Thursday, April 2, 2009

Drug addiction programs for women

As a woman who has attended a drug addiction program in an addiction center, I know that there are quite a few women in recovery. But, I thought it’d be helpful for girls out there to know more about a rehab program that really focuses on issues that affect us more than guys. My experience in a drug addiction program for women showed me that help is out there for us girls, as long as we ask for it.

A women’s drug addiction program at an addiction center

I went to a drug addiction program at an Orange County addiction center that was mixed with men and women. However, the therapists and counselors were definitely sensitive to my issues, and the topics covered in my individual counseling sessions reflected this deep understanding and trust. My drug addiction program was specially tailored to deal with my past issues involving abuse and anorexia.

Through focused and productive individual counseling with an understanding therapist, I was able to confront the issues that had driven me to abuse drugs and alcohol. A huge weight was lifted off my back once these issues were resolved through therapy. The experience was also a little frightening, because these were some deep fears and memories that I had kept secret for decades. I’ve been clean and sober for a few years now, so I’m very grateful I went to an addiction center that had treated hundreds of female addicts and alcoholics before me.

A women’s sober living home helped my transition after rehab

After my month in the addiction center, I moved into its affiliated sober living home for women, which was also in Dana Point, California. It was a safe space where I could take new life challenges at my own pace. In the sober living home I met a great group of sisters to help me through early sobriety. We supported each other and looked out for one another, and that sometimes made all the difference.

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Recovery is for us girls too!

So, I’ve been reading up on this blog and I noticed that there’s almost nothing about women in recovery. As a woman who has attended a drug addiction program in an addiction center, I know that there are quite a few women in recovery. From my experience in a same-sex sober living home I know there are sober living homes in Southern California that are for women. I just thought I’d shed some light on the subject of drug addiction programs for women, so that if there’s a girl in trouble who’s reading this blog, she knows there is help out there.

A drug addiction program for women at an addiction center
I went to a drug addiction program at an Orange County addiction center that was mixed with men and women. However, the therapists and counselors were definitely sensitive to my issues, and my individual counseling reflected this deep understanding on their part. My drug addiction program was specially tailored to deal with my past issues involving sexual trauma and an eating disorder.

Through focused and insightful one-on-one counseling with an understanding therapist, I was able to confront my issues that were driving me to abuse drugs and alcohol. It was like a huge weight was lifted off my back once these issues were aired in a professional and therapeutic setting. The experience was also a little frightening, because these were some deep fears and memories that I had kept secret for decades. Now that I’ve been clean and sober for a few years, I’m very grateful I went to a drug addiction program at an addiction center that had treated hundreds of women addicts before me.

The women’s sober living home helped my transition after rehab
After my month in the addiction center, I moved into its affiliated sober living home for women, which was also in Dana Point, California. It was exactly what I needed at that time of my recovery: a safe space where I could take new life challenges at my own pace. Oh, and not to forget, I couldn’t go back to where I was staying before because I lived with my dealer! Not only did the sober living home protect me from having to deal with that mess, but I feel like I met a great group of sisters while living there. We supported each other and looked out for one another, and that sometimes made all the difference.

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