Why Women's Treatment is Different
High-achieving women face unique pressures that can lead to problematic drinking or substance use. The expectations placed on professional women -- to excel at work, maintain a household, be a present parent, and appear effortlessly composed -- create an environment where self-medicating with alcohol or medication becomes an understandable, if dangerous, coping strategy.
Dr. Lori Washton understands these dynamics from both a clinical and personal perspective. Her approach addresses the specific biological, psychological, and social factors that make women's treatment different from men's.
Biological Differences
Women metabolize alcohol differently than men. The same amount affects women more intensely, and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can trigger increased drinking and mood changes.
Stigma and Shame
A man who drinks heavily is "stressed." A woman, especially a mother, is judged far more harshly. This shame keeps women from seeking help and drives drinking underground.
Dual Burden
Women often manage careers, households, children, and aging parents simultaneously. Self-medicating with alcohol or anxiety medication becomes a coping mechanism for unsustainable demands.
Relationship Dynamics
Women's drinking is often tied to relationships: a partner who drinks heavily, emotional abuse, codependency, or using alcohol to manage marital conflict.
