Alcohol addiction is the most common addiction in the world. The use of alcohol is accepted among many cultures and is often incorporated into religious and spiritual ceremonies. Age restrictions on this intoxicating and addictive substance around the world fluctuate and are often even a subject of debate. It is legally sold in most regions in the United States.
The overwhelming availability of alcohol is likely the number one cause of such high addiction rates. Think about every social event you have attended in the past. Whether attending or planning a birthday party, BBQ, wedding, or graduation, a key feature is likely to revolve around refreshments. From mimosas to beer, there’s often a variety of alcohol-infused drinks to choose from. In some cases, it is as important as the main event.
While enjoying a drink now and then is not necessarily considered an indiscretion, many face difficulties doing so responsibly. Some people have a predisposition to alcoholism, and some develop dependency over time. Unfortunately, no matter what the cause, alcohol addiction is a continuing epidemic within the world of alcohol addiction treatment communities.
Alcohol Addiction Can Affect Anyone
Just as alcohol is welcomed within a wide variety of social gatherings, addiction also affects various people. Developing an alcohol use disorder is impartial to age, gender, race, or even socioeconomic status. The difference, however, is how each demographic manages the toil with alcohol addiction.
It’s likely that even gender stereotypes influence the number of reluctant people to reach out for help. Studies show that men are more likely to ask for help when facing an alcohol use disorder. This prompted researchers to look a bit deeper into why many women were reluctant to seek an alcohol addiction treatment center. The findings reflected the correlations between shame, denial, and fear of the developed disease, more so than men.
Gender Roles Affect Expectations
When discussing associations made toward alcohol addiction, it became clear that gender roles and expectations had the greatest impact. Historically, women are understood to be the primary caretakers of their children. Because of this, the fear of having custody taken away obstructs the need to come forward. As the world is quickly evolving, the added pressures contribute to developing an alcohol dependency as well.
The drive to achieve financial independence and success only adds more pressure to women around the country. Stress is the number one influence that leads to developing an addiction, such as alcoholism. Due to the growing demand, contemporary alcohol addiction treatment centers in California have developed treatment programs just for women suffering from alcohol addiction.
With compassion, knowledge, and specialized care, facing alcoholism is much more of a growing experience than ever before. Getting alcohol addiction treatment from a gender-oriented recovery center incorporates hope, strength, and safety into a recovery plan.
Are Women More Susceptible to Alcoholism?
An interesting fact, men have a higher tolerance for alcohol. This does not make them exempt from developing an addiction, although, if keeping score, women are more susceptible.
The male body naturally produces more of the enzyme ADH. ADH breaks down alcohol and is found in the stomach and liver. This naturally occurring enzyme difference, matched with the average size differences between the biological sexes, is responsible for the disparity. Women, biologically at a disadvantage when it comes to using alcohol, can become more easily affected than their counterparts.
What Percentage of Alcoholics Are Female?
Studies show men are about twice as likely to binge drink compared to women.
The CDC study also found that 58% of men reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days compared to 47% of women.
In terms of binge drinking, 13% of women reported binge drinking four times per month, consuming five or more drinks per binge.
Alcoholism is a Family Disease
Alcohol addiction is considered a family disease. On so many levels, the family struggles just as much as the addict themselves. It’s hard to helplessly stand by as the alcoholic you love slowly loses control.
Consequently, many other areas of the family dynamic are impacted as well. In fact, this can also contribute to wanting to keep addiction issues private, reinforcing the reluctance to seek out an alcohol addiction treatment center.
The physical and emotional damage being done by the urges to ingest alcohol can be quite time-consuming. Then, there is the extra time spent trying to cover it up, not to mention the money wasted on supporting the habit. Together, these sacrifice valuable moments away from those that love and need you most.
Family Members Are Expected to Help
Additionally, family members of the alcoholic are obligated to pick up the slack. They will have to make more sacrifices in their lives, and responsibilities become uncomfortably disproportional among partners. Unfortunately, this does not just regard a spouse or life partner’s additional contribution. Older children often also feel the excessive burden to keep a household running.
A significant part of alcohol addiction treatment for women includes the entire family in the therapeutic process. Having specialized services for families and children makes for higher-quality treatment centers. By helping the entire household heal, it increases the ability to protect the most valuable woman’s relationships. These services are usually available while simultaneously getting rehabilitation for alcohol addiction.
Discuss the options available for your family and loved ones as you get the alcohol addiction treatment program that you need. After alcoholism has made its way into all of your lives, the best approach to healing in recovery is a proactive one. The longer you wait to get help, the bigger the impact it will have on those that depend on you.
Identifying Alcoholism Isn’t Always Easy
Each individual suffering from an alcohol use disorder will inevitably experience some life-changing event, caused by their addiction. However, it is not as simple as answering a yes or no question to make that determination. This is because every person is unique, and every addiction is a personal one. From how addiction is developed, to the type of substance abuse, no two alcoholics are exactly alike.
However, because the disease of alcohol addiction has been classified and vehemently studied, there are some common warning signs. Some alcoholics show major distress signals, while others, typically more experienced, more subtle. On that note, age and maturity can impact how warning signs differ.
The normalization of drinking raises the difficulty of determining whether someone requires treatment for an alcohol use disorder. A person aged 16-25 will be different from someone in their 50’s and 60’s, even if both consume alcohol often and in excess. Alcohol addiction treatment must approach rehab and recovery very differently, as well.
Alcohol addiction treatment centers that have options for youth or mature adult programs for women are often the most successful. They are better able to incorporate more relevant therapy or medication assisted treatment, reducing age-related risks of withdrawal. Age-related treatment allows for healing among peer groups, providing a higher level of comfort and support.
How Can I Tell If I’m an Alcoholic?
One of the first signs that dependency on alcohol has developed is being aware of the intensity of withdrawal. To ensure the best possible outcome, an alcoholic may need the assistance of an addiction specialist or a trained medical professional.
By showing or feeling one or more of the warning signs, you could conclude this. Be aware that you may have an alcohol use disorder that requires treatment if:
Alcohol is a primary focus throughout each day
You have difficulty focusing unless it includes alcohol
You’re struggling to be mentally and emotionally present during sentimental events or occasions
You experience severe withdrawal symptoms when you aren’t drinking
Interrupting thoughts about the next opportunity to consume alcohol occur
You are unable to cut back despite efforts and desires
You’re unable to stop consuming alcohol, putting your or others’ well being in jeopardy because of it
You have overwhelming cravings for alcohol that only subside once obtained
You’re being secretive about drinking alcohol, whether in amount or occasion, around others
You become defensive someone asks you about having a drink or about an alcohol addiction
Often, you find yourself needing to drink more to feel the effects
Maintaining obligations (i.e. family, work, or education) is challenging due to alcohol use
You have a fear that joining an alcohol addiction treatment center will take something major away from your life
It is not abnormal for you to miss out on important family and social gatherings because of alcohol use
You’re experiencing noticeable changes in behavior brought upon by cravings and misuse of alcohol
Each one of these behaviors indicates having an addiction to alcohol. Whether an alcohol use disorder has been an ongoing or newly developed habit will continue to evolve. Take measures to get help for addiction, before it takes what’s left of life’s enjoyable moments.
How Much Alcohol Can a Woman Have a Day?
Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one drink per day for women. To remain in the “low risk” category, the NIAAA suggests no more than 7 alcoholic beverages a week.
Withdrawal and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
One of the most difficult experiences of getting substance abuse treatment is going through withdrawal. It takes time to build up a dependency on a substance. Therefore, it will also take time to reset the body’s functions. Alcohol detox is one of the most dangerous processes to undergo. Typically, this can begin anywhere between a few hours to a few days after the last drink.
Some of the major side effects of this process can be extremely uncomfortable and even life-threatening. You may experience sensations such as:
Seizures
Increased anxiety
Cardiac irregularity
Nausea and vomiting
Tremors and shaking
Headache and migraines
Hallucinations or disorientation
Depressed mood and mood swings
Respiratory dysfunction or chest pain
While you may not exhibit all of these symptoms of withdrawal, these are likely risks associated. Often, to detox, lifesaving measures may need to be taken. It can also be scary and uncomfortable for those around you that do not understand what you are going through. During detox, the rehab treatment program will see that your safety is maintained during these uncomfortable times.
Reinforcing Sober Behaviors After Alcohol Addiction Treatment in California
It may take some longer than others to adjust after detox and rehab. Keep in mind; there is no miracle cure for addiction. As the days, months and weeks go by, temptations and triggers will always be threats to overcome.
Intensive sober living is an option to consider that provides alcoholic support in an environment free of alcohol altogether. This California drug and alcohol program is a beneficial way to reinforce rehab lessons while solidifying new sober behaviors.
Intensive sober living combines a sober location to call home and supports time away to stay connected to important friends and family. Similar to residential treatment, which takes place after detox, therapy and support groups are more frequent and available within this residential community, as well as sober peer support.
Relapse is never something to write off completely. Yet, at the beginning of your rehab and recovery journey, it will most likely be the most difficult. The best action you can take for yourself and those you love is to practice sober behaviors until they become habits. Intensive sober living adds to this by restricting alcohol from the premises, therefore removing immediate temptation. Now, with more time to focus on the sober road ahead, the future begins to look much healthier and brighter.
What Is Considered the Most Effective Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder?
While intensive sober living and residential treatment are beneficial treatment programs for drug and alcohol addiction, they may not be suited for everyone. Many women that seek an alcohol addiction treatment center are unable to be absent from the household. Intensive outpatient rehab programs help women stay present in the household. Both inpatient and outpatient rehabs in California can help people recover from alcohol or drug addiction.
This type of alcohol addiction treatment allows those with children, careers, or work obligations to spend more time away. Whether this type of rehab center will be best for each woman depends on the severity of their addiction needs. It is also useful to incorporate this route of care after a short stay in-house.
This type of alcohol treatment program requires focus, attention, and the determination to turn away from triggers to be successful. The same is true for women’s health services, such as partial day treatment options. Apart from being able to return home, they encompass the same beneficial addiction care offered for residents. However, it does not lack the need for willpower to avoid relapse when exposed to triggers and stress at home.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Addiction is a disease, a chronic one at that. Few alcoholics, if any, ever drank to be chemically dependent, or to alter their brain chemicals permanently. Once the brain begins recognizing alcohol as part of feeling “normal,” drinking alcohol is no longer a casual choice. It will have started to have physical effects and influence over behaviors.
Just like additional types of diseases, it has impacted brain chemicals and function and lessened the quality of life. Now, alcohol use has developed into a disorder that needs treatment. Psychological illnesses, such as addiction, are diagnosed by how severely a person is affected, in terms of altered:
Pleasure, due to changes in the reward center of the brain
Mood or frequency of mood swings
Thought process effectiveness
Motivation, or lack thereof
Impulses
When diagnosing and treating alcohol use disorder, it is essential to observe any other psychological illnesses that may also exist. For example, a person that suffers from addiction may also be suffering from depression or anxiety simultaneously.
Sometimes, a mental illness may have driven a person to drink excessively. Other times, it is the opposite way around. Or even, have nothing to do with one another as far as development. Co-occurring mental disorders often require specific treatment. Rehab centers in California like New Directions for Women offer specialized dual diagnosis treatment.
Experts of Rehabilitation for Alcohol Addiction
At New Directions for Women in California, we take the time to screen exclusively for underlying and co-occurring disorders. This is because if left undiagnosed, it can hinder recovery efforts, or even lead to relapse. When this is the case, it is called a dual diagnosis. In the case of dual diagnosis, regardless if one illness leads to the other, there will undoubtedly impact the severity. Alcohol addiction therapy addresses multiple areas of wellness, and mental health is one of them.
Becoming Pregnant While Addicted to Alcohol
Let’s face it: Pregnancy is enough to think about all of its own. For that matter, so is untreated alcohol addiction. Women that are struggling with substance abuse who find out they’re pregnant often need immediate help from a treatment center. While complications during pregnancy can happen naturally, through no fault, when alcohol is consumed, the risk multiplies tremendously.
What Does Alcohol Do to a Woman’s Body?
Alcohol can be transferred in utero by means of the umbilical cord. So any amount of alcohol consumed by the mother at any time during her pregnancy can have dangerous, if not deadly, outcomes for both mother and child. Getting alcohol addiction treatment designed for pregnant women, is crucial to evade birth defects, miscarriage, or stillborn risk.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD, is known to be related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. It can cause a wide array of permanent damage to the unborn child. Some of the characteristics of FASD include:
Impeded growth, such a small head size, stunted height growth, and lower body weight
Problematic or abnormal facial development, such as improperly formed philtrum
Behavioral disorders such as difficulty holding attention, coordination, or memory
Organ damage of the kidneys, liver, or heart
Delayed or impaired speech development
An array of learning disabilities or low IQ
Stillbirth, miscarriage, or premature birth
Loss of hearing or vision
Sleep disturbances
Poor bone growth
What Are Signs of Liver Damage From Alcohol?
A primary job of the liver is to break down toxic substances such as alcohol. After consuming alcohol, enzymes in the liver work to break down alcohol to eventually remove it from the body. Excessive drinking overwhelms the liver, damaging it over time. Early signs of liver damage do not have any exact symptoms. Eventual symptoms of liver damage due to alcohol may include:
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Swelling in the liver, leading to discomfort around the right upper abdomen
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
The damage done to a woman’s mind and body when addicted to alcohol can have lasting effects. The complications of alcoholism during pregnancy can be even more devastating.
Our alcohol and drug rehab in California is educated in treating these special circumstances. Versed in compassion and understanding, work with professionals to develop a course of alcohol addiction treatment best for your pregnancy. Both you and your baby deserve the best addiction treatment, designed with the highest standard of safety and support.
Alternative and Holistic Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder
In order to complete rehab and achieve a long-lasting, meaningful recovery, it is important to address all aspects of health. Utilizing holistic programs can encourage a well-rounded and fulfilling journey of sobriety.
A person’s well-being is based on the highest level of health regarding the mind, body, and soul. This includes ensuring that the family of an alcoholic is also in a position of safety and gratification. Alcohol addiction treatment does not just stop at managing addiction; it’s designed to give you your life back.
Relapse is Not Failure
For many women on their journey through our alcohol rehab in California, bumps in the road are encountered. The same is true for all of life. For an alcoholic, the temptation can range anywhere from a small fleeting thought, to an overwhelming struggle to stay the course. Being sober and in recovery does not mean that the work is complete. The disease of addiction takes hold and often refuses to let go. It is at these times that addicts must remain faithful to their aftercare program.
An aftercare program in California is essentially a lifelong guide that is created throughout an alcohol addiction treatment curriculum. These instructions are developed personally, with the help of addiction counselors, to combat triggers and resist sobriety threatening urges. It will likely include regular meetings and therapy, as one would expect.
But it should also consist of coping mechanisms to stay busy, experience joy, and get through the tough times. For many alcoholics, relapse is part of the journey. Taken as a lesson, it can even make you stronger the next time around. Relapse is not a failure if you never give up on working on yourself.
Alcohol Rehab in California
Whether starting off doing it for yourself or your family, it’s never too late to treat a substance use disorder. Don’t let this disease take anything more away from you. Our treatment center designed just for women has the availability to welcome you in and get you started healing right away. Make contact and get familiar with our alcohol rehab in California.
Each program can help you manage your drug and alcohol rehab needs accurately. In some cases, your life may depend on it. Achieve sobriety so that those who matter to you can depend on you. Call us today, whether you have active health insurance or not. Rehab centers like New Directions for Women can help you make a long-lasting change in your life.
