Understanding your emotions can be one of the most challenging tasks in treatment, specifically for men with addiction. Men hear over and over to express themselves and feel their emotions. It can be frustrating when stigmas are attached to men concerning feelings. However, our intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Arizona can help men address stigmas regarding emotions and feelings.
This blog will explore the challenges men face, how IOP at Buena Vista Recovery can support you through the exploration of your emotions, and provide additional support through creating healthy connections in your recovery.
What Is IOP?
An IOP offers support for those who need extra attention but do not want to disrupt their current state of affairs. This program works best for those who have completed a higher level of care, detox, or in-patient treatment. Additionally, humans need a space for healing and reconnecting with their emotions. IOP Arizona can help with many areas in your recovery that you may be struggling with.
At Buena Vista Recovery, we offer an array of services to meet you where you are with compassion and love. IOP Arizona serves as a direct connection between processing your emotions and reconnecting with your feelings. We offer individualized services tailored to your specific needs. The following are just a few examples of what that may look like:
- Relapse prevention
- Peer support
- Individual and group therapy
- Early recovery skills
Why Do Men With Addiction Tend to Disconnect From Emotions?
According to an infographic from Mental Health America, titled “Mental Health for Men” 6 million men suffer from depression. And, as of 2021, the prevalence of a major depressive episode for male adolescents is 11.5%.
In American culture, men tend to have difficulty expressing emotions due to toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is the demonstration of masculinities that are enforced by the restriction of more traditionally feminine behaviors like crying or fear.
An example of toxic masculinity can be that a man is taught to be tough and therefore does not show emotion. Additionally, it may have been ingrained in men that if they do not have money or status quo, then they are not worthy. This makes it difficult for men to be vulnerable and express feelings. At IOP Arizona, men are safe from all ridicule and shame.
Connections to Emotions and Behaviors at IOP Arizona
It can be difficult to identify and connect to your emotions, especially when you have worked so hard to hide and suppress them. Building a sense of self-awareness takes effort, time, and patience with yourself, especially in recovery.
You have spent hours seeing yourself from a different point of view. Perhaps you just need a little more than what you can give yourself. IOP Arizona can be just what you have been seeking.
Balancing each facet of your life can be exhausting. Making small goals to connect to your emotions may be the answer that you have been searching for. Emotional wellness is important to adjust your behaviors to the space that makes you change.
Sometimes it is hard to adjust to a new way of thinking and explore how you can change your behaviors. IOP Arizona will provide the support that you need in your journey. We will never ask you to do anything that you are not comfortable with; instead, we will meet you where you are.
How Will IOP Arizona Keep Emotions in Check?
The root of addiction is isolation. When you separate yourself from others, you become isolated. This can drive a person to stay in a negative thought process. Connection, on the other hand, will provide support and accountability in recovery. IOP Arizona will help you to remain accountable to others who struggle with similar things as you.
Connecting with others keeps you and them accountable to emotions. IOP Arizona at Buena Vista Recovery is a group therapy experience that puts people together that share experiences. This group atmosphere will hold each other accountable in the good and bad moments of your life. You will experience connectivity among people and an exploration of emotions to keep you in check throughout your recovery.
Buena Vista and Men in Addiction
Life can be hard, and it can get harder when facing emotions that you have not addressed for a long while. As it would seem, men struggling with addiction may have a harder time connecting with emotions and feelings than women. At Buena Vista Recovery, we understand that men can struggle with emotions and we have a “whatever it takes” attitude to meet you where you are on this journey.
Treatment will look different for every man and his recovery. Staff will guide men to reach their fullest potential in IOP Arizona and meet you where you are in your recovery. Buena Vista Recovery understands men in addiction and their struggles. We are here to help all people live their best life in recovery.
Connecting with emotions is a difficult transition to be dealing with, especially when you are a master of suffocating them or appearing like everything is fine. Being in a place where you are aware that something needs to change is brave and courageous. At Buena Vista, we are familiar with brave and courageous humans, as we serve them each day. We value where you or someone that you know is at in their journey. We are professionals who support you will love and compassion every step of the way. Let us guide you to connecting with your emotions in IOP Arizona. For help, give us a call at (480) 741-9414 today.
