Alcoholism Treatment Program for Women at Balboa Horizons

Alcoholism Treatment Program for Women at Balboa Horizons

Alcoholism is a disease that has long been associated with men. Social expectations of women feed the misconception that females do not experience alcohol-related problems to the extent that men do. In reality, about one-third of all alcoholics are women and the disease actually develops quicker in females. However, many female alcoholics share the mentality that alcoholism is a male disease. This mentality brings on feelings of shame and denial about their illness, often barring them from admitting to their problem or seeking treatment.

Loved ones will often partake in the denial and avoid intervention for fear of insulting the female alcoholic or being too harsh. These are fears that are not a typically a concern when addressing male alcoholics. This stigma serves only to endanger the female alcoholic. As one writer noted, “more female alcoholics die in their living rooms than in the street.” The disease of alcoholism is equally severe among women and men. However, the circumstances of denial and recommended approaches to recovery vary greatly among genders. To understand more about how alcoholism affects women specifically, it is important to first understand the general nature of alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a disease that has no respect for gender, age, race, profession or social standing. Perhaps the most common misconception concerning alcoholism is that the disease involves an extreme lack of willpower. This is entirely false as willpower is of absolutely no use when dealing with alcoholism. When an alcoholic drinks alcohol in any amount, they experience a physiological reaction known as craving that drives them to drink more and more, despite extreme intoxication or negative consequences. www.balboahorizons.com

Balboa Horizons 90 Day Program Rehab

Evidence is building to support the 90-day rehabilitation model, which was stumbled upon by Alcoholics Anonymous where it is suggested that new members attend at least one meeting a day for the first 90 days of recovery. Research indicates that the 90-day time frame is approximately how long it takes the brain to recover from the immediate effects of drug or alcohol abuse. Researchers at Yale have documented what they call The Sleeper Effect, a gradual re-engaging of proper decision-making and analytical functions in the brain’s prefrontal cortex after an addict has sustained from use for at least 90 days. Although 90-days has become widely accepted as the typical duration of an initial stay in a rehabilitation center, it is by no means a concrete time frame for everyone seeking treatment. We understand that each case is different and includes various factors that will affect the duration of treatment required, however, we do support the 90-day treatment model as a solid starting point.

Balboa Horizons’ 90-Day Extended Care Treatment is the core of our holistic healing program for women. Overwhelming evidence shows that 90 days sober marks the beginning of both the physical and mental benefits of sobriety. However, our program is designed to do much more that simply give our clients 90 days of sobriety. It is about giving them the appropriate amount of care to foster a continued recovery. We believe that our 90-Day Extended Care Program provides a solid foundation for lasting sobriety.

In a study released in April 2007, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs stated the following:
Women differ from men in many aspects, including: their reasons for initiating substance abuse, the consequences they experience, the barriers and motivations for entering treatment, treatment services needed, relapse risks and recovery support needs.
The report suggests gender-specific treatment as the most successful method of rehabilitation, and goes on to conclude that effective gender-specific programs possess the following characteristics: read more...

Addiction Treatment Dual Diagnosis Recovery Center for Women: Balboa Horizons on Facebook

Addiction Treatment Dual Diagnosis Recovery Center for Women: Balboa Horizons on Facebook

Merry Christmas & A Healthy New Year!

Christmas is a time of giving thanks and remembering our fellow human beings. We are grateful for all of the women who have had the courage to walk through the doors of Balboa Horizons and realize whole new ways of living. We wish all of them and you a wonderful safe Holiday Season! ----Balboa Horizons

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Balboa Horizons Professional Staff

The clinical staff at Balboa Horizons stands out as the single most vital resource of the Holistic Healing Program for Women. Our Professionals have been screened and selected for their background and success in the field of women's addiction, and recovery.

Balboa Horizon’s is pleased to present a highly trained and skilled staff that brings over 40 years of experience into the healing environment with compassion, professionalism and a dedication to the care needs that are specific to recovering woman. In addition, our staff has an understanding of the life-changing challenges and issue’s that women commonly face in recovery. Our staff provides care that is personal, individualized where necessary and addresses the physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that have lead many women to addiction.

The Balboa Horizons program is unlike any other in combining a gentle inspiring environment with extensive daily and weekly exposure to leading professionals in the field with a generous staff-to-client ratio.

Women & Trauma-Treatment-Recovery

Women & Trauma in Recovery


Trauma experienced in women's life can have life altering-long term effects that can result in addictions. Some trauma can be experienced once, and also repeatedly in a women's life. The psychiatric definition of "trauma" is "an event outside of normal human experience." Trauma generally leaves a woman feeling powerless, helpless, and paralyzed. It tends to be sudden and overwhelming; it "owns" her. A woman who has experienced trauma cannot think clearly during and after a severe trauma; at the same time, she is forced to focus her consciousness in an attempt to deal with life and the situation. One example of trauma can be described as "any sudden and potentially life-threatening event".

Some examples of one time trauma events can include natural disasters (earthquake, flood, hurricane, etc), rape, assault, muggings, robbery, accidents (automobile, airplane, train, etc) and fires. Examples of reoccurring trauma can include physical or sexual abuse as a child or spouse, war, life in a prison camp, life as a refugee, hostage situations, life in a concentration camp, and life in some religious cults. This list is in no way exhaustive, and each woman experiences her trauma in a unique and personal way.

In the course of treating women at Balboa Horizons, our clinical addiction treatment team has been able to help women uncover traumatic experiences in their life's that are now being self medicated with addiction. Whether it be drugs, alcohol, food, or sex, getting to the core issues resulting in a women's destructive lifestyle is the foundation and mission of Balboa Horizons. We understand the specific needs of women. For immediate assistance please call us at 866-316-4012. We look forward to helping you!