The Buddha said, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” This is emblematic of what helping others in recovery is all about. It is about giving all of oneself so that others may too get well. This is also why community in outpatient rehab can be particularly helpful in helping women heal from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Importance of Community for Recovery
Community offers a myriad of benefits that can be essential for individuals trying to recover from issues of addiction and/or mental health issues like PTSD. Community in recovery is so important that it has its own chapter in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book) entitled “Working With Others.”
The chapter states, “Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends – this is an experience you must not miss.” The same is true with community helping women recover from PTSD.
Community for recovery also offers many other benefits. The following are just a few of those benefits:
- Establishes accountability
- Offers support during times of strength and weakness
- Helps bolster communication
- Introduces fun and excitement in recovery
- Helps reduce mental health relapse
Better Understanding PTSD
Many people may not realize just how prevalent PTSD currently is. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Center for PTSD, “About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” Also, “About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.”
So, what exactly is PTSD? According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), “PTSD is a mental disorder that may develop after exposure to exceptionally threatening or horrifying events […]. PTSD can occur after a single traumatic event or from prolonged exposure to trauma, such as sexual abuse in childhood. Predicting who will go on to develop PTSD is a challenge.”
However, while predicting who will get PTSD may be a challenge, it is known that certain populations are more susceptible to acquiring it. This includes women.
Women and PTSD
The fact of the matter is that women are just more likely to develop PTSD than men. According to the European Journal of Psychotraumatology, “Prevalence and type of trauma: The lifetime prevalence of PTSD is about 10 – 12% in women and 5 – 6% in men. There are similar differences between the sexes for (comorbid) disorders such as major depression and anxiety disorders. PTSD subcluster scores have been found to be increased in women, e.g. for re-experiencing and anxious arousal. Men and women experience different types of trauma, both in private life and at work (e.g. police officers), with women being exposed to more high-impact trauma (e.g. sexual trauma) than men, and at a younger age.”
Many women who struggle with PTSD are often overlooked. This is because the healthcare system in the U.S. is still set up to believe women less than certain other populations. Unfortunately, because of this reality, many women struggle senselessly with PTSD for far too long and don’t get the help that they need. For some that help resides in outpatient rehab.
Treating PTSD in Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient rehab is an exceptional type of treatment for individuals who need to focus on their recovery but remain functional in their day-to-day lives. Many women with PTSD fit this category.
Some people get confused and think that outpatient rehab is less intensive than residential care. This is not necessarily the case. Outpatient rehab can be very intensive, requiring full days and a variety of means, methods, and modalities. For example, for individuals struggling with PTSD, outpatient rehab may involve trauma-informed therapy.
How Community in Outpatient Rehab Helps Women Heal From PTSD
As previously mentioned, working with others can be critical for a successful recovery. Outpatient rehab offers this opportunity for community because bonds are often made between people going to rehab at the same time.
This often happens in group therapy sessions and can continue long after treatment is over with recovery center alumni groups. It is this shared experience that can truly lead to long-term success and a healthy well-balanced recovery.
A Sense of Community at New Creation Recovery
At New Creation Recovery, we believe that people are not just clients. They are members of a community with the goal of success for all. When one wins, everyone wins.
Recovery is about the We, never the Me. Recovery is right around the corner. We can do this together.
Community is vital in healing from many mental health challenges. However, it is particularly helpful for women healing from PTSD. PTSD is a pervasive disorder that needs focused mental health care and attention. Community can help bring this vital attention. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD or any other type of mental illness or addiction, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information on how women with PTSD can find community and safety in outpatient rehab at New Creation Recovery, please reach out to us today at (877) 868-5730.
