Men’s Rehab

Teaching Men to Deal with their Demons Head-On

Co-ed rehabilitation (rehab) facilities make it hard for each gender to concentrate on healing and starting the recovery process. When you remove the distraction of the opposite sex, the focus goes back to the individual and full concentration on the addiction is in place. This might seem harsh, but men are more distracted by women than women are by men.

It is often difficult for a man to open up and discuss their troubles with a female. Men know how to relate to each other. This type of approach helps men to figure out exactly what led them to addiction. Perhaps social drinking while watching sports turned into dependency in everyday life. That is common for men. Male counselors use male-driven approaches to counseling sessions by relating items to their specific interests. This aids the patients in recognizing triggers and trouble areas. For instance, while watching a football game, instead of grabbing a beer, get some apple juice instead. It’s the same color as beer but is minus the alcohol.

Centers that are decorated for men, with themes and accessories or even building projects to complete, are more successful. A male-friendly setting includes a lounge area with big couches, bulky tables, stuffed wildlife, and sometimes, sports themes. This helps men to feel more comfortable and less out of their element. It is still unfamiliar and uncomfortable but being able to recognize things that interest them is a step in the right direction. Men have a variety of interests from cooking to sports and using their hands to build things. Rehab facilities that focus on what they enjoy while treating their disease are found to be the most beneficial.

While television is unavailable in rehab centers, there are activities to keep men busy. Men need something constructive to do when they’re not in a therapy session. Working rehab centers help channel frustrations, pent up stress, and hidden emotions into completing projects. Working with your hands is very therapeutic and rewarding at the same time. Think of the piece of wood or project, you’re working on as your addiction. Take that negative energy and achieve the finished product, which in this case would be sobriety. Some other activities may include a golf outing, flag football, or learning to cook.

Some men take a back seat to raising children, paying the bills, and helping around the house. As part of their re-introduction to a normal lifestyle, parenting classes and family counseling are often suggested. When family members join therapy sessions, it becomes intense, but this is near the end of the program so that dealing with the pain and anguish felt by family members is easier to cope with. This helps men to want to be part of their children’s lives and help with the household. Essentially, it rounds them out as an adult and teaches them what living responsibility is really all about. The end result is a happier male that is more involved with life in general.