by Sally Rosa | Sep 30, 2014 | Recovery
There’s Strength in Numbers
Check out the newest addition to Lighthouse Recovery Institute’s ever-growing addiction treatment resources – Sobriety For Men.
We’re an online community for men in recovery. We aim to discuss a variety of men’s issues and offer a unique, gender-specific take on sobriety. You’ll find things like addiction articles, links to helpful online and offline resources, recovery videos, and much more.
After running Sobriety For Women, our team of women’s addiction professional thought, “hey, what about men’s recovery?” We assembled a team of men’s addiction professionals and they got right to work creating a safe space for men in recovery.
Do you have a male family member, significant other, or loved one in recovery? Send them over our way. We’re still growing, so come join us and remember – there’s strength in numbers!
by Sally Rosa | Mar 18, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Sobriety For Women
Why Go To An All Women’s Treatment Center?
Laura suffers from heroin addiction and an eating disorder. She goes to a traditional treatment center and is placed in a male therapist’s caseload. Not only does her therapist have no experience with treating eating disorders, but he’s a guy! He also has thirty people in his caseload, including males. What happens?
If you guessed that Laura opens up a tiny bit, and only a tiny bit, you’d be right!
See, Laura talks about some basic topics. She talks about things like triggers and her insomnia. Because her therapist has no experience with eating disorders, she can get away with acting out. Her quickly dwindling weight goes unnoticed. Also, because of the men in her caseload, Laura never feels comfortable opening up about the trauma, guilt, and shame from her past. She does her thirty days, gets out, and relapses within a week.
This scenario happens everyday in treatment centers across the country. There’s a huge need for women’s addiction treatment.
There are like a thousand reasons why it’s beneficial for women to go to an all women’s treatment center. If we talked about all of them, we’d be here until next Wednesday. Let’s look at the top three.
The Top Three Reasons To Go To a All Women’s Treatment Center
1) Gender Specific Treatment
Addiction is a vicious disease that affects individuals differently, especially women. Women have a difficult time finding a treatment center that’s designed specifically for them, with gender unique therapists and groups. Women’s issues, like co-dependency, eating disorders, domestic violence, abortions, and trauma often get swept under the rug at traditional rehabs. I know I didn’t feel comfortable talking about my history of guilt and shame with guys in the room!
Drug Rehabs that have a comprehensive clinical program specifically tailored to women, it’s easy for the women to feel comfortable and work on our core and underlying issues.
2) Comfortability
There is often a huge discrepancy in what men and women look for while going to treatment. Women often need to feel more comfortable at their treatment center. They need to feel like they’re in a “home away from home.”
Drug Rehabs designed to make a woman as comfortable as possible make the recovery process easier on the woman away from her family and loved ones.
3) Less Distractions
A huge plus for women seeking treatment at an all women’s treatment center is that there are fewer distractions. Often, women tend to act out in early-sobriety. This commonly takes the form of getting into an unhealthy relationship. Getting rid of a common distraction leads to higher success rates!
When looking for an all women’s treatment center, find one that’s individualized and offers specific client-centered services. Recovery from addiction, as well as eating disorders, is difficult! With a strong and caring clinical staff, we promise to provide the structure and support women in recovery need to achieve success!
by A Women in Sobriety | Mar 31, 2013 | Addiction Treatment, Sobriety For Women
Don’t be Average, Be Phenomenal
My best friend, Tim S., owner and creator of SoberNation.com, introduced me to this series of motivational videos. These videos are more than just the typical “you can do anything if you set your mind to it” speeches (I know you’re imagining those in your head right now!).
We recently watched one where the subject was “Being Phenomenal.”
Now, of course, everyone wants to be phenomenal. Being phenomenal is, well, phenomenal! However, most of us settle for being average because it’s easier. Being average is safer. It’s quicker. It takes less work. Except, being average may just end up suffocating the life out of you.
My Story
I found myself twenty-three years old, four years sober, and pondering if the sky really was the limit. I decided to be my own guinea pig.
I went back to school and got a Bachelor’s Degree. Check.
I quit smoking cigarettes and haven’t inhaled in two years. Check.
I started a company called Sobriety for Women: South Florida Recovery to change the way women in recovery are treated. Check.
My friend and I opened a women’s halfway house in Delray Beach. Check.
I opened a Comprehensive Addiction Treatment facility for women. Today, we house over twenty women. Check.
These women have become family, helping each other stay sober. It’s a beautiful thing to be involved with and witness.
The Future Looks Phenomenal
Today, I’m in the works of expanding South Florida’s premiere woman’s treatment center. The process is nothing short of amazing.
I didn’t write this article as some sort of cheesy way to get our name out (though no publicity is bad publicity, right?). I wrote this to say we can be our own phenomenon.
We can, all of us, reinvent our lives and change directions. One thing most motivational videos don’t tell you? You’re a person alive in this world – you can achieve anything. Surround yourself with people who want to go further and you’ll do the same. Figure out what makes you happy and go do it!
Much Love,
Brittany Ringerson
