Having a safe space is necessary for healing of all types, especially for those in addiction treatment. Addiction treatment has a high mental load and clients have to work hard to make progress in their recovery. If a person cannot relax and rest, they will not be able to replenish the energy spent in treatment. Being a woman can make treatment harder since women have to deal with heavy stigma around addiction and mental health. For women who are struggling with addiction, it can feel like an uphill battle to achieve recovery.
Recovery, however, is possible for everyone. It’s achievable for anyone with the right support, quality treatment, time, and personal drive to improve their lives. Women especially benefit from women-focused treatment facilities, such as Painted Desert Recovery. Painted Desert Recovery recognizes the need for women everywhere to have a safe space to recover from their addiction. With compassionate and understanding staff, women can find the encouragement and support that they need to succeed in their endeavors. But what makes Painted Desert Recovery a safe space for women? To understand this, we must first find out what exactly makes a safe space “safe.”
What Makes a Safe Space Safe?
A safe space is a place or environment where a person can exist without fear of discrimination, judgment, and harm. They should be able to relax in a safe space without worrying about being attacked emotionally or physically. By this definition, all mental health care and addiction treatment facilities qualify as a safe space. These places, Painted Desert Recovery included, are considered judgment-free zones. People cannot recover from addiction if they are worried about being judged or ridiculed. The point of treatment is to be open about your needs and actions so a treatment provider can accurately provide the treatment you need to overcome addiction and other mental health disorders.
Addiction treatment facilities are also safe in that clients can expect to be protected from harm. For example, a therapist will never use the information you tell them against you. You will not be mocked or mistreated because of what you reveal in therapy. Clients have several rights that cannot be infringed. One of which is the ability to call for a break or end a therapy session if they are feeling overwhelmed. These rights are made clear to every client who undergoes addiction treatment, which allows them to feel safe.
A safe space is also a place to express yourself. Your hopes and dreams are something to be encouraged and cherished, especially in addiction treatment. Having hopes and dreams gives an individual the strength and drive they need to overcome addiction.
Why Safe Spaces Are Important for Women in Treatment
Safe spaces are needed for women because it’s hard to be a woman and let your guard down. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of women experience physical sexual violence during their lifetimes. That is not counting sexual harassment, such as “catcalling” or derogatory remarks. It’s a sad fact, but many women have experienced traumatic events. Even worse is how society treats these women. It’s very common for women to be dismissed, blamed for their trauma, or mistreated in general. It gets worse if said women are also struggling with addiction or other mental health disorders. The last thing most women want is to be constantly re-traumatized while trying to get treatment.
That’s why Painted Desert Recovery is a women-only addiction treatment facility. Having a safe space for women staffed exclusively by women offers a place of healing. Women can trust that they are being treated by mental health care professionals who truly understand what they are going through. They don’t have to fear being patronized or talked down to. Women are treated as they truly are, strong people who can overcome anything if given the safe space to grow.
It’s also important to understand that addiction affects men and women differently. There are different hormones and brain chemistry to consider, as well as other details that are easily missed or overlooked in treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), women are more likely to experience damage to their health after long-term alcohol use than a man, even if she has been drinking less over a shorter period. Having a place to recognize that women can’t be treated exactly like a man is vitally important for women’s health in general, not just for addiction treatment.
Learning to Find Safety Beyond Treatment
Painted Desert Recovery doesn’t just provide a safe space for women undergoing addiction treatment. Women also learn how to create safe spaces of their own once they complete treatment. One way to create a safe space is to find safety in others. Creating and maintaining a strong sober support network is a great way to have a “living” safe space. Many members of this support network can come from fellow peers who are also in recovery themselves. Having friends who understand your needs can offer safety when society is less than welcoming.
Women also learn how to make their environment and living spaces into places of comfort and safety. Learning how to set and maintain personal boundaries is one of the core lessons learned at Painted Desert Recovery. Women also can find a safe space in the wider sober community and Utah’s pristine wilderness and natural wonders.
With a little work, any woman can create and maintain a safe space of their own. But trusting a place with their mental health is a different story. However, there is a place that is always guaranteed to be a safe space for women, and that is Painted Desert Recovery.
For many women in America, it can feel as though their problems are dismissed or ignored. It’s especially true when they are struggling with addiction and other mental health disorders. That’s why at Painted Desert Recovery in New Harmony, Utah, women can get the quality and specialized treatment they need to achieve recovery. By enrolling in Painted Desert Recovery’s women-only treatment program, women can find the safe place they need to heal without the fear of being re-traumatized. It’s an empowering place where women don’t just recover from addiction, they also become stronger and healthier people. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, don’t wait to get help. Call (844) 540-0353 today.
