverage, they can help you put together an alternative payment arrangement.
BriteLife Recovery Center
At BriteLife Recovery, we offer high-level and customized addiction treatment programs.
These personalized programs are met with unending support, comfortable spaces, endless options for activities, and unbeatable amenities.
We want your journey to recovery to be as safe, smooth, and sustainable as possible.
Call us today for more information.