Everyone’s experience with addiction is unique. There’s no one reason why people turn to alcohol and drug use. Considering that everyone has their unique experience with alcohol and drug use, treatment approaches need to be flexible to accommodate individual needs. If you’re struggling with addiction, gender-specific treatment may be just what you need. Contact Summit Estate at 800.701.6997 to learn more about your addiction treatment options.
What Is Gender-Specific Treatment?
A gender-specific treatment is an addiction treatment program to provide specialized and separate treatments for men and women. It addresses the inherent differences in both genders that can affect the treatment process. Such differences can include:
- Choice of substance abused (e.g., marijuana for men and prescription drugs for women)
- Reasons that led to addiction
- Dosage in substance use
- Impact of addiction on health
- Presence or absence of co-occurring disorders in men and women
- Attitude towards seeking treatment
A woman’s needs for addiction treatment vary significantly from that of a man’s. Aside from distinguishing physical characteristics, women have different approaches to drugs and alcohol. Most of these differences are mental health-related.
Traumatic Experiences
Many women resort to substance use to relieve the stress from traumatic experiences. Women with traumatic experiences may be uncomfortable attending group therapy, as they can feel uncomfortable sharing their own experiences with men around. Sexual abuse, domestic violence, or other unwanted situations can traumatize women in the presence of men.
In a women’s rehab program, you don’t have to worry about sharing such experiences with men. It’s an all-female environment where you can freely recover without feeling uncomfortable.
Loneliness and Problems in Opening-up
If you’re always feeling lonely and keeping everything to yourself, you may have problems opening up. You probably don’t feel like anyone around you can relate to what you’re suffering from at the time. However, if this continues, loneliness can harm your mental health due to mental suffocation. Try reaching out. Look for a rehab center and begin your recovery with men or women in the same situation.
Lack of Social Support
Many people who receive less support from their home or work environments can benefit from a women’s rehab program. Whether you’re a mother worried about child support or a woman worried about relationships, you are welcome to talk about your concerns. An addiction treatment center can provide you a network of support where you’ll find women who understand your struggles.
A men’s rehab program addresses specific needs that are entirely different from those of women. The impact of substance use on men tends to be less. However, most men refuse treatment from rehab programs due to possible stigma from society.
Social Fear of Seeking Treatment
The stereotype of masculinity gives the impression that men are always tough. But this isn’t entirely true for most people. However, this doesn’t make someone less of a man or suggest that they shouldn’t seek treatment.
A men’s rehab program provides an environment full of recovering men who can also relate to your needs. You don’t have to worry about receiving stares or gossip that implies weakness in seeking addiction help.
Sexual Abuse Issues
It’s no secret that men are deemed as stereotypes for exercising sexual abuse. However, men can also become victims of sexual abuse from women.
Whether you were the victim or the offender of sexual abuse, consider seeking gender-specific treatment. You might not feel comfortable sharing your experience with a group of people. This reaction can result in dishonesty and ineffectiveness of the treatment process. Sensitive issues like these must be discussed privately or individually with a therapist.
Where to Seek Gender-Specific Treatment
The unique differences between men and women require different rehab programs and tools for addiction treatment. At Summit Estate Recovery Center, we offer a variety of treatment programs that include:
- Women’s intensive outpatient program
- Men’s intensive outpatient program
- Holistic addiction treatment
- Relapse prevention therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment program
Supportive Environment for Lasting Recovery at Summit Estate
Who your companions are always matters. They can either motivate you or bring you down. Gender-specific treatment can offer specialized and individualized care from doctors and recovering peers. Start your recovery in a supportive environment. Contact Summit Estate Recovery Center at 800.701.6997 and book your appointment today.
