“I Can’t Seem to Quit” The Tight Connection Between a Man’s Psychology and His Addiction
While many men may think that getting over addiction just requires “being tough” or “manning up” to their drug use, the reality is much more complicated. Men who abuse opiates, opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and other substances like methamphetamine experience not only physical problems due to drug abuse but psychological ones at the same time.
In fact, issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and even PTSD are just as common in men who abuse drugs as they are in women who abuse drugs. Unfortunately, this fact is often ignored by men experiencing addiction paired with other mental health issues. As a result, these men may struggle to go through rehab effectively or simply fail to quit substances completely.
This situation is also fueled by the cult of toxic masculinity that is even now being exposed and explored by various individuals around the world. Unfortunately, this culture often pushes men to dangerous actions and behaviors and may be the biggest threat to their sobriety. Thankfully, there is hope for those in this situation, as dual-diagnosis provides a superlative treatment and recovery tool for both men and women alike.
Drug Abuse Relies Heavily on Psychology
Although addiction to opiates and alcohol can change the chemical structure of a person’s body to reward their addictive behaviors, psychology is also key to this situation. For example, the study “The Psychology and Neurobiology of Addiction” examined the ways that psychology influenced individuals to abuse substances and how this psychology was heavily tied to a person’s physical behaviors.
For example, they found that drugs with addictive qualities can change the neural system of those who develop an addiction. These changes in neuroadaptation not only produce a physical high but reward a user psychologically. For example, the abuse of substances like heroin and methamphetamine releases dopamine. This substance pleases the body but can also make a person reliant on it for psychological stability.
To understand this problem, imagine somebody who suffers from excessive pain and trauma after an injury. Their opiates provide relief from the pain, which decreases their anxiety and depression. As a result, an individual treating pain may become highly reliant, psychologically, on the abuse of these substances. This fact is further studied in “The Self Psychology of Addiction and its Treatment: Narcissus in Wonderland,” along with the ways addicted individuals feel when using substances.
Why Men Start Using Drugs
The impulse to use drugs differs wildly in men and women, a fact greatly explored in the groundbreaking study “Sex Differences, Gender, and Addiction.” This study has been referenced in many of our articles because it remains relevant and illuminating in so many situations. For example, this study broke down why men start abusing drugs initially, how addiction forms, and the difficulties that they have in rehab and relapse.
For example, the study found that men typically had an initial exposure to drugs because of their need to show their masculinity off with risky behaviors and to become part of a larger social group. Just think of a group of troublemakers hanging out together and one boy suggesting that they try a little pot. To stay part of the group – and to be cool with others – a youngster who may not have tried marijuana before the pressure may give in and try it out. This situation happens every day across the nation and with many types of drugs.
Interestingly, men typically escalate their behavior more slowly than women when it comes to drug abuse. For example, they start with lower doses and stay on these doses for more extended periods than men. This type of behavior may seem safer but only gets them used to substances more quickly. In fact, this study also found that drug abuse stabilizes in men with lower doses, which typically means that addiction starts more rapidly in men than in women and is often harder to shake.
How Psychology Traps Men in Addiction
The culture of masculinity itself is often a substantial contributor to addictive behaviors. For example, the study “Culture and Substance Abuse: Impact of Culture Affects Approach to Treatment” took a look at how different cultural ideas trigger addictive behaviors and trap individuals in these patterns. The cultural differences examined included financial and social differences, such as those in business abusing cocaine as a way of fueling their potential success.
The specific impact masculinity has on addiction was further explored by a detailed article on the “Gooden Center” website. This article, “Alcoholism and Masculinity,” stated that alcohol abuse has always been a bigger problem with men than women due to the culture of masculinity, as the social mores of modern society still favor and even reward men for drinking and drinking heavily.
For example, men in college fraternities often bond by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol at parties. These keggers create a sense of social connection that causes a man to feel part of a larger group. This psychological reward often compels many to continue drinking heavily, even though they know it is harmful, and “normalizes” excessive alcohol consumption.
When Dual-Diagnosis is Best for Men
Anyone going through a substance abuse disorder, including men, should seriously consider the benefits of high-quality dual-diagnosis. This treatment and recovery method is designed to assess every element of a person’s addiction beneficially and powerfully. For example, a person struggling through detox can use psychological help to boost their 12-step program and every other element of their care.
These benefits occur because, at its core, dual-diagnosis works to manage psychological problems and to trace how they not only affect addiction but other health issues as well. For example, a psychologist can trace co-occurring disorders, such as depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and other issues to a person’s substance abuse disorder and help them better understand how it developed.
In men who have issues with toxic masculinity, this approach often focuses on assessing why men feel compelled to prove how “tough” they are to others with the use of drugs. Men who have been through a lot due to their substance abuse may feel a sense of “pride” in their situation, as if breaking the law, surviving overdoses, and nearly dying were obstacles in their path towards superior masculinity.
By now, men suffering from an addiction to heroin, benzos like Xanax, or alcohol understand that the 12 step program – as powerful as it is as a recovery tool – is not the only way that they can overcome their drug abuse. Dual-diagnosis and a true understanding of the issues driving the psychology of this problem are as critical as detox, if not even more critical in many instances.
As a result, men who need help getting through dual-diagnosis need to contact us right away to get an assessment for their abuse issues. Our professionals will take a look at the physical and mental problems contributing to your reliance on opiates, opioids, methamphetamine, or alcohol and take steps to manage them. These include removing you from toxic environments and teaching you all about the dangers of toxic masculinity.
Once you are in our rehab and recovery facility, you’ll get the chance not only to learn more about yourself but about how drug abuse is affecting your family’s life. Even better, you’ll get treatment with individuals like you who are trying to understand what triggered their substance abuse and what they can do to change it. With our help, you can commit to the lifelong process of maintaining sobriety and providing a powerful role model for your children and your family.
