If you or a loved one is looking into treatment options for a substance abuse problem, looking into the benefits of gender-specific treatment, like men’s sober living programs can help you make an informed decision.
When considering options for sober living housing, the choice between co-ed or gender-specific sober living is a common consideration. The choice is very important. Men’s sober living is, as the name implies, open only to men. There of course are female-only options and co-ed options. There are pros and cons to both considerations, depending upon who you ask. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on what the experts say about co-ed sober living houses.
That said, if you are looking for a sober living program for yourself or an Orange County rehab, our team is here to assist you and find you the help you need.
The Benefits of a Men’s Sober Living Program
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notes that women and men in recovery and treatment have different needs. Because of this difference, a sober living program that only caters to men can be beneficial as it is specifically curated to the needs of a man. One of the benefits of a men’s-only sober living environment is that it reduces the likelihood of romantic relationships developing, but we’ll get to that later.
Along with this, men’s sober living allows for a brotherhood bond to occur between residents. This community building is a great way to establish sober friends that you can lean or rely on in a time of need and vice versa. Oftentimes for people in recovery, they can slip back into an addiction when they meet up with friends or family that are still using. By connecting with like-minded sober individuals, you can use your social time with them rather than those who may not be conducive to your sobriety.
Experts Agree: Gender-Specific is Better
Why is it important to choose a gender-specific program? For one, there can be fewer distractions from what you’re ultimately there for – healing and recovery. NIDA, The National Institute on Drug Abuse, actually recommends separate treatment for men and women, citing that romantic involvement between two parties in recovery can be sabotage for either party. With gender-specific treatment, you can also guarantee that programs will focus on those needs specific to your gender. Studies show that men and women don’t share the same needs in recovery, neither do they have the same strong suits when it comes to therapies that help aid healing in recovery. Where men may have difficulty opening up or expressing feelings, they may struggle even more with women present or feel the need to act competitively. Conversely, women are likely to be more open in the presence of other women as well as feel more confident in discussing certain topics without men present. It’s truly a win-win for both parties.
A Time for Recovery, not Romance
Being perfectly candid, it’s not uncommon for people to make their choices based on flawed logic. Addicts are in a sensitive mental state during this period. Risking relapse by engaging in risky behavior threatens to reverse what gains have been made. While you may think you’re ready for a relationship, you really have no way of knowing if the other person is. There’s no way you can accurately gauge their mental state or the consequences that may occur if the relationship dissolves. No one wants to be responsible for another individual’s relapse. All of this stems from the basic human nature to reach out for help in times of crisis. In a co-ed sober living arrangement, this becomes problematic. What starts out as support turns to comforting. Comforting can turn to physical touching. In a fragile emotional state, the temptation might be to turn to intimacy as a pick-me-up or a way to temporarily bolster one’s self-esteem. Whatever the intentions were, the results can spell catastrophe for a fragile addict.
Self-Esteem and Its Role In Recovery
Studies show that recovery is directly linked to self-esteem. How? Addiction tends to rob people of their self-esteem. When a person is using or drinking, it’s extremely difficult to feel good about themselves. This underlying condition can resurface time and time again and act as a powerful trigger. In fact, some people were led to addiction or drinking because of their low self-esteem. Drug or alcohol abuse can become a crutch to some people. The result is that self-esteem plummets further and the addiction can grow worse. If a romantic relationship should break up while someone is in sober living housing, the damage to one’s self-esteem takes a big hit. Such a traumatic event is a strong trigger for relapse. Recovery is a period of healing where addicts learn to place value on themselves and realize their self-worth. Only that which feeds this process positively is welcome. Eventually, once the decision to get sober has been made, issues with self-esteem must be addressed. Low self-esteem in recovery can affect the ability to find inner happiness. Without inner happiness, the temptation to return to addiction will continue to resurface. Anything that reverses the gains made toward’s regaining one’s self-esteem is simply counterproductive. [contact-form-7 id=”27″ title=”Contact form 1″]
Male Sober Living at The District Recovery
Men’s sober living homes are designed to remove triggers and temptations. If you or a loved one is dealing with a substance abuse problem and needs to find a treatment center or sober living community to help them overcome this issue, The District is here to help.
To learn more about our men’s sober living facilities, please reach out to our team today.
