If you’re a woman, you have unique risks for alcoholism. That includes the potential to develop an alcohol dependency faster than the average man. It may also involve having necessary treatment needs not as common for men in recovery. Taken together, these facts mean that gender-specific help for an alcoholic woman is often essential. They also suggest that a woman-focused treatment program may be by far the best recovery option.
If you are a woman struggling with alcoholism, Women’s Recovery can help. Reach out today at 833.754.0554 or contact us online.
What Are Your Chances of Becoming an Alcoholic Female?
On average, a woman who drinks is more likely to develop alcoholism than a man who drinks. Why is this true? For starters, women tend to weigh considerably less than men. In addition, for each pound of weight, women’s bodies hold less water than men’s bodies.
When alcohol enters your system, it mostly ends up in your body’s store of water. However, since women carry less water weight than men, a higher percentage of alcohol stays in the bloodstream. In turn, even when they weigh the same as men, women get drunk faster. They also face a more rapid road to alcohol dependence.
All of this helps explain why women must drink less than men to keep their alcoholism risks low. For men, the maximum drinking levels that keep alcoholism risks in check are:
- Four drinks in a single day
- 14 drinks in a single week
In contrast, for women, the maximum levels are just:
- Three drinks in a single day
- Seven drinks in a single week
The exact daily and weekly amounts that don’t increase alcoholism risks may vary from person to person.
Primary Treatment to Help an Alcoholic Woman
When it comes to primary treatments for alcoholism, not much gender difference exists. Both men and women may receive help from several forms of medication. The available medication options will help you avoid an alcohol relapse. They will also help correct some of alcohol’s long-term effects on your brain.
An alcoholic female or male may also benefit from certain kinds of psychotherapy. There are therapies designed to help both men and women stay in treatment. In addition, some therapies help you change your relationship to alcohol and develop an enduring sober lifestyle.
Gender-Specific Treatment to Help an Alcoholic Woman
An alcoholic woman may also have gender-specific issues that must be addressed during treatment. One widespread issue is a personal background that includes serious trauma. This is important because the trauma common among women that increase alcoholism risks is often not the same trauma men experience. Another widespread concern is the presence of eating disorders and problems with healthy eating. Coupled with a history of severe trauma, these issues may help fuel alcohol addiction.
You may not get targeted help for these gender-specific problems in a co-ed alcohol recovery program. That’s true, in large part, because the standard model in co-ed programs is typically geared toward men. In these circumstances, you may have a more challenging time than necessary recovering from alcoholism.
The situation is very different in women-focused treatment for alcoholism. A gender-specific program will not only provide you with the primary treatments that work for both men and women. It will also provide you with secondary treatments most likely to benefit women in particular. The list of essential options in a women-focused program include both trauma therapy and nutrition therapy.
Seek Gender-Specific Help for an Alcoholic Woman at Women’s Recovery
At Women’s Recovery, we understand what it takes to help an alcoholic woman. We feature primary alcohol treatment specifically designed to support women in recovery. We also feature a range of secondary programs to improve your overall recovery odds. Call today at 833.754.0554 or reach out online to learn more about our women-focused, customized services.
