Men experience addiction differently than women. They have different social, financial, familiar, and personal obstacles to overcome. These obstacles can make it harder for men to reach out for help. Spero Recovery has separate programs for men and women because we understand that there are unique needs to be met for each gender.
What Is Addiction?
A compulsive, uncontrollable urge to use a substance or partake in an activity. This can include a lot of different things, but this article will discuss substance use disorder (SUD). SUD can present differently in men than women. There are also different treatment techniques and considerations that need to be put in place for men in recovery.
Men Experience Addiction Differently
Some things that are different for men with addiction include:
- More likely to have a co-occurring condition with their substance use disorder (SUD).
- Less likely to reach out for professional help for health problems.
- Feel shame for seeking help because of the stigma related to being male.
- Experience more pressure to use substances during life transitions and celebrations.
- Taught to use substance use as a coping mechanism to cover up their feelings.
- Perform reckless behaviors, such as substance use, to prove how “manly” they are.
- Stigmatized that seeking help shows vulnerability and weakness.
- Higher probability of struggling with SUD because of more alcohol and substance use than women.
- Binge drinking is higher in men.
- Begin using substances at a younger age.
- Make up a greater percentage of individuals in treatment.
- Increased interactions with the criminal justice system.
The screening process for men with SUD is also different. Certain disorders, such as depression, can present differently in men or be downplayed, which makes it difficult to properly assess and diagnose them. Also, depending on their background it can be harder to get the necessary information because they are uncomfortable admitting and sharing if they are having problems.
Men can find it more difficult to accept that they have a problem, but still make up a higher percentage of individuals in SUD treatment. This can be because they have other reasons for entering, such as it being court-ordered, pressure from family, and other behavioral health services referring them.
The male image can make treatment more difficult and lengthen the process. Treatment involves trust, communication, and a willingness to open up, which can be hard for men trying to uphold the image of “being a man” by not showing emotion or accepting help.
Mental health professionals and those treating SUD need to understand that men experience addiction uniquely. To meet their needs these professionals may have to change the way they go about helping their clients. One method could be by creating a plan at the end of each session, so the client knows the goal for the upcoming treatment session and has something to reach. This can include giving them something that says they finished a certain step of treatment or giving them “homework” in preparation for the next session.
Spero Recovery Helps How Men Experience Addiction
We are a 12-Step residential recovery facility, that prides itself on being effective and affordable to anyone seeking help. With the use of grants and donations, we are able to keep our costs below the national average. The lower costs help us be available for under and uninsured individuals and those of different financial situations.
Our recovery programs are separate for men and women. We understand that men experience addiction differently than women. These differences have led us to create unique programs for each gender to ensure the best outcome for their recovery journey.
The men’s program emphasizes overcoming the stigma surrounding “being a man.” This stigma includes false views such as:
- Not showing emotion.
- Seeking help is a sign of weakness.
- Always having to put on a macho, manly persona.
Having these negative views pushed on you from a young age changes the way you process situations. It can lead to you channeling grief or pain into anger and reckless behaviors. These reckless behaviors can include substance use or situations that can pressure you into substance use.
At Spero Recovery, we use community, peer support, and experiential treatment sessions to change these false thought processes. The support men feel in the program helps them see that they are not alone. They also see other men embracing and showing their feelings, which can make them feel more comfortable in doing so as well. This comfort can help them be more open to their recovery and better their chance of reaching long-term sobriety.
We use alumni to run our experiential treatment sessions. It gives them a sense of purpose, helps them connect with others in recovery, and gives back to their community. Men in the program have the opportunity to see that sobriety is attainable. They are also given the opportunity to connect and seek advice from someone that has been successful in their recovery journey. Some of the activities they may participate in include sand volleyball, woodworking, meditation and yoga, nature walks, hiking, and rock climbing.
Men and women have unique experiences when it comes to addiction. Each gender has certain social, familiar, economic, and personal obstacles to overcome. These obstacles can make it hard to seek out treatment, stick with it, and maintain your sobriety after treatment. Men face overcoming the “being a man” stigma, which can mean changing the thought process that they’ve been taught their entire life. If you feel like you are struggling to find the right program for your recovery journey, reach out to Spero Recovery at (303) 351-7888 for more information today. We understand the difficulty that can come from accepting you need help and trying to figure out how to overcome the obstacles in your life.
