Alcohol Abuse is on the Rise for Women

 

Alcohol Abuse

When people are stressed, they tend to look for relief, which is why alcohol abuse is on the rise for women.

In today’s hectic world, it is important to understand the connection between stress and sobriety.

If you are trying to stay sober, uncontrolled stress can make your goal much harder to achieve.

On the other hand, if you know how to manage stressful situations, you will have a much easier time keeping your recovery on track.

Stress is a natural response to certain types of everyday situations.

You may also experience extremely stressful emotions during certain kinds of traumatic events.

If you are recovering from substance abuse problems, stressful situations can trigger a relapse.

In the past, you may have turned to drink or taking drugs in an attempt to cope with strong, unpleasant feelings.

Now, however, you desperately want to maintain your hard-earned sobriety.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to manage your stress without relapsing back into substance use.

Immediate Placement in Alcohol Rehab

 

Understanding Alcohol Abuse Among Women

 

Each person that has an abusive relationship with alcohol may have a different reason.

But among women, there are patterns that we are beginning to better understand.

Female biology, drinking at social gatherings, and common mood disorders are each factoring into the increase.

Women, on average, also weigh less than men do.

This means that most women will have a lower threshold for excessive drinking, increasing the risk of transitioning to physical dependence and addiction.

These are a few considerations when considering alcohol abuse rates among women.

Societal factors are another consideration.

More often than men, women feel pressured or obligated to effectively juggle full-time or demanding jobs and full-time family obligations.

More women own and run businesses than ever before in our history. While these numbers grow, families continue to grow, too.

Women face a multitude of tasks at every moment.

Increased pressures, anxieties, and stressful situations may all lead women to abuse alcohol.

Alcohol Abuse is on the Rise for Women Emerald Isle - A woman sits on a couch and slams a beer. Her alcohol abuse means she needs alcohol to get sober.

 

Effects and Abuse

 

In times of high stress, anxiety, or uncertainty, reaching for a drink may seem like a normal and easy thing to do. In the short-term, it often reduces stress and anxiety. Most people drink at celebrations, holidays, and happy hours. You can find liquor stores or grocery stores selling beer and wine around every corner. It is not illegal. It is on display at most gatherings and celebrations. The astounding normalcy of alcohol makes it easy to abuse and easy to justify when you do. However, after prolonged alcohol abuse, alcoholism is the next natural step.

And alcoholism is related to a variety of health risks. Many alcoholics are at an increased risk of having a stroke or developing cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholic hepatitis, heart disease, brain damage, and breast cancer are also linked to alcoholism. In studies of the effects of alcohol on different genders, research suggests that alcohol may be more detrimental to women’s health than men’s health. There are many physical and mental health complications related to alcohol abuse, as well as an increased risk for dangerous behaviors like impaired driving, violence, and criminal behaviors.

 

Mental Illness and Alcohol Abuse

 

Many women turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism to overcome troubling mental health symptoms. Alcoholism is often linked to depression. The link can occur in either direction; your existing depression may lead you to drink, or your drinking may lead you to become depressed.

This is a particularly troubling concern for female alcoholics because women are more likely to suffer from depression than men are. Over time, alcohol will always lead to more problems than it solves.

Learn More About our Alcohol Rehab Program

 

Treatment

 

Before alcohol abuse transitions into alcoholism, a less intensive program may be all you need. Inpatient or residential programs are more often recommended for those with moderate to severe addictions, overwhelming cravings or withdrawal symptoms, or a lack of support at home. If you have not reached this level of addiction and do not require a medical detox, you may not need 24-hour care. There are supplemental programs that combine support, guidance, and care with the right amount of flexibility for alcohol abuse and milder addictions,.

In these supplemental programs, you get the care that you need while still attending to your career, family life, and other aspects of your life that deserve your attention. These alternative treatment settings include partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, traditional outpatient rehab programs, and aftercare addiction treatments. Depending on the details of your alcohol abuse and individual needs, we will work with you to choose the right program. With enough details, we will build a program with your well-being in mind. We will open the doors to a variety of proven treatment methods in any setting you choose.

 

Proven Treatment Methods for Alcohol Abuse

 

Behavioral therapies are some of the most used treatment methods for substance abuse. These therapies often include individual sessions, family sessions, or group counseling. They are used to achieve a variety of goals. Among these goals, some of the most common are:

  • Addressing your motivation to change
  • Identifying or providing incentives to stop drinking
  • Building the skills you need to resist drinking alcohol
  • Replacing alcohol-related activities with rewarding or constructive ones
  • Improving your problem-solving and communication skills
  • Understanding and improving the important relationships in your life
  • Avoiding transitioning to alcoholism

Therapy is an incredibly useful tool in understanding what drives your alcohol abuse. It also helps you make peace with your triggers or temptations to no longer have the same effect on you. Individual therapy is an excellent place to evaluate and improve. Family therapy sets you and your loved ones up with a safe and comfortable place to meaningfully engage with one another, repair damage, and work on communicating more effectively and sympathetically. Group counseling allows you to exchange stories, advice, and support with others working toward the same goals you are.

Alcohol Abuse is on the Rise for Women Emerald Isle - A group of women in alcohol rehab talk about the triggers that lead to their alcohol abuse.

Payment Options

Do you want treatment but are worried about how you can pay for it? We have a team of financial professionals who provide free insurance verification. We will work with you to determine how to move forward with the treatment in a way that works for you and your financial situation.

Free Insurance Verification for Alcohol Rehab

 

How to Get Help

 

At Emerald Isle Health and Recovery, we improve access to treatment and recovery for anyone who needs it.

We are continually improving our existing treatment approaches and creating new ones.

We aim to improve the lives of the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

For a truly integrated and evidence-based approach to recovery, choose Emerald Isle.

The well-being and sobriety of our clients come first over everything else.

Let us help you achieve long-term and sustainable recovery.

Call 855-613-0620 to schedule your consultation.