It’s important to recognize and understand that women have very different health needs of men. Understanding what these needs are – and how to meet them – is an important part of the addiction recovery progress. This is where addiction counseling for women comes into play.
Biological and Emotional Counseling
For purely biological reasons, women experience addiction differently. Although it’s less likely for women to become addicts than men, when they do develop an addiction, it happens much quicker. Women are also more likely to abuse prescription painkillers, over other types of drug and alcohol substances.
Additionally, women typically have more emotional needs than men. This means that most women are in tune with the intuitive and empathetic nature of humans. When their emotions are healthy, it’s a source of strength. But, when it’s in an addiction cycle, the emotional makeup of women can also lead to complications. Addiction counseling for women is different because it addresses these emotional issues and complications from the female perspective.
Sexual Trauma Counseling
While sexual trauma does happen to men, it seems to predominate women’s demographics. This is a highly unfortunate women’s issue that only compounds addiction cycles. A women’s addiction treatment center Jacksonville offers will often address the woman as an entire person, beyond the addiction itself.
In this case, counseling for addiction can also include counseling for any other past traumas. Addiction counseling for women opens up the door to talk about these abuses in a safe and controlled environment.
Pregnancy-Specific Counseling
Women who are battling addiction cycles may also be struggling with a reproductive health issue. Such as hormonal imbalances that increase the likelihood of chemical dependency from a biological place.
A woman may also be pregnant at the same time she is struggling with addiction recovery. A women’s rehab program FL trusts will address these issues to suit these needs.
When addiction recovery happens alongside pregnancy, it can be frightening. Many women in addiction recovery will also be single parents. Women’s counseling will address the needs of single moms in this crisis situation. It can also help prepare for the possibility of neonatal withdrawal that some babies may have as a complication of addiction recovery. This is called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or NAS.
Parents of babies with NAS should be aware of a higher risk of the following:
- Respirator problems
- Feeding difficulties
- Low birth weight
Women’s addiction recovery counseling will help the mother address each of the potential problems a NAS baby may suffer as both Mom and baby work toward a healthy lifestyle.
Finding Addiction Counseling for Women
We believe that empowered healing is the right of every woman. Our Jacksonville addiction treatment center, provides women with the strategy that will serve for a lifetime of healing:
- Group therapy
- Trauma therapy
- 12 step approach to recovery
- Alcohol addiction rehab
- Opioid addiction rehab
As you take the first step, find a center providing addiction counseling for women that is committed to influencing a lifetime of healing choices. While it is a long process to the road of recovery, taking the first step is crucial to leading an addiction-free life.
