Why IOP is a good choice for moms and women who work

Many women who struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol don’t get the help they need because they cannot check themselves into an inpatient facility for a month or more. Life won’t allow it. While addiction can wreak havoc on a woman’s life, she still may have a family to raise, a job to keep, or aging parents to take care of. For more information about our intensive outpatient program, please contact Women’s Recovery today at 833.754.0554. 

Inpatient treatment can be a very positive and beneficial experience and often a necessary one. However, it can also create an incredible disruption to a woman’s life. Knowing this, women often avoid getting addiction rehabilitation even though they need it. They want to get help, but they can’t just abandon their life and responsibilities to do so.   

If you are a mom raising kids or a woman who works a full-time job, we want you to know that you have options if you want to get help for an addiction to drugs or alcohol. You don’t have to check yourself into an around-the-clock rehabilitation facility to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) could be the perfect solution for treating your substance abuse problem. It will allow you to keep your job, continue on with your mommy duties, and find freedom from the bondage of addiction.

At Women’s Recovery, we offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP) to women who come to us looking for help with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. IOP is an effective alternative to inpatient treatment. The problem is, many women don’t realize that an intensive outpatient program is even available.

If you cannot arrange to attend inpatient treatment because you cannot afford to be away from your job or family, IOP may be the right choice for you. An intensive outpatient program happens several times a week for several hours per session with individual therapy sessions mixed in. Most women who choose to go to IOP attend sessions in the evening to allow them to continue to work and take care of the needs of their family.

The only real difference between inpatient treatment and IOP is that when you participate in IOP, you don’t live on-site, and you spend less time in treatment. Instead of living at the treatment, you return to the comfort of your own home after every daily session. Where inpatient treatment requires a 24-7 commitment for thirty days or more, IOP takes place over the course of 9-15 hours every week for a couple of months.

IOP can be the ideal situation for working women and moms who are raising a family. It allows those who need addiction treatment to keep their jobs and continue to take care of the daily needs of their household. This is a huge benefit to attending an intensive outpatient program. Also, IOP is much more affordable than inpatient treatment. Whether you are completely paying out of pocket or using your health insurance, an intensive outpatient program is a cost-effective way to get the help you need for a substance abuse problem.

IOP implements the same evidence-based treatment models that you would expect to find at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. This means you will receive the level of quality care that you would expect to find at a full-time treatment. You will receive a customized treatment plan catered to your individual needs, designed to give you the tools and coping skills you need to sustain long-term recovery.  

At our IOP, you will attend regular peer-group therapy sessions with people just like you who are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. These groups are led by a trained expert who is skilled in the science of addiction treatment. Forging healthy relationships with other recovering people will help you to establish and maintain sobriety. You will also participate in individual counseling with a therapist who will help you uncover some of the reasons why you became addicted to drugs or alcohol in the first place. Addressing past hurts and traumas can help you find healing, which lays the groundwork for a successful recovery journey.

Many women who have an addiction to drugs or alcohol have a co-occurring disorder, also known as a dual diagnosis. Many women have mental health issues like bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, anxiety, or any other mental disorder and also have a problem with substance abuse. You have a dual diagnosis. Those who have mood or mental disorders and an addiction to drugs or alcohol require special treatment to address both aspects of their condition.

Recovery can be more challenging for women who struggle with mental health issues. In fact, many women use alcohol or drugs to cope with the uncomfortable feelings that anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other disorders can create. Studies show that substance abuse can make mental health issues worse. Using drugs like cocaine or methamphetamines and mixing alcohol with psych meds can cause delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, and other problems. Denver Women’s Recovery specializes in the treatment of co-occurring disorders. We can help you learn to manage your symptoms without turning to drugs or alcohol as a solution.

We can help you learn to manage your symptoms without turning to drugs or alcohol as a solution.

Many drugs (like prescription opioids and heroin, for example) and especially alcohol often require professional medical detoxification before you can start an IOP program. Some substances can create a physical dependence that will bring about uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using them.

With a professional medical detox, you undergo the withdrawal process at a hospital or detox center. You will be monitored and evaluated around the clock for your safety. A medical professional will administer certain medications that will perform a range of functions, such as:

• Prevent seizures
• Reduce nausea and vomiting
• Lessen cravings
• Keep you sedated for your comfort

Many people try to quit using drugs or alcohol cold turkey. We believe this is a mistake. Are you addicted to alcohol or drugs that would put your physical or mental well-being in jeopardy? If so, it may be necessary to undergo a professional medical detox.

If so, it may be necessary to undergo a professional medical detox.

If you’re ready to attend an IOP, you will be evaluated to determine if you need to detox before starting treatment. It is often best to go through detox before your rehabilitation process begins if necessary. 

It is important to recognize that while an IOP may fit your lifestyle, it may not be right for you. Many people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines find that they cannot stay sober in the early days of recovery without 24-7 supervision in a secure facility.

IOP requires an incredible amount of commitment and determination for those who want to stay sober. You will face temptation and daily stressors that you would not experience if you stayed at an inpatient treatment. It is important to keep this in mind as you make a decision about your treatment options.

It is important to keep this in mind as you make a decision about your treatment options.

Of course, you can always choose to attend an IOP program as your first step toward recovery. If you find that you cannot stay sober, you can always check yourself into an inpatient facility. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that approximately 64,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in 2016. This is the highest number of drug fatalities in a single year in recorded history. If you have an addiction to drugs, you should know that your life is at stake. Drug addiction is a life-threatening illness that should be considered a medical emergency. If you are struggling with drug addiction, get help today.

Most people are aware that drugs are extremely toxic, but they underestimate the dangers of alcohol. You might be surprised to learn that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that there are about 88,000 alcohol-related fatalities every year.

You might be surprised to learn that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that there are about 88,000 alcohol-related fatalities every year.

If you are drinking heavily or think you have a problem with drugs, we recommend that you seek help. At Women’s Recovery, we offer a range of treatment programs for substance use disorders, including:

• Alcohol addiction treatment
• Heroin addiction treatment
• Cocaine addiction treatment
• Opioid addiction treatment
• Prescription drug addiction treatment

If you’re ready to do something about your substance abuse problem, we are here to help. Contact us today for a free, confidential assessment. Not sure if you need addiction treatment? Take this quiz and find out.