Specialized drug and alcohol addiction treatment leads to more positive outcomes. Choosing a program that addresses your needs is important, and gender-specific treatment that focuses on addiction from the male perspective is particularly beneficial. At BRC Healthcare, men and women are treated in two separate facilities on two separate properties, where men help men and women support women.
If you or a loved one could benefit from a men’s rehab center in the Austin, TX area, reach out to BRC Healthcare at 888.559.2036 today. Our men’s addiction treatment center understands the challenges that men face when battling addiction and focuses on providing a safe and supportive environment to heal. By addressing the physical, mental, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects of each individual’s recovery process, our addiction treatment programs work hard to ensure that long-term success is supported.
Why a Men’s Rehab Center Matters
Men and women may begin using substances for similar reasons but experience addiction, mental health, and recovery differently. Men are driven to use substances for a range of reasons, including:
- Body image issues
- Dissatisfaction with work or school
- Family history of substance abuse
- History of trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or physical, sexual, and verbal abuse
- Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression
There are also several unique ways in which men misuse drugs and alcohol.
Substance Misuse Differences Between Genders
Men are more likely to use alcohol and drugs in more significant amounts and more often than women. In addition, they also often start using substances for different reasons than women.
Men are more likely to use substances:
- From an earlier age
- As part of male institutions and social rites of passage such as sports and fraternities
- Recreationally
- To boost performance at work or in school
- To self-medicate for military-related post-traumatic stress disorder
When seeking treatment, men are more likely to benefit from an environment where they can focus on the male experience. The gender-specific treatment that a men’s rehab center provides is tailored to their unique needs, like addressing:
Binge Drinking
Binge drinking typically starts for men at an earlier age than for women. It’s also more common in men and is likely to result in alcohol use problems. Therefore, men are five times more likely to develop a substance use disorder (SUD).
Abuse
Although men are less likely to talk about it, many carry the weight of childhood physical and sexual abuse. Or they may be a victim of a domestic partner currently.
Shame
Men often feel extreme shame when dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. This makes them less likely to find medical or behavioral health treatment for their problems. Furthermore, after men enter treatment, they often have difficulty discussing their feelings and how to deal with them properly.
Benefits of a Men’s Rehab Center
The longer a person participates in treatment, and the more specialized that treatment is, the more favorable the outcome. Highly specialized men-only addiction treatment offers numerous advantages, including:
- 12-step immersion – BRC Healthcare utilizes a 12-step immersion approach to treatment. We take great care in our community-based environment and programming that addresses the unique issues men face through the 12-step philosophy.
- Gender-specific treatment – Men and women both struggle with pressures related to work, family, relationships, and self-esteem, but those pressures are different. In gender-specific addiction treatment, men are recovering with other men who share similar personal issues and understand what it’s like to experience addiction as a man. Focusing on the male addiction experience makes for a more enriching fellowship.
- Fewer distractions – The treatment environment is one where clients can focus solely on recovery. With both genders present, the possibility of romantic distractions arises. A romantic relationship might be a pleasant diversion from the challenges you’re going through, but it’s still a distraction. For many people, gender-specific addiction treatment means one less distraction so clients can be fully immersed in healing.
- More candid discussions – So much of recovery involves being vulnerable, which can be difficult to do if you don’t feel fully comfortable opening up in a group setting. There is safety and comfort in being surrounded by people who are similar to us. It enables men to discuss their experiences without fear of judgment or shame.
- Peer network creation – A healthy, supportive peer network is crucial to maintaining recovery. Gender-specific treatment facilitates bonding and relationship-building both in and out of the traditional treatment environment. BRC clients participate in a range of recreational activities.
Our addiction treatment centers in the Austin, TX, area provide safe, welcoming environments where men can focus on true healing.
The BRC Healthcare Experience
At BRC Healthcare, our primary treatment men’s program accommodates up to 30 men 18 and older. The longer a man participates in a treatment program, the better chance he has of securing lasting sobriety. Our continuum of care spans 15 months and includes the following:
Primary Treatment Program
Our primary program is available at our men’s rehabs in and near Austin, Texas. After completing detox in our detox center, you are ready for treatment in the primary program. In this program, you live at the treatment facility, so you can fully involve yourself in your treatment without any of the distractions of the outside world. You will be safe and secure on our 70-acre property with 24-hour medical supervision to help you recover comfortably.
Treatment Methods
In treatment, you will participate in therapy services chosen specifically for you and your needs. These therapies include:
- Individual therapy – One-to-one confidential treatment sessions with your counselor. These sessions are meant to help you discover yourself and your reasons for using substances better.
- Group therapy – Group sessions can help you learn from other people in your peer group. They can offer support, different ways of looking at things, and information on how to handle difficult situations.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – Behavioral therapy is very effective in treating SUDs. You will learn how your inaccurate thinking affects your behavior, cope with stress, and improve relationships.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – DBT is a behavioral therapy that helps people who have difficulty regulating their feelings or are displaying self-destructive behaviors.
- Family counseling – Family therapy helps mend the broken relationships that often occur in the families of people with substance use disorders.
All-male group therapy has proven to be highly effective, and structured activities with other men can provide necessary peer support. Individual therapy with a positive male role model as well as female clinicians who can exemplify appropriate female-male relationships are also helpful in the recovery process.
Men’s Rehab Transitional Living Program
Leaving the structure and security of the treatment facility can be a challenging and frightening prospect for many people. Our transitional living program is a safe way to step into sober living while still retaining the support and help of your counselor and a recovery manager.
Men’s Rehab Aftercare Monitoring Program
To increase your chances for a successful recovery, we have a monitoring program for the year after completing treatment. In this program, we monitor your drug or alcohol use through testing and check your attendance at 12-step meetings.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Many people with a mental health condition also have a substance use disorder and vice versa. It’s common for people of either gender to try to self-medicate. Substance misuse can also increase the likelihood of certain mental health issues. It’s a complicated cycle and requires professional evaluation and treatment.
If a person has a mental health issue and a substance use disorder simultaneously, it’s called a dual diagnosis. The two conditions feed off each other, so they need to be treated at the same time, preferably by the same treatment team.
Common Mental Health Conditions in Men
The most common mental health conditions in men are the ones that go undiagnosed and untreated, thanks to our society’s attitudes toward mental health. Regardless, the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues for men—besides substance use disorders—are:
- Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Depression
These mental health concerns more often co-occur with alcohol use disorder or alcoholism.
Permanent Recovery Is Possible at Our Men’s Rehabs
If you are interested in finding treatment for yourself or a loved one, consider BRC Healthcare men’s rehabs. We address substance use disorders, as well as effective communication training, skills for managing difficult emotions, and treatment of any underlying mental issues.
BRC Healthcare’s community-driven atmosphere and 12-step immersion program foster accountability and effects change, even among men who have relapsed or consider themselves treatment-resistant. For more information about how our gender-specific program can help you achieve lasting sobriety, contact us today at 888.559.2036.