Men often face unique challenges when it comes to addiction treatment and recovery. For many, the biggest hurdle is simply accepting that they need help in the first place. Moving past this obstacle can be difficult, as men may feel ashamed or embarrassed about admitting their problems and seeking help. Once a man has taken the step to get help for his addiction, there are still other issues he may have to deal with during his recovery journey.
Many men struggle with forgiving themselves for their previous actions while using drugs or alcohol and opening up about their struggles to others in therapy. This can become increasingly more difficult when faced with the societal stigma associated with males getting addiction treatment. It’s often assumed that only “weak” people need help. Therefore, issues in recovery can consist of accepting the need for men’s addiction treatment, forgiving themselves, and speaking honestly about their struggles.
Gender and Addiction Development
Men and women are often impacted differently by addiction. Men tend to become addicted to drugs and alcohol faster than women due to how addictive substances affect their bodies. Additionally, men may experience more intense cravings for these substances and feel a higher sense of compulsion to use them. This can make it even more difficult for men to seek help when they need it since the physical effects of substance abuse can be quite powerful.
Men also tend to get introduced to substances from friends in casual settings, whereas women are often introduced by a significant other. This means men often have more influences in their lives that engage in substance abuse making it more difficult to cut ties.
Gender Roles and How Men Struggle
Moreover, due to historical gender roles, many men struggle with accepting that they need help in order to get better from addiction. There is still a strong stigma attached to males getting treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues, which makes it very hard for men who are struggling with addiction or depression to reach out.
Sometimes this is referred to as “toxic masculinity,” where men are not allowed to cry, admit they are powerless or need help. This behavior is often learned at a young age and is difficult to overcome. Toxic masculinity can also be the root cause of substance abuse for many men making it even more difficult to address. It takes a significant amount of time to overcome the stigma associated. It also requires a gender-specific approach to treatment where this issue is discussed and treated specifically.
Men Often Deal with Less Support
Men may also have to deal with a lack of support from family or friends during their recovery process. This is due to the fact that many people are uneducated and unaware of what addiction really is and how it affects not only the individual but everyone around them too. In addition, men may feel too ashamed to tell their loved ones about getting treatment for fear of judgment or shame. Despite this being a common stigma, there are many resources available to those in need and seeking help.
Family Support is Crucial
Men who feel supported by their loved ones are also much more likely to be successful. Family counseling can help men open up about their struggles, forgive themselves, and move forward in their journey. They can gain much-needed love and encouragement from those that they trust and love the most.
Men Typically Don’t Feel the Treatment Process Speaks to Them
Overall, men are less likely to engage in the addiction treatment process because they believe it’s not for them. Addiction treatment programs focus heavily on therapy that requires individuals to share their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Men don’t typically like to open up and discuss those things, especially with people they do not know. Talk therapy is a highly effective treatment tool, but it requires participants to actively engage.
In order to engage men properly, a program should also focus on other forms of therapy that provide expression without discussion. Art therapy, equine therapy, and adventure therapy offer these outlets. These are typically considered alternative or holistic therapies. A treatment program that can utilize these effectively for men will ultimately see better engagement and success for men in recovery.
Aggression and Angry Emotions Can be Overwhelming
An issue that is commonly present in men in addiction treatment is overall anger and aggressive emotions. These issues are also typically a cause of addictive addiction in men as deal with stress. Men are much more likely than women to respond in an aggressive nature when feeling threatened or hurt.
For this reason, anger management is important so men can work through aggressive feelings and better understand how they are affecting their behaviors. This type of therapy is often best done on an individual basis or with other men struggling with the same issues. Otherwise, it’s much less effective. Like many other emotions, men often resist discussing the causes of anger, but with time and in the right setting this challenge can be overcome.
The Risk of Relapse is Higher for Men
A study from UCLA included 300 people from 26 different addiction treatment programs and found that 22% of women relapsed after six months compared to 32% of men. That’s roughly 45% more men than women. During their research, they discovered that this might directly correlate with participation while in treatment. Women attended an average of 10.9 group sessions monthly, whereas men averaged 7.9 sessions. Again, this highlights how many men may be resistant to addiction treatment.
Gender-Specific Treatment for Men
A gender-specific approach to addiction recognizes that there are many differences between men and women regarding addiction and recovery. By providing access to resources such as targeted support groups, therapy services, medical professionals, etc., men’s issues in recovery can be successfully managed.
With patience and understanding, men’s issues in recovery should not be a hurdle. It is important to provide men with the understanding and support they need in order to move forward with their recovery journey. Letting them know that they are not alone, and that there are others out there who have gone through similar experiences can help men’s issues in recovery become much more manageable. In addition, it’s important for men to create a safe space where they feel supported and heard, so that they can open up about their experiences without fear of judgment or ridicule.
Men Can Find Specific Programs Geared to Them
Ultimately, a men’s addiction treatment program need not be feared or stigmatized – with proper care and attention, they men can utilize this help to be successful. It is essential that men feel comfortable enough to seek out help when needed so that their health is prioritized above all else. There are numerous resources available to those seeking men’s addiction recovery, and it is important that men reach out to take advantage of these services.