• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FHE Health | Inpatient Rehab & Mental Health Facility in Florida Homepage

Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment

ContactCareers

Call for Immediate Help (833) 596-3502

MENUMENU
  • About
        • About FHE Rehab
          • About FHE Health
          • Our Staff
          • Locations We Serve
          • Testimonials
        • Our Campus
          • Gallery
          • Our Videos
          • The Health and Wellness Center at FHE Health
        • Our Locations
          • Alcohol Rehab
          • Detox Center
          • Drug Rehab
          • Mental Health Center
          • Outpatient Rehab
        • Careers at FHE Health
          • Employment Opportunities
        • Our Expertise
          • Accreditations
          • Educational Opportunities
          • Community Impact Award
          • First Responder Families Podcast
          • First Responder Paws
          • Education Scholarship
  • Addiction
        • Treatment Programs
          • Treatment Program Overview
          • Alcohol Addiction
          • Drug Addiction Treatment
          • Behavioral Addiction
        • Levels of Care
          • Continuum of Care
          • Addiction Detox
          • Inpatient Addiction Treatment
          • Outpatient Addiction Treatment
        • What We Treat
          • Alcoholism
          • Amphetamines
          • Benzodiazepines
          • Cocaine
          • Heroin
          • Opioids
          • Sedative
  • Mental Health
        • Mental Health Rehab
          • Mental Health Rehab
          • Onsite Psychiatric Care
          • Dual Diagnosis
        • Levels of Care
          • Residential Mental Health Care
          • Outpatient Mental Health Care
        • What We Treat
          • ADD & ADHD
          • Anxiety Disorders
          • Bipolar Disorder
          • Depression
          • Eating Disorders
          • Personality Disorders
          • PTSD
          • Schizophrenia
          • Substance Use Disorder
          • Trauma
  • Programs
        • FHE Programs
          • Specialty Program Overview
          • Restore (Mental Health)
          • Empower! (Women's Program)
          • Shatterproof FHE Health(First Responders)
          • Compass Program
        • Support Programs
          • Alumni
          • Family Support
        • Therapies
          • Acupuncture
          • Breathwork Therapy
          • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
          • DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
          • EMDR Therapy
          • Expressive Arts Therapy
          • Individual Therapy
          • Group Therapy
          • Gambling Therapy
          • Massage
        • Medical Care
          • Medical Integration
          • Ketamine Infusion
          • IV Vitamin
          • Fitness & Nutrition
          • Medication-Assisted Treatment
          • Medication Management
        • NeuroRehab Services
          • Neuro Rehabilitation
          • Neurofeedback Training
          • Neurostimulation Therapy
          • EEG Brain Mapping
          • Insomnia Treatment for PTSD
  • Resources
        • FHE Guides
          • Understanding Drug Abuse
          • Signs of Addiction
          • The Disease of Addiction
          • Confronting Addiction
          • Staging an Intervention
          • Rehab Success Rate – Does It Really Work?
          • Withdrawal Timelines
          • Life After Rehab
          • LGBTQ+ Community Resources
          • Veteran Resources
          • FHE Podcasts
          • Remote Resources Toolkit
        • Learning Center
          • Help for You
          • Help For Loved Ones
          • Help For Alcoholism
          • Help With Substance Abuse
          • Behavioral & Mental Health
          • Life in Recovery
          • Rehab Explained
          • Addiction Statistics
          • Our Research Articles
          • View All Articles
        • The Experience Blog
          • Addiction News
          • Alumni
          • Community Events
          • Expert Opinions
          • FHE Commentary
          • FHE News
          • Treatment Legislation
          • View All Articles
  • Admissions
        • Insurance
          • Blue Cross Insurance
          • Beacon Health / Value Options Insurance
          • Cigna Insurance
          • Humana Insurance
          • TRICARE Insurance
        • Admissions
          • Steps to Addiction Help
          • Will Insurance Cover Behavioral Treatment?
          • Self-Pay Rehab
        • FAQ
          • Keeping Your Job in Rehab
          • Example Day in Rehab
        • Contact Admissions
          • Contact Us
          • Secure Payment Form
  • Contact
  •  
Home > Learning > Rehab Explained > Manliness and Mental Health – The Biggest Barriers to Treatment That Men Face

June 8, 2019 By Chris Foy

Manliness and Mental Health – The Biggest Barriers to Treatment That Men Face

Manliness and Mental Health

Both men and women engage in problem drinking and drug use, but statistics demonstrate that men do it more frequently than women. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “men are almost two times more likely to binge drink than women” and “among drivers in fatal motor-vehicle traffic crashes, men are almost twice as likely as women to have been intoxicated.” Regardless of gender, the sad truth is that more than 90% of individuals who need treatment for substance abuse or a dependency don’t get it. While women may face some gender-related barriers to getting substance abuse treatment, many men often struggle with some traditional stereotypes and conventional notions about masculinity that prevent them from seeking the help they need.

Problem? What Problem?

Men - Admitting There is a mental health problemWhile it’s not always helpful to speak in generalizations, substance abuse statistics illustrate that men generally don’t like to ask for help. To ask for help is to admit that there is a problem, a serious problem. Traditionally, men may feel that an inability to cope with a problem on their own is a sign of weakness, and this unfortunate notion has underscored a stigma of treatment for men. The aversion of perceived weakness is powerful. In fact, women are more likely to be referred to addiction treatment through their mental health therapist or counselor; men, however, are more likely to be forced to accept substance abuse treatment by the criminal justice system.

One of the first things an addiction counselor or professional therapist will explain to clients is that strength and weakness aren’t tenets of addiction. Substance addiction is a disease, a chronic condition that affects people all over the world. Anyone can become addicted given the ‘right’ circumstances. By refusing to admit there’s a problem, men create their own individual barrier to getting the treatment they need.

But Women Are the Emotional Ones

All humans are emotional creatures but women have been traditionally viewed as the emotional sex. Displaying these emotions may actually have served women well since bottling them up and failing to cope with them in a healthy manner is a major risk factor for substance abuse. Negative emotions like anger, fear, and sadness are often triggers for substance abuse—and are often triggers for relapse. During addiction counseling, individuals will spend a considerable amount of time learning to cope with negative emotions. Drinking and drug use can be a way of ‘self-medicating’ in an attempt to assuage stress and negative feelings, but establishing this behavior as a pattern can pave a path to addiction.

Shame and Embarrassment

Perceptions about men and emotionMen may feel too ashamed or embarrassed about their drinking or drug use problem to ask for help. Again, that notion of mental health issues and weakness has permeated male culture and is a serious barrier to recovery. Many men aren’t comfortable admitting they have a problem to a professional healthcare provider—and many still aren’t comfortable admitting they have a problem with drinking or drugs to family members or friends. This shame may also extend to some of the behaviors that men may engage in while under the influence of an addictive substance. Yet, by refusing to deal with the shame and embarrassment they feel, they wind up perpetuating the problem—and the cycle of abuse continues.

Responsibilities

Traditional gender roles regarding work also impact men’s decision to forgo or put off treatment. Traditionally, men have been the primary breadwinners for their families, and while that has changed dramatically in the past several decades, many men are still loathe to take time away from their careers to seek professional treatment. They may worry that their employer will look differently at them—possibly even overlook them when it comes to promotion. Many men feel that taking time away from work is risking their livelihood, which is a decided barrier to treatment. Unfortunately, continuing to abuse drugs or alcohol is also a risk to not just their jobs—but their health as well.

The DIY Approach to Treatment

Another obstacle that prevents men from seeking treatment—they think they can handle the problem themselves. Men may tell themselves for months, even years, that they are in control of their drinking or drug use. They may think they can cut down on their alcohol or drug consumption whenever they like. In fact, they might even do so for a few weeks. However, many commonly abused substances are highly addictive and the DIY approach to abuse and addiction invariably fails without professional assistance.

Misinformation and Misunderstanding

Many men believe that they know what goes on in rehab and they “don’t need that kind of help.” Misunderstanding and misinformation frequently prevent men from entering a treatment program. Without speaking with addiction specialists, many men will continue to misunderstand what addiction is as well as how it can be successfully managed with treatment. Moreover, there are many different types of treatment options available that men may never have heard of—options that could be just right for their needs.

Overcoming the Barriers

Refusing to Ask for HelpSo many of these barriers can be alleviated with just a visit or two to a treatment center. For instance, therapists at FHE Health understand what many men feel when they initially enter treatment and so, right from the start, they strive to educate clients about the true nature of addiction—how it’s not a matter of weakness or something to feel ashamed about. After learning that substance addiction is a multi-faceted condition that requires multi-type treatment, many men feel relieved when presented with the facts about this chronic disease.

Women are more inclined to seek out help from a mental healthcare provider like FHE Health because it tends to bother them less to talk about their problems; many innately understand that talking about their problems makes them feel better. It may take men a bit longer to feel comfortable talking about their problems or negative emotions, but the need to do so is great. By opening up to treatment, men can successfully manage their substance addictions and prevent relapse.

It’s not weak to get sick. When you get sick, you go to the doctor. It’s the same with an abuse or substance disorder. It’s a sickness, but a qualified treatment center like FHE Health can help. If you or a loved one is suffering from a dependency on drugs or alcohol, contact FHE Health. Explore your options. Get to know what treatment is available. Asking for help is the key to beginning your recovery journey.

Filed Under: Rehab Explained

About Chris Foy

Chris Foy is a content manager and webmaster for FHE Health with years of experience in the addiction treatment industry...read more

Primary Sidebar

Learning Center

  • Help for You
  • Help For Loved Ones
  • Help For Alcoholism
  • Help With Substance Abuse
  • Behavioral & Mental Health
  • Life in Recovery
  • Rehab Explained
  • All Articles

Sign up for the Blog

Our Facilities

Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.

View Our Gallery

The Experience Blog

  • Addiction News
  • Alumni
  • Community Events
  • Expert Columns
  • FHE Commentary
  • FHE News
  • Treatment Legislation
  • All Articles

Footer

FHE Health

© 2025 FHE Health

505 S Federal Hwy #2,
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441
1-833-596-3502
youtube facebook instagram linkedin twitter
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • AI Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
A+ BBB and Top Places to Work - Sun Sentinel

Copyright © 2025 · FHE Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at marketing@fhehealth.com.

833-596-3502

Text/Call Me