Have y'all thought about a guy talk about his feelings or even be in touch with his emotions? I mean you probably have, but think about how often they do it.. if you're a guy, then when's the last time you shared (like Actually shared) you thoughts and fears with someone? Chances are, it's prolly been a while…
And when they do, do you play it down or make fun of it cause you think it's cringey?
Why is Mens Mental Health overlooked?
We’re so quick to judge a man to be aggressive, or emotionless, but have we ever stopped to think that maybe he’s never been told that it's ok to feel emotions other than apathy or aggression?
“Most men are simply in survival mode,” says Dan Doty, co-founder of EVRYMAN.
“Fearless, strong, stoic, emotionally distant, able to face adversity alone” paints the character of a ‘heroic’ male. Young boys grow up mimicking such heroism because that's what they see on the tv, and hear people talk about, and even see in real life.
For generations, little boys who knows nothing about the world are made to believe they cannot feel certain emotions because it makes them less of a man. It's time that the little boys of today know it's okay to feel and that these emotions don't make them any lees of a man, and that they are just as powerful with emotions. Surprise surprise! suffering in silence doesn't make you stronger, you have the right to get some tissues wet and feel the warmth of a long hug from your loved ones🫶🥹🤗.
Society says men gotta be emotionless robots, but that's just not true!
It's okay to feel happy, sad, angry – all of it!
The problem is, a lot of guys don't know how to show these feelings in a healthy way… They might even be confused about what they're feeling in the first place.
This can lead to problems like feeling down all the time (depression) or getting really nervous (anxiety).
Sadly, men are way less likely to talk about their feelings or get help. This whole "tough guy" act can be dangerous, and make them drink or do drugs to numb those ‘forbidden feelings’.
Its heartbreaking that it's more common to see men drown their feelings in substances than actually learning to process their emotions.
It's insane how society has created labels for emotions, how can society have the key to dictate how one feels?
Oh ,you feel like crying? The first question that's asked is are you a girl? (And why does society even relate being like a girl to a bad thing in the first place???)
Why do we label a basic emotional expression as feminine? Why do we label aggression as masculine? Feeling never makes you weak, it's always the noise around it that does.
How can we change this?
Let guys know it's okay to have feelings. Feeling happy one minute and sad the next is normal!
Show examples of men who express themselves. Maybe it's a character in a movie, a sports star, or even a friend.
Make getting help easier for men. Groups where guys can talk openly can be a great place to start.
Teach boys healthy ways to deal with feelings. Talking to someone they trust, playing sports, or even drawing or writing can help.
An unfortunate consequence to the hush hush around men's mental health is suicide. Suicide by men is often referred to as a ‘silent epidemic’ by researchers. Statistics show that the suicide rate of men is 3.5-7 times more than women, so why don't we see anyone flooding social media with these facts. We don't see enough people acknowledging the gender disparity in mental health and it's time we switch on the mic for men too.
Remember, taking care of your mental health is the strongest thing you can do. It's not about having no feelings, it's about understanding and dealing with them in a healthy way. So guys, open up, talk it out, and don't be afraid to ask for help! You've got this!
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