It’s no secret that addiction recovery looks different for everyone. The path to sobriety is full of twists and turns, and what works for one person might not work for another. But while addiction may be unique to each individual, there are still some commonalities—especially when it comes to gender-specific care.
At Painted Desert Recovery, our women’s addiction treatment center in Utah is operated by a caring and compassionate staff that understands the unique needs of women in recovery and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care possible. Call 844.540.0357 to ask about your women’s addiction treatment expectations and learn how we can help you on the road to recovery.
What Is Gender-Specific Care?
Gender-specific care is a type of addiction treatment that considers the unique experience of women and men struggling with addiction. This type of care creates a safe and supportive environment for clients of each gender so they can feel comfortable opening up about their struggles without judgment. Women’s addiction treatment programs typically offer smaller group sizes and more one-on-one time with counselors so that each woman can get the individualized attention she needs.
Research shows that women respond differently to addiction than men do. For example:
- Due to hormonal changes, women are more sensitive to the effects of drugs and alcohol, making it harder for them to quit using.
- Women are more likely than men to experience traumatic events like sexual abuse, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and increase the risk of developing an addiction.
- Women are more likely to develop addictions to substances like prescription drugs and alcohol to self-medicate underlying mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
- Women tend to progress from initial drug use to addiction more quickly than men.
Gender-specific care considers these factors and provides women with the tailored treatment they need to overcome addiction.
What to Expect in Women’s Addiction Treatment
Considering gender-specific care for your addiction, you might wonder what to expect from women’s addiction treatment. Here are some women’s addiction treatment expectations you can count on at Painted Desert Recovery.
A Focus on Trauma
If you don’t know what to expect in women’s addiction treatment, you can—at the very least—be sure that it provides trauma-informed care. Most women’s addiction treatment programs place a particular emphasis on healing past trauma as a way to prevent future relapse. This might include traditional talk therapy and expressive therapies like art or music therapy.
A Focus on Mental Health
As we mentioned earlier, women are more likely than men to develop addictions as a way to self-medicate underlying mental health conditions. Women’s addiction treatment programs consider this by providing comprehensive care for both substance use disorders and mental health disorders. This might include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), therapy, and support groups for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
A Focus on Nutrition and Physical Fitness
Eating a healthy diet and staying active are essential to any recovery program, but they often take on special significance in women’s addiction treatment programs. That’s because many women who struggle with addiction also struggle with eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. Focusing on nutrition and physical fitness, women’s addiction treatment programs help them develop healthy relationships with their bodies as they recover from their addictions.
A Focus on Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention is one of the most critical aspects of women’s addiction treatment. This might include education on triggers, coping skills for managing cravings, and support in developing a solid aftercare plan.
Learn More About Utah Women’s Addiction Treatment at Painted Desert Recovery
If you’re ready to start your journey toward recovery, Painted Desert Recovery Center can help. Our women’s addiction treatment center offers comprehensive gender-specific care for women struggling with addiction in Utah. Evidence-based treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy and MAT are part of our women’s addiction treatment program. Contact Painted Desert Recovery at 844.540.0357 today to learn more about our program or to get started on your path toward recovery.
