Addiction can affect men and women in vastly different ways. Where women are statistically more likely to talk about their struggles, men often internalize and hide their stress instead. Although one of the psychological signs of addiction is depression, men have a tendency to react to depressed moods with aggression, anger, or social isolation. For the untrained eye, these differences can make it difficult to recognize a developing problem with substance abuse, and they can also make it hard for men to seek the help they require. Choosing to take part in men’s drug addiction treatment is a great way to get gender-specific services and support. Men-only rehab facilities cater to the unique needs of male patients who are seeking to reclaim and restart their lives.
Another major benefit of attending men’s rehab is the ability to experience a strong sense of camaraderie among your fellow patients. Given that much of the work and healing that occurs in rehab takes place in a group setting, it’s often best to complete this work while surrounded by like-minded peers. This makes it easier for guys to relate to, share with, and benefit from their fellow patients. However, before committing to men’s rehab, it’s important to know exactly which treatment types will be offered.
Expect a Comprehensive Range of Services When Attending Men’s Rehab
Men’s rehab facilities provide the same comprehensive range of services that are found at general addiction treatment centers. These include:
- Medical detox support
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Private counseling
- Stress management training
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Life-planning assistance
- Relapse prevention planning
However, the focus in men’s rehab is primarily on providing treatment in ways that men are more responsive to. Cognitive behavioral therapies and other talk therapy types address the issues and challenges that men are most likely to face. For many males, this proves to be infinitely more effective than a general approach that may reflect the struggles of addiction and its underlying causes from a largely unrecognizable perspective.
Anger Management and Stress Management Are Often Top Priorities
Feeling out of control or being unable to control their lives and circumstances is frustrating for many men. As drug or alcohol abuse creates negative consequences in their lives, many men experience angry outbursts or begin exhibiting increasingly aggressive behavior. In men’s rehab, patients gain a better understanding of the true sources of their frustration. They develop skills for improving their distress tolerance, naturally minimizing their stress, and responding to outside triggers in non-destructive, non-harmful ways.
Develop Better Boundary-Setting and Communication Skills
Learning how to listen to yourself, interpret your body’s needs, and communicate well with others may be an important part of the recovery process for you. It is often important for men to know when and how to reach out for help, when to state their boundaries, and how to let others know that they are struggling. Without good communication skills, men often lack or fail to take advantage of acceptable support systems. Given that addiction is a chronic and long-lasting mental health issue, learning how to communicate needs and frustration in effective ways is key.
Work Through Repressed Trauma and Unprocessed Emotions
Repression is an unhealthy and unsustainable way of dealing with unpleasant emotions. Many men who struggle with addiction have repressed trauma, guilt, or grief. Acknowledging and processing these things ignites the healing process. More importantly, when these issues are recognized and dealt with head-on, the urge to self-medicate often abates.
Counseling in men’s drug addiction treatment can additionally include dual diagnosis services for those living with co-occurring disorders. For men, common co-occurring disorders include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- General anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Major depressive disorder
Dual diagnosis treatment in men’s rehab addresses these and many other issues so that clients can learn how to effectively manage their mental health in sustainable ways.
Establish Essential Life Skills and Practical Goals for Stability and Wellness
Men’s rehab additionally sets the stage for self-sufficiency and sustainable living. Men who’ve spent years living in addiction may be facing extreme barriers to stable housing, joblessness, legal troubles, and severe financial hardship. In rehab, men can access the resources they need for resolving these issues. This in turn, minimizes the stress that they’ll experience when returning to the outside world post-treatment.
Although gender roles are fast-changing, men have long been subjected to extraordinary levels of stress as household breadwinners. Even though these same expectations don’t always exist throughout society, certain forms of societal conditioning have had a long-lasting impact on what men have come to expect from themselves. Failing to thrive as breadwinners, buckling under stress, or exhibiting emotions such as sadness, grief, guilt, or regret is sometimes viewed as weakness. Addiction treatment aims to change these misconceptions.
Going to a men’s rehab is a great way to start changing unreasonable expectations and the effects that they have on your life. If you feel overwhelmed by addiction and the underlying factors that have caused it, you’re not alone. More importantly, if you need help finding a rehab program that offers gender-specific treatments and support, we’re here to provide it. Call us now at 833.970.2054 to speak with one of our counselors.
