Each June, Men’s Health Month serves as a call to action for us to examine the silent battles many men face, especially when it comes to mental health and addiction. For too long, cultural expectations around masculinity have discouraged men from being vulnerable, emotionally open, and seeking help. This results in a deadly silence that continues to cost lives.
The Cost of Silence
Men are statistically less likely than women to seek professional help and support for mental health issues, leading many to turn to other coping methods, including addiction. Despite high rates of substance abuse disorders among men, many continue to go untreated. Some estimates suggest that only about 1 in 10 men with a substance abuse disorder receive any form of treatment.
Cultural expectations and ideas surrounding manhood expect men to be strong and stoic, to not complain, and instead handle any problems alone. These ideas can create shame around needing help, especially for something as stigmatized as substance abuse or addiction. Instead of reaching out for help, many men isolate themselves even further, masking the pain with substances, overworking, or silence.
The Masculinity Trap
From an early age, many boys and young men are taught that certain emotions are too feminine or off-limits. Sadness, vulnerability, fear, and even joy can be seen as weak. What’s left to feel are anger and numbness—emotions that are deemed “socially acceptable” for men to express.
Suppressing these emotions becomes a barrier to recovery. Substance use can begin as a way to self-medicate these overwhelming and unexpressed feelings. When treatment programs don’t address this backlog of emotions or continue to perpetuate these stereotypically “tough” attitudes, many men may feel misunderstood or disengaged.
The Role of Trauma
Many men who struggle with addiction often carry untreated trauma along with them. This can stem from childhood abuse, neglect, combat experience, job-related stress, or unresolved grief. Yet, trauma in men is often undiagnosed and misinterpreted, partly because men are less likely to truly discuss their feelings and emotions.
Without acknowledging and treating the root causes of pain, recovery efforts can only scratch the surface. Effective treatment must recognize that addiction is often only one symptom of trauma, not the whole story.
Tailor-Made Approaches to Recovery
Recovery programs are not a “one-size-fits-all.” While traditional models of treatment have worked for some, they don’t always address the gender-specific needs of many men. Tailor-made approaches to recovery mean creating spaces for men to:
- Explore emotions without shame. Programs may focus on fostering emotional literacy and helping men to reconnect with the full spectrum of their emotions.
- Build healthy relationship. Many men in addiction recovery struggle with isolating behaviors or superficial social bonds. Group therapy and peer mentorship can offer modes of deeper, more supportive connections.
- Redefine strength. Seeking help and recovery isn’t a sign of weak—it’s courage. Programs that challenge the toxic ideas of masculinity and emphasize vulnerability as strength can help to reshape men’s self-identity.
- Address co-occurring issues. Many men experiencing addiction also struggle with various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Dual diagnosis treatment that tackles both mental health and substance abuse offers a more holistic approach to healing.
Changing the Narrative
One of the most powerful tools in reducing the stigma surrounding recovery is healing out loud. When men speak openly about their recovery journeys, they challenge stereotypes and offer hope to others who are struggling. Men being open and honest with the other men in their life, whether it’s fathers, brothers, coworkers, or friends, chips away at the silence to allow for open healing.
If you’re a man struggling with addiction, know that you are not alone, and asking for help is not failure, but an act of strength. Addiction recovery for men cannot succeed if it asks you to suppress the parts of yourself that need healing. As we observe Men’s Health Month this June, let’s commit to breaking the stigma and reshaping the narrative. True strength is showing up, speaking out, and doing the work to heal.
Men deserve recovery spaces that honor their entire humanity and allow room to feel, to grieve, to grow, and to heal out loud.
Your journey toward recovery and sobriety begins at Beachside Rehab in West Palm Beach, Florida. We offer comprehensive, holistic inpatient and outpatient detox and drug and alcohol rehab. Please call 866-349-1770 to speak with one of our trained admissions counselors.
Source: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/substance-use-in-women/sex-differences-in-substance-use