Alcoholism In Women
Alcoholism and Alcohol Addiction In Women – The Deadly Truth
It’s no secret that alcoholism can be deadly. But, what exactly makes it worse or better for women? According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), alcoholism in women has many special issues and factors that must be considered when treating female alcoholics versus male alcoholics. This isn’t to say that women are more likely to become alcoholics. However, once an alcoholic woman does seek treatment, she will have to face certain challenges that her male counterpart does not. With that said, let’s take a look at what makes alcoholism in women different from alcoholism in men.
Gender Differences In Alcohol Use Disorders
Women are more at risk for alcohol addiction because they’re more sensitive to alcohol – both physically and psychologically – than men. Shockingly, women tend to manifest alcohol-related problems at least 7 to 10 years earlier than men. Women metabolize alcohol slower, meaning that it takes them longer to rid their bodies of harmful toxins. This can lead to liver damage and an increase in the risk of cancer. Alcohol use is also a leading factor for psychiatric disorders in women as opposed to men, like depression and anxiety. It’s important not to overlook gender differences when treating alcoholism so that you know how to effectively combat addiction.
Alcohol addiction and alcoholism have significant gender differences that need to be accounted for. Alcohol abuse can be more damaging to women than men due to hormonal, physical, and psychological changes alcohol brings on. Additionally, alcohol affects people differently depending on their body type, mental state, genetics, and social setting. Each of these will influence the way treatment approaches are created. Some experts believe this may be due to women being less tolerant or having lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase which helps with metabolism.
Why Is Female Alcohol Dependence So Destructive?
Women have a higher fat-to-water distribution in their bodies compared to men. This is one of the main reasons for alcohol dependence being more destructive in women. When alcohol enters the body it goes to our body water first before entering fat. Since women have less total free body water, the alcohol hits the fat cells in body organs harder than in men. This leads to a higher concentration of alcohol in woman’s bloodstreams and brains than in man’s bloodstreams and brains. The higher concentration can lead to serious side effects such as brain damage, stroke, irreversible liver damage, heart disease, and cancer. The effects are also more fatal due to a smaller average size than men. Furthermore, alcohol addiction gender differences and alcoholism gender differences may cause women to be more likely to suffer from psychiatric issues such as depression or anxiety.
Special Treatment Issues For Woman With Alcohol Problems
There are several specialized treatment issues that need to be addressed when dealing with women who are alcoholics. Women with alcoholism require different approaches than men. Women alcoholics are more likely to have psychiatric issues than men, and the addiction is often more life-threatening for women, as well. In addition, the woman alcoholic’s children may experience problems, such as neglect or abuse. Thus, all women alcoholics should be referred for psychiatric evaluation and offered a referral for family therapy if needed.
Begin Alcohol Addiction Treatment in New York, NY
Even if alcoholism does not lead to mental health disorders, it can interfere with her ability to maintain social relationships, take care of her responsibilities at home, and focus on school or work. When a woman enters recovery from alcoholism she must learn new coping skills that will help her stay sober. Otherwise, she will not be able to maintain sobriety over time. Stephen Gilman, MD is an addiction psychiatrist in NYC with over 22 years of experience addressing the special needs of women with alcohol use issues. He is happy to offer support for clients from his New York, NY-based practice, and across the state. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
- Contact Stephen Gilman, MD
- Learn more about me and my approach to alcohol addiction treatment
- Start overcoming alcoholism in women
Other Services Offered with Stephen Gilman, MD – Addiction Psychiatrist in NYC, Manhattan
Alcohol addiction treatment isn’t the only service I offer from my New York, NY-based therapy practice. I understand you may experience more than one mental health concern, which is why I’m happy to provide a variety of services including young adult psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and opioid addiction treatment. I’m also happy to offer prescription drug addiction treatment, cocaine addiction treatment, meth addiction treatment, behavioral addiction treatment, PTSD treatment, drug addiction treatment, and marijuana addiction treatment. Learn more about me or visit my blog for more helpful info.
