When you struggle with substance use disorder, you may realize that you need drug addiction treatment, but you can still be afraid or resistant to the idea of going to a drug rehab center. People who go to rehab initially say they were resistant for a wide variety of reasons, but by the end, they find their long term support groups in the very people they were intimidated by at first and admit it was the best thing they’ve ever done.
Intimidation of people who go to rehab is especially true when it comes to women-only treatment facilities.
These reasons can include:
- Denial: This is a big reason for people to be resistant to treatment. They don’t believe they have a problem, or they might not think it’s severe enough to require treatment. Often someone with an addiction to drugs or alcohol may feel like they’re in control of their substance use despite the reality.
- Loss of control: A fear for so many people is that they don’t control their own lives and behavior. When you go to rehab, you’re admitting you can’t control your substance use, and you need help, and that’s overwhelming.
- Fear: One of the primary reasons people who go to rehab are resistant at first is fear. It takes a lot of courage to go to treatment because it will mean a significant lifestyle change.
- Intimidation: Finally, another reason for treatment resistance is the intimidation factor. Women tend to feel that intimidation factor even more than men in some cases, and they may be nervous about being around other women in a location eliciting such vulnerability. This can go hand-in-hand with overall fear, but we tend to underestimate how intimidating it is to go to treatment and be around all new people in a new setting.
By identifying resistance factors, we are able to pinpoint any issues creating resistance and help encourage the idea of a drug treatment rehab program. In particular, we’re going to focus on women being intimidated by other women.
Why Are Women Hard on Other Women?
There are a few main reasons that psychologists believe women display toxic behaviors to other women. It could be a projection of issues someone doesn’t like about themself. For example, if you’ve experienced unkind treatment by women in the past, it could have been that person’s own insecurities that they were projecting onto you. Another reason is that it can be challenging to recognize or change behaviors. People who go to rehab are likely already dealing with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and perhaps even co-occurring conditions such as eating disorders.
Your insecurities may have you worrying about the way you will be treated by other clients when entering an all-women treatment center, but the reality behind the unity of the women in these support groups is refreshing and overwhelmingly positive.
Why Are People Intimidated By Me?
Along with being intimidated by other women, you may find yourself asking, “why are people intimidated by me?” As a young adult being considered intimidating means that you could find it hard to make friends with other women. Many times the reason people are intimidated by you is because of the manifestation of your own insecurities. You may think, “there’s a group of people I’d like to be friends with, but I doubt they would want to be friends with me” and that thought may keep you from talking to them, which in turn could make you appear intimidating or aloof.
Suppose you think people are intimidated by you because of negative behaviors. In that case, addiction treatment can be a time to assess your behaviors and relationships with other people and start making changes. Aim to be a strong person who welcomes people seeing your strength.
The Importance of Social Support in Treatment and Recovery
Even if you’re fearful of going to treatment because you’re intimidated, people who go to rehab rarely regret the decision. One of the best things you take away from experience is a support network of people who share similar struggles and who will be there for you well after treatment. Social support is arguably one of the most critical factors in treatment and recovery.
As you go through treatment, you may have to let go of some of the unhealthy or toxic relationships that were part of your life in active addiction. There may be people who trigger you or who could take you off your path of sobriety. So, if you don’t replace those negative relationships with a positive support system, you may be at a greater risk of relapse. When you’re in treatment, you’ll undoubtedly face challenges, such as learning how to communicate openly with other people and trust them. You’ll also have to learn how to overcome shame and guilt, and the other people who are in treatment will be working through these same things so you can support one another. The great thing about the relationships you form in rehab is that they’re intentional, healthy relationships that will support your recovery goals and help you stay accountable through every phase of your journey.
Other benefits of social support from people who to go rehab with you include:
- Having solid relationships that you form with people in treatment will give you something to lose. You may have entered treatment at a rock bottom point in your life where you didn’t feel like you had anything to lose, so nothing mattered. With the new friendships you build, you have something to live for and strive to maintain and cultivate.
- Having a good support system in treatment from other people who go to rehab with you will help you manage your stress and cope in positive ways. You can also lean on your peer support system after treatment to deal with daily stresses in your life.
- Having a peer support system of other women can help provide you with a sense of hope. If you’re having a down day or feeling discouraged, the other women you meet in your treatment program can help uplift you, and you can do the same for them in turn.
- You may find motivation from other women you meet in treatment, as well as encouragement when you need it. If you see them doing well, it will positively reinforce you in your recovery.
- When you’re isolated, you’re at a much greater risk of relapsing, according to research. Staying connected reduces the risk of isolation.
All Women Addiction Recovery
There are so many fears you might have about the thought of getting treatment for an addiction to drugs or alcohol. This is something
that almost all people who go to rehab feel. One of the reasons you may be fearful is because of how you’ll interact with the other women in your treatment program. You may worry they’ll judge you or not accept you.
What ends up happening is that those women you’re in treatment with basically become family members and your number one support system. Those relationships that you may have initially been afraid of will become one of the things you look at being integral to your recovery.
Anchored Tides Recovery is an environment where women can heal from their traumas. We have heard time and time again at the beginning of enrollment that our girls have felt intimidated by the other girls in the program, but by the end made some of their new best friends. We lift each other up in every aspect of our lives, and it’s amazing what women can accomplish when they work together, including sobriety. Call us today to learn more about our program.
