It’s true, men get therapy too. Thrive Counseling has been helping folks in Denver since 2013, and we have seen the share of our clients that are men rise over the years. Men struggle with many issues just as much as women do (in some cases, even more so). But we know that Men have more barriers to feeling better than women do.
Men Face More Stigma Than Women for Mental Health Issues
In our culture, men are often given the message to “just suck it up.” Either explicitly or implicitly, men are told that their emotions either don’t matter or shouldn’t be there in the first place. They are told to keep them inside and what you do, don’t let anyone know that you’re hurt, angry, insecure, or depressed. This stigma can be a barrier for men to reach out for help and support when they are struggling. We know in our practice that when men call for a free consultation, they are overcoming stigma and the judgement of others to simply begin to feel better.
Men’s Friendships Tend to be Less Open than Women’s Friendships
I’ve heard from many of our male clients that it’s harder for them to lean on their friends when they are feeling down, feeling anxious, or feeling stuck. They say that they feel close to their friends, but there is not a sense of safety to bed vulnerable and they worry their friends will think they are “weird” or not be able to support them. In our culture, women are socialized to bond around emotional connection and support. Women often tell their friends intimate details of their inner lives; their struggles as well as their triumphs. Unfortunately men are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to friendships. Men are socialized to bond around shared interests and activities, not necessarily around conversation and open sharing. So when men really want a friend to know they are struggling, or want to know if their friends have gone through something difficult that they can connect to, it’s harder and more awkward to bring it up or talk about it.
Luckily, this is changing. Men are feeling more open to be vulnerable with one another and even public figures are opening up about things like depression and anxiety (such as The Rock on his struggle Depression, and David Beckham on his struggle with anxiety and phobias).
How to Feel Better as a Man
First, it’s helpful to remember that the myth about men being unemotional is just plain wrong. Secondly, you are not alone. Men struggle just as much as women do, and in some ways women are set up with more social support than men are. It’s up to you to redefine masculinity and treat yourself as if you matter. If you need help, get it. If you want to open up to a friend, do it, and your true friends will rally around you.
If you’d like a no-pressure way to begin feeling better, you can contact us for a free consultation. You can get expert advice about your pressing issue right away.