Relapse Prevention Treatment for Addicted Women in San Diego County

How many times have you said to yourself that you were not going to drink or use drugs again, then found yourself with a drink, a line or a prescription bottle in your hand?  Many women discover that the relationship they were in during their alcohol and/or drug use, or a new relationship begun in early recovery,  is a trigger for relapsing. Letting go of the relationship with alcohol and drug use is essential to recovery. For most people who have addictions, the substance is number one relationship in their lives, and people, including spouses, children, and parents become number 2.   The number one relapse trigger for women who are trying to remain free of alcohol and drugs, is a relationship difficulty.  If your drinking and/or use of drugs was connected with a difficult relationship, get some support from others who understand the strain addiction has on  relationships and marriages.  

Research has shown that alcohol and drug treatment for women is most effective when learning includes an understanding of the development of codependency in relationships. Women often value pleasing and seek approval from others, over their own self care and sobriety. Alcohol and drug treatment for women in groups with other women, help to build self esteem, boundaries and increase effective communication with others, the essential foundation for long term quality of life issues. Family education and family therapy helps family members also understand the effects of chemical addiction on their side of the relationship with the chemically dependent woman, and to make changes for healthier communication patters. Listening and being heard and understood are the hallmarks of creating intimacy in relationships that has been robbed by the addiction.

Depression and anxiety are common co-occurring problems with women who seek treatment for alcohol and prescription drug dependence. An effective treatment program will help women to understand distortions in thinking and feeling states impacted by alcohol and drugs.

Lasting Recovery will help you make the changes you need to get your life back on track. If are unable to help you with the range of services we offer, we will refer you to the wonderful resource network of other providers and centers that will be able to be of service to you.

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS

A-Z of Addiction Recovery - S is for Self-esteem

Self-esteem

How we feel about ourselves is often evident to others by the way we look and how we treat ourselves. Do I dress dress becomingly or do I throw on an old t-shirt and jeans with holes in them? Do I accept myself as human, or do I criticize myself when I make mistakes? Do I believe I can do things as well as others? What do I deserve in life? Many people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol don't feel good about themselves after years of abusing substances and themselves, and part of recovery is restoring essential dignity, self respect and self esteem.

Taking good of ourselves contributes to self esteem. Positive, healthy behaviors also assist us in feeling good about outselves, and this in turn fuelss more healthy behavior. By saying "no" when we need to, asking for things we need, expecting to be treated well - these are all aspects of positive self esteem. In recovery we work on restoring what was lost in the addiction process - self esteem.