Words and wisdoms, sadness shared: it’s another meeting, another circle of strangers. A group is defined by addictions — with worries offered and concerns all traded. Abuse is explained; treatments are suggested; and strength is earned, even if it’s only enough to sustain individuals for the rest of the day. They’ve forged relationships with each other (however unexpected, however tenuous) and these help to ease the burden.
Such a burden seems to offered only from women, however.
It is common assumption that female addicts will seek therapy while male addicts will internalize their pain. Often such an assumption is deemed inappropriate, bordering on sexism. The statistics, however, do support it — and the results of those statistics are surprising.
Women are more than three times more likely to succeed with their rehabilitation treatments than men. They suffer fewer relapses and are instead often able to defeat addiction within their first attempts — and this is typically attributed to their willingness to seek outside aid.
It’s estimated that 70 percent of all female substance abusers will find some form of treatment (with group therapy being the most common of these). This is considerably higher than men — with those numbers believed to extend only to 20 percent. The value of rehabilitation has forever been touted; and it’s now being proven by a gender: women often excel at healing and are less likely to have to repeat their programs.
And the source of these triumphs is therapy.
It is vital therefore for all individuals to discover treatments and new programs. These will not only offer the necessary knowledge about a disease but they will also increase the chance for success — and that should never be denied.