Chronic relapse has plagued Rita for years. She goes in and out of rehab without ever really doing the work of recovery, partly because she hooks up with guys while in treatment and at her AA meetings. She dresses provocatively and flirts with male therapists. On two occasions, she was discharged early from rehab because she got caught having sex with a staff member and another patient. Being alone, even for a few days or weeks, is just too much for Rita to handle.

Every time a relationship goes bad, Rita relapses. She thinks she’s looking for love but in reality she’s just having a lot of sex – often with men she meets in bars, which inevitably leads to relapse. She swears each admission into rehab will be the last, but her sexual behavior always undermines her treatment. What Rita needs is a women-only program where she can address her substance abuse and sexual addiction without using men as a distraction.

Why She Seeks Treatment

During rehab, Rita may work the Fourth Step and realize that her relapses are directly related to men. Perhaps she got an STD or a DUI and decides she is fed up with the chronic relapse cycle. She’s ready to accept being alone for awhile and focus on her recovery.